On Capitol Hill, independent Senator Bernie Sanders has withdrawn a measure for single-payer healthcare after a Republican effort to thwart its consideration. On Wednesday, Sanders tried to introduce his proposal for a “Medicare for all” health system as an amendment to the Senate healthcare reform bill. But before debate could begin, Republican Senator Tom Coburn insisted the 767-page measure be read in its entirety. Sanders withdrew the amendment after nearly three hours, but vowed to continue the fight for single payer.

Senator Bernie Sanders: “The day will come, although I recognize it is not today, when the United States Congress will have the courage to stand up to the private insurance companies and the drug companies and the medical equipment suppliers, and all of those who profit and make billions of dollars every single year off of human sickness. And on that day, when it comes — and it will come — the United States Congress will finally proclaim that healthcare is a right of all people and not just a privilege.”

Sanders meanwhile has also announced he opposes the Senate healthcare bill in its current form. He is the first progressive senator to withdraw support for the bill since it was revised to meet the demands of independent Senator Joseph Lieberman. On Sunday, Lieberman announced he would oppose the bill unless Democrats abandon both a proposal to expand Medicare eligibility as well as any type of public option.