Bernie Sanders

I would hope that we could work together on that issue.

I am not quite sure how you treat an individual without bringing family members in.

Every person here wants the VA to do better. I do not think there is a partisan division on that.

If and when people get into the system, understanding there are unacceptable waits to get in, but once they get into the system, do you believe that the quality of care that veterans are receiving is good?

There is no question, I think primarily for political reasons, the VA has been beaten up a whole lot in recent years.

Will you be 100 percent honest in coming before this Committee and telling us what the needs are of the VA?

No agency of government can do its job unless it has an adequate budget.

I am opposed to the privatization of the VA.

What I saw on Sunday were millions of people saying that we do not want more tax breaks for billionaires.

Do you think it is more important to tell billionaires like President Trump... that maybe they should start paying their fair share of taxes before we cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?

Do you believe then that the President will keep his word and not cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?

I think this is a nomination of significant consequence.

When we talk about the budget, we have multi-billionaires like Donald Trump who proudly tell the American people he has not paid a nickel in Federal taxes.

Given that massive, grotesque level of income and wealth inequality, and having people like President Trump not paying a nickel in Federal taxes, and then having people wanting to cut programs for the elderly or the sick and the poor…

You disagree with him, and that is certainly your right. You believe we should raise the retirement age.

But that has shrunk--the middle-class wealth has shrunk.

When you talk to the President about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, do you tell the President that it is more important that he keep faith with democracy?

I would hope that members on both sides would be able to make brief statements given the importance of this nomination.

There is a lot of disgust with politics in America today.

I happen to believe that Social Security is one of the most significant and important and positive programs that the United States Government has.

Why would you deny them that choice?

Medicare, by and large, is an enormously successful health care program; and, in fact, the majority of the American people would like to see Medicare expanded to all Americans.

Will you tell the President of the United States, 'Mr. President, keep your word, be honest with the American people, do not cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid'?

Medicaid right now is saving the lives of millions of people.

I think there's very little doubt that Russia hacked into our election and that they were supportive of Mr. Trump.