On 50th Anniversary of Medicare, Sanders Proposes Medicare-for-All

WASHINGTON, July 30 – Addressing a rally outside the Capitol to mark the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today announced that he will introduce legislation to provide Medicare-for-all health insurance.

“We need to expand Medicare to cover every man, woman and child as a single-payer national health care program,” Sanders told a rally held by National Nurses United in a park near the Capitol.


A Presidential Candidate – Jim Gilmore

Jim Gilmore has decided that you need to update your list of who is running for president, and add his name:

“This race is running differently than previous presidential races, that’s one reason why I’m encouraged to get in.”


Sanders Statement on Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON, July 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today as Senate Republicans pushed for a vote on legislation to cut $500 million in annual funding for Planned Parenthood:

“The attempt by Senate Republicans to cut off support for Planned Parenthood is an attack on women’s health. Stripping funding for Planned Parenthood would punish the 2.7 million Americans, especially low-income women, who rely on its clinics for affordable, quality health care services including cancer prevention, STI and HIV testing and general primary health care services.

“The current attempt to discredit Planned Parenthood is part of a long-term smear campaign by people who want to deny women in this country the right to control their own bodies.


A Presidential Candidate – Complete List July 2015

How many candidates do you think have declared their intentions to run for president in 2016? Go ahead and guess.

Fifteen? Twenty? Twenty five?  Thirty?  Place your bets, now.

The answer, according the the Federal Election Commision website, is that over 500 citizens have stepped forward for your consideration.

There are some great names on this list, too. Are we ready as a nation for President Sydneys Voluptous Buttocks? Or how about President President Emperor Caesar (President is a first name as well as a title here.)


Sanders Introduces Bill for $15-an-Hour Minimum Wage

WASHINGTON, July 22 – Addressing hundreds of low-wage workers who have gone on strike for a living wage, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said legislation he introduced today would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“It is a national disgrace that millions of full-time workers are living in poverty and millions more are forced to work two or three jobs just to pay their bills,” Sanders said at the outdoor rally near the Capitol. “In the year 2015, a job must lift workers out of poverty, not keep them in it. The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage and must be raised to a living wage.”


Senators Call on FCC to Probe Cable, Broadband Prices

WASHINGTON, July 10 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and three colleagues today asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate “ridiculous prices” for cable and broadband services.

“Consumers in our country have little or no choice in their Internet and cable provider,” Sanders wrote in the letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “As a result, these companies are able to charge ridiculous prices and add hidden fees onto a customer’s bill,” he added in the letter also signed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.). “It’s no wonder the American public rank these providers last in customer satisfaction,” the senators said.


The Declaration of Independence

I thought it might be nice to re-read the Declaration of Independence, to look again at how this country of ours began.

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.


Welch Issues Statement on Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court Decision

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Peter Welch today issued the following statement following the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to make same-sex marriage a right in all 50 states:

“The wall of marriage discrimination in America has finally come down. The Supreme Court affirmed today what Vermonters recognized years ago — that the quality of love between two people is more important than their gender,” Congressman Welch said.


Rep. Welch Decides To Stay In Congress

When Peter Shumlin announced he wouldn’t be running for Governor again, Rep. Peter Welch announced he would consider becoming the next governor. 

He’s decided  — to run for Congress again.  Here is the statement:

…..


Sanders: Corporate America Wins Again

WASHINGTON, June 23 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) expressed deep disappointment today after the Senate voted 60-37 to cut off debate and advance legislation that would grant President Barack Obama powers to complete a major Pacific trade accord.

“The vote today – pushed by multi-national corporations, pharmaceutical companies and Wall Street – will mean a continuation of disastrous trade policies which have cost our country millions of decent-paying jobs,” said Sanders, who voted no.

“American workers deserve a trade policy that works for them and not only for the CEOs of major multi-national corporations. We cannot continue trade policies which outsource jobs to low-wage countries overseas and lead us into a race to the bottom,” Sanders added.


Sen. Sanders’ Statement on Charleston Church Shootings

WASHINGTON, June 18 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today on the killing of nine people by a white man at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina:

“The Charleston church killings are a tragic reminder of the ugly stain of racism that still taints our nation. This senseless violence fills me with outrage, disgust and a deep, deep sadness. The hateful killing of nine people praying inside a church is a horrific reminder that, while we have made significant progress in advancing civil rights in this country, we are far from eradicating racism. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and their congregation.”

Contact: Michael Briggs: (202) 224-5141