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.
One of the concerns that I have in terms of where we are now and where we might be in the future, is that the American people do not have ready access to the information they need as to how they can receive the best treatment available of…
If the Federal Government gives a company $2.5 billion and a short time later the head of the company gets a $900 million golden parachute, that is not a concern to you?
I want to change course a little bit here and touch on a subject that I don't think we talk about enough as a Nation, and that is that we have a significant shortage of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, other health care providers.
People are not getting the kind of help and responses from the Social Security Administration that they need.
I think to a larger degree, Congress is beholden to powerful special interests and not the needs of ordinary Americans.
In other words, what you are confirming is that this legislation would expand Social Security benefits and fully fund Social Security for more than 75 years, by demanding that the very wealthiest people in this country pay more in taxes.
If you ask the American people, 'Should we ask the wealthiest in our country to contribute more into the Social Security Trust Fund?' the answer is a loud, 'Yes.'
What is more important is when we start listening to the American people and do what they want, not listen to powerful special interests.
Should we increase benefits for Social Security? the answer is a yes, as well.
I have just introduced legislation to expand Social Security benefits by $200 a month and to fully fund Social Security for the next 75 years by demanding that Americans who make more than $250,000 a year pay their fair share of taxes.
Poll after poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans, Republicans as well as Democrats and independents, believe that Social Security is more important than ever.
Under this legislation, 93.6 percent of households would not see their taxes go up by one penny.
Not once, over more than eight decades of operation, not during the pandemic that we are in, not during the Wall Street crash has anyone ever received a letter or a phone call from the Social Security Administration saying, 'Sorry, the…
SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY: EXPANDING BENEFITS AND DEMANDING THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OR CUTTING BENEFITS AND INCREASING RETIREMENT ANXIETY
The legislation is profoundly wise, though I believe benefits should be expanded more, and multi-millionaires and billionaires be required to pay more.
Further and importantly under this bill, Social Security benefits would be increased by $2,400 a year for both new and existing recipients.
Social Security is, I think, as everybody knows, one of the most popular and successful government programs in the history of our nation.
As every Trustees Report makes clear, whether to expand benefits or cut them is a matter of values, not affordability.
There is, in fact, a strong philosophical difference between many of us in the Democratic caucus and many in the Republican caucus, as to the best way forward with regard to Social Security.
If you ask the American people, 'Should we cut Social Security benefits, raise the retirement age?' there is a very loud, 'No.'
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