The Public Record
Bernie Sanders is an American politician and activist who has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2007. A member of the Independent party, Sanders is known for his progressive policies and advocacy for social justice, healthcare reform, and income equality. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007, where he was the first independent elected to the House in 40 years. Throughout his career, Sanders has been a vocal critic of economic inequality and corporate influence in politics.
We have a healthcare crisis--85 million uninsured or underinsured, people dying because they can't afford healthcare. We pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. We have reached a bipartisan conclusion to go forward in a…
You’re looking at a one-two punch, a very bad CR, then a reconciliation bill coming down, which will be the final kick in the teeth for the American people.
We have reached a bipartisan conclusion to go forward, in a modest way, but it would have some impact in improving health care in America, and my Republican colleague objects. That’s about it.
I mourn the death of Rep. Raúl Grijalva, a former colleague of mine and one of the most progressive members of the U.S. House.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
OK. I would hope in one way or another--I would appreciate if we could start off with my bill. You could come in and tell me what you don't like about it, and we can go from there. But this is a crisis situation--I think you and I…
Right. OK. Fair enough. That is fair enough. But what I would like to do--and I appreciate--you know, I think you and I can agree that we don't use the committee structure here in the Senate as effectively as we might. That is the place to…
Look, I understand that this bill would bring forth serious debate and discussion, but I would appreciate if we could have a starting point. This bill is pretty simple. It says--and I hear you saying that you need--am I hearing you…
I ask my colleague, my friend, the chairman of the Finance Committee a question. I hear what you are saying. Do I hear you correctly that you are prepared to discuss this legislation in committee?
We will not accept authoritarianism. We will not accept kleptocracy. We’re here to make it clear that we are going to fight back and we are going to win.
We are here to say loudly and clearly that in our great nation we will not accept oligarchy.
I think this is a prelude not only to cutting benefits but to privatizing Social Security itself.
Why do you make it look like it’s a broken, dysfunctional system? The reason is to get people to lose faith in the system and then you can give it over to Wall Street.
Let's be clear: the Dept. of Ed. provides resources to 26 million children living in high-poverty school districts; Pell Grants to over 7 million students; & funding for millions of children with disabilities. Closing its doors would be a…
I mean, it is really unspeakable. It really is and I think the American people are sick and tired of the wealthiest guy in the world running the United States government and calling, in this case, a guy who put his life on the line to…
So, I would say without any doubt that you have a government right now. You know, Lincoln talked about a government of the people, by the people, for the people. I think it's fair to say you have a government today of the billionaires, by…
The idea that we have oligarchs, people with incredible wealth trashing programs that working people desperately need is, I think, unacceptable to the vast majority of the American people.
I think this is a prelude not only to cutting benefits, but to privatizing Social Security itself.
That will be a disaster. That will mean that millions of people who are, you know, calling up, they're not going to get an answer.
They have already laid off 2,500 employees of the Social Security Administration.
Politicians like Bernie Sanders
