Progressive Democrats cheered when House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal agreed to hold a hearing on universal health care coverage.
But Neal opened the historic hearing Wednesday by praising the Affordable Care Act -- and also raised concerns about sweeping overhaul proposals such as "Medicare for All."
Medicare for All and other bills to broaden the government's role in health care are enjoying unprecedented attention as progressive Democrats flex their new influence in the House and on the presidential campaign trail. Wednesday's hearing was the third -- but so far, the most consequential -- on the topic. The rules and budget committees, which do not have jurisdiction over health care, also held hearings in recent months.
