--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not for single payer. But I'm for…" description: "\"I'm not for single payer. But I'm for continuation of the Affordable Care Act.\" — Mike Espy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/mike-espy-6672_affordable-care-act_i-m-not-for-single-payer-but-i-m-for-con_1662637.jpg" --- # I'm not for single payer. But I'm for continuation of the… ![“I'm not for single payer. But I'm for continuation of the Affordable Care Act.” quote by Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/mike-espy-6672_affordable-care-act_i-m-not-for-single-payer-but-i-m-for-con_1662637.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/mike-espy-6672_affordable-care-act_i-m-not-for-single-payer-but-i-m-for-con_1662637.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/mike-espy-6672_affordable-care-act_i-m-not-for-single-payer-but-i-m-for-con_1662637.jpg) > “I'm not for single payer. But I'm for continuation of the Affordable Care Act.” [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates improving existing health law rather than adopting a single payer system. **In simple terms:** Supports ACA, opposes single payer. Key Takeaway Focus on strengthening current reforms. Themes health policy politics reform Mood concerned pragmatic Type policy political When to use this quote - legislative debates - policy planning - public health advocacy Key Concepts public health insurance systems Questions to Reflect On - How can the ACA be further improved? - What are the trade‑offs of single payer vs. ACA? A Different Perspective May overlook broader systemic inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) ## Related quotes > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ She \[Hillary Clinton\] wants to go to a single-payer plan, which would be a disaster...she wants to go to single-payer, which means the government… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/she-hillary-clinton-wants-to-go-to-a-single-payer-plan-which-would-be/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Single-payer is about making our society a better place. It's about putting people over profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-pritzker/single-payer-is-about-making-our-society-a-better-place-it-s-about/) [J. B. Pritzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-pritzker/) > [I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer, universal health care plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-happen-to-be-a-proponent-of-a-single-payer-universal-health-care/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Let's just say I'm a believer in universal, single-payer healthcare insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bock/let-s-just-say-i-m-a-believer-in-universal-single-payer-healthcare/) [Charles Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bock/) > [As far as single payer, it works in Canada. It works incredibly well in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-single-payer-it-works-in-canada-it-works-incredibly-well-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I'm not a left-wing nut pushing for single-payer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-deaton/i-m-not-a-left-wing-nut-pushing-for-single-payer/) [Angus Deaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-deaton/) > [If there's ever a vote for single-payer, I'm a 'yes.' But there are lots of things we can do in the meantime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/if-there-s-ever-a-vote-for-single-payer-i-m-a-yes-but-there-are-lots/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [Single payer means something different to everyone. The way I define it is that health care is a right and not a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shumlin/single-payer-means-something-different-to-everyone-the-way-i-define/) [Peter Shumlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shumlin/) > [I suspect I'm the only politician in America who won an election in this last cycle with TV ads saying I was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shumlin/i-suspect-i-m-the-only-politician-in-america-who-won-an-election-in/) [Peter Shumlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shumlin/) > [If we were to build a health care system from scratch, single-payer would be the way to go. But we have a very complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/if-we-were-to-build-a-health-care-system-from-scratch-single-payer/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [ I think that if you have a single payer system and an opt-out for people who want to pay more \[for better service, etc.\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-think-that-if-you-have-a-single-payer-system-and-an-opt-out-for/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Health care is a human right, and single-payer health care will deliver quality, affordable care to every Illinoisan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-pritzker/health-care-is-a-human-right-and-single-payer-health-care-will/) [J. B. Pritzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-pritzker/) > [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) ## More by Mike Espy > [If you're going to get elected to anything in Mississippi, you have to pay attention to and court the black vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/if-you-re-going-to-get-elected-to-anything-in-mississippi-you-have-to/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [What better symbol of unity, what better symbol of growth, than to have Mike Espy in the United States Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/what-better-symbol-of-unity-what-better-symbol-of-growth-than-to-have/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I am an African American public official operating in an environment dominated by Caucasians. That is not too dissimilar from what I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-am-an-african-american-public-official-operating-in-an-environment/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I really don't need anyone to come to Mississippi to generate a vote for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-really-don-t-need-anyone-to-come-to-mississippi-to-generate-a-vote/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [There are some farmers who have been terribly discriminated against by the USDA. They've suffered tremendous losses and pain and anguish, and they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/there-are-some-farmers-who-have-been-terribly-discriminated-against/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [While we march in the streets making our voices heard, we must also march to the ballot box. That's where the real change happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/while-we-march-in-the-streets-making-our-voices-heard-we-must-also/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [We made mistakes in 2018, as a candidate and as a campaign. I had not campaigned in 25 years, and people forgot me, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/we-made-mistakes-in-2018-as-a-candidate-and-as-a-campaign-i-had-not/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I'm the proud father of three Black children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-m-the-proud-father-of-three-black-children/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [There's no way that I could be a congressman in a California district at 32.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/there-s-no-way-that-i-could-be-a-congressman-in-a-california-district/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [It's hard to pick yourself up and go vote for a candidate if you don't have any sense that that candidate could have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/it-s-hard-to-pick-yourself-up-and-go-vote-for-a-candidate-if-you-don/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [You've got to know what you need to correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/you-ve-got-to-know-what-you-need-to-correct/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I am dedicated to expanding Medicaid in Mississippi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-am-dedicated-to-expanding-medicaid-in-mississippi/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I'm a frustrated artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-m-a-frustrated-artist/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [The United States has taken pride in maintaining the 'safest food supply in the world.' And we can still have it, as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/the-united-states-has-taken-pride-in-maintaining-the-safest-food/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I am a lifelong Mississippian. I remember Jim Crow, 'colored' and 'white' water fountains, and my mother's inability to try on a dress in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-am-a-lifelong-mississippian-i-remember-jim-crow-colored-and-white/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) [Explore all 98 Mike Espy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) ## More Affordable care act quotes > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) > [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [My biggest fear, that 27 percent of Americans under 65 have an existing health condition that, without the protections of the Affordable Care Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/my-biggest-fear-that-27-percent-of-americans-under-65-have-an/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [One of the criticism I had about the Affordable Care Act is it made insurance so expensive that people who had it didn't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-donovan/one-of-the-criticism-i-had-about-the-affordable-care-act-is-it-made/) [Dan Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-donovan/) > [The Affordable Care Act has been designed to provide health security by driving competition, lowering premiums, and protecting families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/the-affordable-care-act-has-been-designed-to-provide-health-security/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [I hope the new health care exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act will provide some help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-kotlikoff/i-hope-the-new-health-care-exchanges-created-under-the-affordable/) [Laurence Kotlikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-kotlikoff/) > [The Affordable Care Act has failed its promises to lower costs, to let people keep their doctor and to let people keep their plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/the-affordable-care-act-has-failed-its-promises-to-lower-costs-to-let/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [The Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-affordable-care-act-is-no-longer-affordable/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Every legislative meeting on how to pass health care, the communications director or someone from the communications team would be a part of because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pfeiffer/every-legislative-meeting-on-how-to-pass-health-care-the/) [Daniel Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pfeiffer/) > [I am on the Health Education Labor Committee. That committee wrote the Affordable Care Act. The idea I would dismantle health care in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-am-on-the-health-education-labor-committee-that-committee-wrote-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If the minority is able to successfully undo the Affordable Care Act by blackmail, it will be the undoing of the democratic nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrold-nadler/if-the-minority-is-able-to-successfully-undo-the-affordable-care-act/) [Jerrold Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrold-nadler/) > [“Let's run the experiment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/let-s-run-the-experiment/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Now, if you have or had one of these plans before the Affordable Care Act came into law and you really liked that plan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-if-you-have-or-had-one-of-these-plans-before-the-affordable-care/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) Browse all 160 Affordable care act quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not for single payer. 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