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RandySF

(81,165 posts)
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 06:37 AM Jan 1

CA-GOV: Tom Steyer (D): 'We need single-payer health care'

Billionaire and California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer (D) on Tuesday said the United States needs a single-payer health care system.

“Bernie Sanders was right. We need single-payer health care,” Steyer said in a video shared on social media. “In 2019, I didn’t think we needed single-payer health care.”

Steyer said he thought the U.S. could “bend the curve of health care inflation by using more inflation technology, more private sector expertise that these smarty-pants from the business world would bring down the cost.” He added that the U.S. needs a system that will cut out the expenses and “profit for middlemen supplying health care.”

The California Democrat joined a crowded field for the governorship last month, four years after he said he had “no plans” to run for public office again. Other Democratic candidates include former Rep. Katie Porter (Calif.), Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.), former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.




https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5668579-tom-steyer-single-payer-health/

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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debsy

(762 posts)
2. It seems a bit suspicious to me...
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 08:05 AM
Jan 1

…that he comes out with this as he launches his campaign for governor. Like the previous poster stated, we needed it decades ago.

Big money always prevails in the gold old USA.

dsc

(53,321 posts)
10. FDR was the equivalent of a billionaire and Johnson was by no means a pauper
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 10:36 AM
Jan 1

and both of them did pretty decently by the common person.

Bobstandard

(2,183 posts)
15. Both had governing experience
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 07:11 PM
Jan 1

Steyner hasn’t. Both were visible in state politics, Steyner hasn’t been.

dsc

(53,321 posts)
17. that is a fair point
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 07:46 PM
Jan 1

frankly I am not a Californian and if I were I doubt I would vote for him. I will say that Johnson's experience on at least some issues wasn't terribly promising. I will also say I was against Pritzker and he has very much proven me wrong.

RandySF

(81,165 posts)
13. I don't think that automatically disqualifies anyone.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 06:51 PM
Jan 1

Pritzker's doing a great job in Illinois. I look at record, agenda and understanding of the office they are seeking, Steyer, in the case of California, is a huckster and attention hound. I ruled him out a long time ago along with Porter.

IronLionZion

(50,820 posts)
5. Is he proposing it at the state level?
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 08:55 AM
Jan 1

California and Vermont have passed legislation for it at the state level. So maybe he could get it implemented as governor of a liberal state.

paleotn

(21,551 posts)
8. Unfortunately, we're weren't big enough to make it work.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 09:51 AM
Jan 1

Vermont is kind of a worst case scenario for single payer. Tiny, aging population that's about the size of the Augusta GA / SC or Syracuse NY MSAs. Our neighbors, NH and Maine, are bigger, but in the same demographic boat. But we could do it regionally and that's the way to go in my mind. New England plus NY and NJ could make it work. CA can do it all on their own, and would be even stronger with WA, OR and CO.

But then we've got the problem of "balkanizing" US healthcare and the known and unknown impacts of that. Wouldn't be easy, but then again, who said anything that's worthwhile had to be easy. Problems and all it's a hell of a lot better fiscally and from a healthcare outcomes perspective than the ginormous mess we have now. Lets do it!

dsc

(53,321 posts)
11. I can't fathom how CO could join with those other states
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 10:40 AM
Jan 1

Denver is over a thousand miles from any sizable city in CA or Oregon.

Bobstandard

(2,183 posts)
6. Snake oil
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 09:45 AM
Jan 1

Billionaire with no experience in government making extravagant promises. Where have I seen this one before? It seems to me, given his sudden major advertising presence on tv and social media, he’s trying to buy his way to the top. I’m not impressed. I’m very wary.

paleotn

(21,551 posts)
9. My first thought as well.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 09:55 AM
Jan 1

Set up a plan to give away your wealth to better society and then, maybe we'll talk. Otherwise it's just consolidating more power in the hands of a tiny group with too much power as it is.

W_HAMILTON

(10,073 posts)
14. So, are you "ready to talk?" Because Steyer already signed on to The Giving Pledge.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 07:08 PM
Jan 1

Thinking only poorer people are good and instantly criticizing those that take the positions we want them to take is not how you win allies or elections.

Midnight Writer

(25,145 posts)
7. The "smarty-pants from the business world" are not interested in bringing down the cost.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 09:46 AM
Jan 1

They are interested in taking as much money as possible from patients and putting that money into their own pockets.

Businesses that are "too big to fail" do not care about customer service. They are interested in building monopolies where the customer has no choice but to give them money. Providing exemplary service is not profitable enough for them.

Big business is terrible at providing services. The difference between the value of a good or service and what you end up paying for it is called "profit". Corporations care about nothing but profit to its shareholders.

Government is much better at providing services. Overhead is low, there is no profit motive, and government can care for all people, regardless of their financial status.

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