A new progressive movement emerging in Democratic circles led by political comedian Jimmy Dore is urging House Democrats to force House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to cast a vote on Medicare for All.
The initiative known as #ForceTheVote calls on the “group” to return to Pelosi with newly elected progressives, such as the election of Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri, by demanding that she cast a vote on the single-payment health care system in exchange for her re-election as speaker.
“We put the Squad and House Progressives in office to stand up against Nancy Pelosi, established Democrats and the insurance companies that fund them,” the movement said in a statement. “This is a rare moment where Pelosi needs something from progressive people.”
The move has attracted the attention of some political activists such as NFL Chargers player Justin Jackson, who posted a public discussion on Twitter with group member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y.
“As [Ocasio-Cortez] and the group does not do what [Dore] proposed and withheld their vote for Pelosi for speaking unless Med 4 All is brought to the floor for a vote … they will reveal themselves, “Jackson wrote on Twitter earlier this month. May not concede anything without a claim. “
But Ocasio-Cortez responded by saying that the calls to elect Pelosi as speaker in exchange for a House vote on Medicare for All are not as easy as holding Pelosi hostage.
“Problem with this idea is that not enough thought is given to step 2,” Ocasio-Cortez replied. “The Dem votes are not there yet, and with a fleeting margin the Dem NOs> margin. So you make threats, keep your vote and lose. What then? light. “
House Democrats lost 12 seats during the November polls, which reduced their majority in the House. Although some theorize, it may include left-wing progressive people, including Ocasio-Cortez.
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“The slimmer margin, it cuts both ways,” Ocasio-Cortez told conservative magazine The Dispatch earlier this month. “It’s difficult because we have to make sure we put together a winning majority, but it’s also solid because we can put in a little more effort.”
Centrist Democrats have pointed to progressive measures such as the Green New Deal and are calling for “defending police” by members of the “group,” including representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts; and Michgian’s Rashida Tlaib as the reason Democrats clashed at the ballot box.
But progressives have pushed back the accusations, claiming that the Democratic Party saw losses because the “established Democrats” did not effectively identify what voters were looking for in the general election.
Instead of losing power with a smaller Democratic majority, progressive lawmakers may be able to better steer Pelosi’s agenda by saying the speaker will need every vote of Democrats to pass legislation – a strategy that encourages Dore to use progressives.
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Although, as Ocasio-Cortez noted, the progressive measures still need enough support from the whole party to succeed, which means that the ‘group’ and the growing members can not dictate Pelosi’s agenda to Medicare for All on their own.
Dore could not be immediately reached for comment.