The New York Times 2020s: on Health Care
Donald Trump:
Coronavirus: Won't invoke oft-used Defense Production Act
The Defense Production Act has been invoked hundreds of times by Pres. Trump and his administration to ensure the procurement of vital equipment. Yet as governors plead with the president to use the law to force the production of ventilators and other
medical equipment to combat the coronavirus pandemic, he has treated it like a "break the glass" last resort, to be invoked only when all else fails. "You know, we're a country not based on nationalizing our business," Trump said. "Call a person over in
Venezuela, ask them how did nationalization of their businesses work out? Not too well."For the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has elected to rely on the volunteerism of the private sector to obtain additional personal protective equipment, virus test
kits and hospital equipment. He and his advisers have argued that using the act has been unnecessary, given the outpouring of support from large and small American companies that are retooling their factories to make masks, ventilators and gloves.
Source: N. Y. Times 2020 analysis of impeaching Trump
Mar 31, 2020
Kamala Harris:
Supports single-payer without private insurance
Ms. Harris co-sponsored Bernie Sanders's Medicare-for-All legislation, and at a CNN town hall, she responded to a question about private health insurance by saying, "Let's eliminate all of that."
She came under fire for the statement, and the blowback was a signal of the political sensitivity surrounding the issue of abolishing private coverage under a single-payer system.
On the debate stage, the Democratic candidates were asked who would abolish private health insurance. Ms. Harris was among those who raised their hands.
Mr. Biden -- who wants to build on the Affordable Care Act -- did not raise his hand.
Source: New York Times on 2020 Veepstakes
Jul 21, 2020
Susan Rice:
Coronavirus: Crisis should explode myth of "America First"
We have little idea of how bad the pandemic is. Xenophobia and arrogance seem to have put our citizens at greater risk. Rather than request the German-made test kits offered by the World Health Organization, the Trump administration insisted on using
only U.S.-made kits. The C.D.C then bungled the manufacture and distribution of its kits and only belatedly enlisted outside laboratories. The lack of testing remains the greatest failure of the administration's response.
The United States can't defeat any pandemic alone. Even for the most nationalistic, this crisis should explode the myth of "America First." So long as the virus is prevalent anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. That is why we must cooperate with
partners globally and invest in helping other countries to contain this and future pandemics. Viruses are equal-opportunity killers. They don't care whether you live in countries President Trump denigrates or the richest nations on earth.
Source: N. Y. Times 2020 analysis of coronavirus policy
Mar 13, 2020
Page last updated: Aug 06, 2024