Biden Promises Obamacare Expansion During Michigan Event

Mar. 9--GRAND RAPIDS -- During a series of stops around Michigan ahead of the Tuesday, March 10, Democratic Presidential Primary, former Vice President Joe Biden stopped in Grand Rapids on Monday to tout his plans for health care if elected president.

Biden, speaking at the Cherry Health Heart of the City Community Health Center to an intimate crowd of media and Cherry Health officials, said that the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, lead to the expansion of community health centers across the country. Biden said that he hopes to build on that in the White House.

"The expansion of community health centers was one of Obamacare's crowning achievements," he said. "I was proud, very proud to work with President Obama to get Obamacare done in the first place. I'm going to stand firm against anyone who tries to tear down the progress and start all over again."

A strong showing during the South Carolina primary and on Super Tuesday has placed Biden at the front of the race for the Democratic Party nomination, which has essentially come down to Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Sanders, a Democratic Socialist who won the Michigan primary in 2016, has called for universal health care with his Medicare for All plan. Biden, painting a contrast between himself and Sanders, said that universal health care would be difficult to pass through Congress.

"Senator Sanders is a good man, (but) his Medicare for All push would be a long and expensive slog, if we can get it done at all. And the patients of Cherry Health, they can't afford to wait for a resolution, they're looking for results for their families and for themselves today, immediately, not tomorrow."

Since the South Carolina primary, Biden has accumulated a number of notable endorsements, including from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer introduced the former Vice President, commending Biden's plan to expand the ACA.

"Health care is on this ballot," she said. "I have commiserated with Joe Biden, the same type of brain tumor that took my mom's life was the one that took (Biden's late son) Beau's life. I know his commitment to health care. Thanks to the Obama-Biden administration, we were able to extend health care to almost 700,000 Michiganders."

Biden said that his administration would expand on the ACA by including a "Medicare like" public option.

"I'd restore Obamacare, all the cuts and add a public option, a Medicare-like option, for those who want it," he said. "And those who can't afford it automatically would be enrolled. And this plan can actually pass through Congress."

There are 125 delegates up for grabs in the Michigan primary, and both candidates have made various stops throughout the state ahead of Tuesday. A win for either Biden or Sanders would be key toward their hopes of taking on President Donald Trump in November.

-- Contact reporter Arpan Lobo at alobo@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @ArpanLobo.

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