The United States today has the most unequal distribution of income and wealth of any major country on Earth.

Some of us voted for huge tax breaks for the rich, many, many hundreds of billions of dollars, which added to part of the problem.

We heard that under President Clinton as well. He was wrong then, and I am afraid those who are touting that line are wrong today.

I myself voted against NAFTA, Permanent Normal Trade relations with China and so forth and so on.

In 2007, the wealthiest 1 percent earned 23.5 percent of all income in America.

Debt is a very serious problem. We have to deal with it. But it is one of many problems.

Almost all of the new income created has gone to the top 1 percent.

just yesterday the Republican minority leader indicated that every Republican in the Senate would join him in filibustering legislation that would provide middle-class tax relief to over 97 percent of American workers and their families…

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

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

the Work Act that Senator Sanders is proposing that would set up centers like the VEOC around the Nation

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.

I think, especially given the state of the economy right now and all of the anxiety that workers are feeling from one end of this country to the other, the model that we are looking at, that we're talking about now, the legislation that we…

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…

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.

You see the difference.

We have a number of co-sponsors on some of these legislations. That's because people all over the country are putting a little bit of pressure on their senators.

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

I find, you know, many Americans see (a) product manufactured in the United States of America, everything being equal, they would like to buy that product.

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

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

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.

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

I think we have an economic model now that millions and millions of working people will be interested in.

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