Duck and coverage

Vulnerable California Democrats like Ami Bera, Salud Carbajal, Raul Ruiz, and Scott Peters face a big healthcare choice in 2018: swing left or tack to the middle. The problem is, either way they lose.

On the issue of single-payer healthcare, the Sacramento Bee writes: “The powerful California Nurses Association… and its allies have threatened to support challengers in primary races next year against lawmakers who don’t vote in favor of the measure.” Activist Paul Song adds: “If they’re truly for it, they’ll vote for it. If not, there will be people who primary them based on that.”

But no vulnerable Democrat wants to support a plan forcing a $200 billion tax increase – and polling shows even in blue California, support is well underwater for a single-payer plan that raises taxes on families. Not to mention one that costs more than double the entire state budget.

Facing protests at their offices while their colleagues Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna encourage primary challengers to step forward, these vulnerable Members are in hiding hoping to avoid questions about California’s single-payer proposal. Unfortunately for them, November 2018 is a long time away, and they can’t duck their constituents forever…