House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif) on Wednesday dodged a question on whether Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) made a mistake by introducing "Medicare for All" legislation last week.
A reporter asked Pelosi at her weekly press briefing whether she thought that Sanders made a mistake by introducing the legislation, citing Republicans' motivation against it.
"No, I think that everything has to be on the table if you're talking about expanding access to quality, affordable health care and that's what the goal is of the affordable health care is to grow the number of people who are covered."
Pelosi went on to say Sanders has a right to put it on the table, and noted it is subject to scrutiny in terms of projected costs.
Pelosi then addressed those in the Democratic Party who have offered broader visions on health care, while also disparaging Republican plans.
"How do you get there? How much does it cost, and what does it mean? Everything's on the table. Let's look at them all with great respect, but not the Cassidy-Graham [Graham-Cassidy] bill because that goes in the opposite direction – maybe 30 million people cast off of health care."
Democrats in the Senate have been mobilizing this week against the health care legislation that was introduced by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R., La.) and Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), calling it "disastrous."
Sanders' "Medicare for All" plan would expand the federal health care program, Medicare, which covers disabled Americans and citizens age 65-years-old and older, to all Americans.
The Vermont senator's website indicates the estimated cost of his plan per year is $1.38 trillion, and that it would be paid for with a combination of limiting tax deductions and by increasing the income tax for the wealthy.
Sanders has received support from a number of potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. Four of them have signed on to co-sponsor the "Medicare for All" bill. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) became the latest contender last week to sign on to the bill following announcements from Sens. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), and Cory Booker (D., N.J.).