Progressives aim to repeal 'pay-as-you-go' law to help clear way for Medicare for All

Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., introduced legislation Friday to repeal the ‘pay-as-you-go’ law that mandates spending cuts or tax hikes to pay for new entitlement benefits, aiming to ease the path for enacting major new government programs.

Jayapal also said in a statement that she had a commitment from House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern, D-Mass., to waive the House’s similar pay-as-you-go rule to allow for consideration of "Medicare for All" legislation and other progressive economic priorities on the House floor. The PAYGO rules have become a point of contention between House Democratic leaders and a handful of progressives, including outspoken freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

“I have long been concerned about PAYGO and its legislative implications, and earlier this week I received a commitment from Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern to waive PAYGO and Medicare for All and other key progressive priorities,” Jayapal said in a release.

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