Bernie Sanders

Well, thank you for the question, Jeff.

The choice here would be an owner could sell to a large company which could eventually shut down that plant to be more profitable operating in China.

Senator Sanders provided funding and Senator Leahy, as well, follow-up funding which has provided, I think, the State of Vermont an opportunity for companies to work together in this industry.

We have introduced two pieces of legislation which I think will help spread the gospel of employee ownership.

We need new economic models which create and retain jobs here in the United States of America, not in China.

I want to thank Senator Tom Harkin, who is the Chairman of the committee, for allowing us to hold this hearing on this very, very important issue here in the State of Vermont.

This is an enormously important economic issue and let's go forward together.

In essence, the government provides billions of dollars right now in loans and loan guarantees to various types of economic activity but not to those people, those employers who want to convert to employee ownership or workers who want to…

This concept, you know, didn't start with King Arthur Flour.

I think it's fair to say that these don't quite have the clout of Wall Street.

I want to thank Ted Brady from Senator Leahy's office and Fred Raymond from Congressman Welch's office.

I think people feel very uncomfortable that increasingly it is difficult to buy a product manufactured in the United States of America.

I think the country wants an economic model that keeps jobs in America, allows workers dignity on the job.

Study after study has shown that employee ownership has been proven to increase employment, increase productivity, increase sales, and increase wages in the United States.

This hearing wouldn't be happening unless Senator Sanders saw through this

Senator Leahy has been very strong on this issue. Senator Shaheen, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio has been very strong on it.

You see the difference.

Two bills that Senator Sanders has proposed will be a big step forward for rooting our firms in our communities and leading to better-quality jobs and spread economic democracy.

I think as new companies come through they need that help and support so that we can have more employee ownership.

We're delighted to have joining us as a State representative from the Ohio Employee Ownership Center.

We strongly believe that the U.S. Employee Ownership Bank Act can play an important role in facilitating such deals.

Outsourcing is, I can tell you, a major concern in this country.

Do you find people stepping up to the plate in that regard?

I therefore applaud the efforts of Senator Sanders to take the lead on this issue

The two bills proposed by Senator Sanders would be a big step forward in rooting our firms in our communities and leading to better quality jobs that spread economic democracy.