Schumer noncommittal on Sanders’s ‘Medicare for all’ bill

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is staying on the sidelines on a single-payer health care bill being rolled out this week by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

“Democrats believe that health care is a right for all, and there are many different bills out there. There are many good ones,” Schumer told reporters during a weekly leadership press conference.

Schumer was asked what he would “say” about the legislation being unveiled Wednesday by the Independent senator. 

{mosads}He didn’t say if he would be co-sponsoring the “Medicare for all” bill. A spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about Schumer’s position.

A growing number of Senate Democrats are signing on to Sanders’s legislation.

The issue has emerged as a litmus test for the party’s 2020 nominations. 

Four of Sanders’s Democratic colleagues who frequently get White House speculation —  Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Cory Booker (N.J.) and Kamala Harris (Calif.) — are supporting the legislation. 

Schumer noted that in addition to Sanders, Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz (Hawaii) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) have offered health care bills.

“We want to move the issue forward. We’re looking at all of these,” he said.

In addition to Schumer, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) hasn’t taken a position on Sanders’s legislation. He told The Hill on Monday afternoon that he was still reviewing the bill.