Debate crowd erupts in laughs as Sanders chimes in 'I wrote the damn bill' on Medicare for All

By Max Greenwood - 11/20/19 09:31 PM EST
 
Debate crowd erupts in laughs as Sanders chimes in 'I wrote the damn bill' on Medicare for All

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersGOP Iowa senator suggests Trump impeachment defense could hurt Biden at caucuses On The Money: Stocks close with steep losses driven by coronavirus fears | Tax season could bring more refund confusion | Trump's new wins for farmers may not undo trade damage Sanders launches first TV ads in Nevada MORE (I-Vt.) scored the first laugh of the fifth Democratic presidential debate on Wednesday by dredging up an old line: "I wrote the damn bill."

Sanders first made the quip — a reference to his signature "Medicare for All" legislation — during the second Democratic primary debate in July after one of his rivals, Rep. Tim RyanTimothy (Tim) RyanOffice of Technology Assessment: It's time for a second coming Key moments in the 2020 Democratic presidential race so far GM among partners planning .3B battery plant in Ohio MORE (D-Ohio), suggested that the Vermont senator was unaware of what the single-payer health care proposal actually entailed.

Since then, Sanders has capitalized on that phrase, repeating it at times during public appearances and even selling campaign merchandise emblazoned with the slogan.

It resurfaced once again on Wednesday night after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sanders's chief ideological rival in the presidential race, responded to a debate question about Medicare for All.

Once Warren finished her answer, the debate moderators posed a similar question to Sanders.

"Thank you. I wrote the damn bill," Sanders said as the crowd briefly erupted in laughter.

Tags Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren Tim Ryan Democratic debates 2020 election Democratic primary Atlanta November debate Medicare for all