Socialized medicine is "a bad idea and one that we can’t afford," said Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which launched the coalition and a new website — NoSocializedMedicine.org.
— Also part of the coalition: FreedomWorks, the Club for Growth, Heritage Action for America, the National Taxpayers Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, American Commitment, and the Committee to Unleash Prosperity. The coalition will host events and make "considerable" ad buys to raise awareness of its message, a spokesperson told PULSE.
— The coalition is trying to hammer Democrats ahead of the 2020 election. Sanders has called for an end to private insurance, a message that's been backed by other presidential candidates and has been well-received by the party's progressive base.
But the proposals have lost steam in Congress, as centrist Democrats instead have focused on shoring up the Affordable Care Act. A handful of presidential candidates, including Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, have criticized Sanders' proposal as too disruptive.
