Buttigieg responds to Biden's accusation he 'stole' health care proposal

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPeter (Pete) Paul ButtigiegMellman: The ‘lane theory’ is the wrong lane to be in Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson — Senate panel approves Trump FDA pick | Biden downplays Dem enthusiasm around ‘Medicare for All’ | Trump officials unveil program for free HIV prevention drugs for uninsured Buttigieg unveils plan to close health care disparities MORE on Tuesday responded to fellow Democratic White House contender Joe BidenJoe BidenTop Democrat: ‘Obstruction of justice’ is ‘too clear not to include’ in impeachment probe Yang campaign contacts FBI over death threats in New Hampshire Overnight Defense: Trump clashes with Macron at NATO summit | House impeachment report says Trump abused power | Top Dem scolds military leaders on Trump intervention in war crimes cases MORE’s allegations that he “stole” the former vice president’s health care proposal.

“Well, first of all, I’ve been talking about ‘Medicare for all who want it’ since at least February, and also the plans are not exactly the same,” Buttigieg told CNN.

He added: “Of course I believe that our approach on health care is the best one, and I’m willing to bring that plan out and compete with any of my competitors on having the best plan.”

From @Merica and @carolinerkenny in Okatie, SC: Pete Buttigieg reacts to criticism from Joe Biden that he “stole” his healthcare plan from Biden, says, “I’ve been talking about Medicare for All Who Want It since at least February, and also the plans are not exactly the same.” pic.twitter.com/21eFH5NqYu

— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) December 3, 2019 

On Monday, Biden tore into Buttigieg while on the campaign trail in Iowa, saying the South Bend mayor “stole” his policy idea, adding that he would’ve been criticized if he’d copied another rival.

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A Buttigieg campaign aide said the candidate had proposed “Medicare for all who want it” — which allows for a public option while still allowing for private insurance — before Biden even announced in April that he was running for president. Buttigieg unveiled his proposed health care plan in September, according to his campaign website.

Biden has pushed for expanding the Affordable Care Act and adding a “public option” that allows people to select a government plan or use private insurance.

The two men, who are going head-to-head as they aim to boost support in the early primary state of Iowa, have split hairs with their more progressive rivals, including Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenWarren hits Bloomberg, Steyer: They have ‘been allowed to buy their way’ into 2020 race Mellman: The ‘lane theory’ is the wrong lane to be in Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson — Senate panel approves Trump FDA pick | Biden downplays Dem enthusiasm around ‘Medicare for All’ | Trump officials unveil program for free HIV prevention drugs for uninsured MORE (D-Mass.) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersMellman: The ‘lane theory’ is the wrong lane to be in Webb: Billionaires for office Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson — Senate panel approves Trump FDA pick | Biden downplays Dem enthusiasm around ‘Medicare for All’ | Trump officials unveil program for free HIV prevention drugs for uninsured MORE (I-Vt.) on how to reform the health care system.