Sen. Bernie Sanders
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Bernie Sanders was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 after serving 16 years in the House of Representatives. He is the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history. Born in Brooklyn, Bernie was the younger of two sons in a modest-income family. After graduation from the University of Chicago in 1964, he moved to the Green Mountain State. Early in his career, Sanders was director of the American People’s Historical Society. Elected Mayor of Burlington by 12 votes in 1981, he served four terms. Before his 1990 election as Vermont’s at-large member in Congress, Sanders lectured at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and at Hamilton College in upstate New York.

The Almanac of American Politics has called Sanders a “practical’ and “successful legislator.” He has focused on the shrinking middle class and widening income gap in America that is greater than at any time since the Great Depression. Other priorities include reversing global warming, universal health care, fair trade policies, supporting veterans and preserving family farms. He serves on five Senate committees: Budget; Veterans; Energy; Environment; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Born: Sept. 8, 1941, New York, N.Y.

Blog Entries by Sen. Bernie Sanders

Let's End Polluter Welfare

(479) Comments | Posted May 20, 2012 | 11:05 PM

At a time when we have more than $15 trillion national debt, American taxpayers are set to give away over $110 billion dollars to the oil, gas, and coal industries over the next decade. Clearly, we cannot afford it. When the five largest oil companies made over $1 trillion in...

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United Against the War on Women

(854) Comments | Posted April 30, 2012 | 12:01 PM

The history of American democracy, to say the least, has been checkered. Our nation was founded at a time when people of African descent were held in bondage. After slavery was abolished, they were forced to endure legal discrimination for another 100 years.

When our country was formed, women...

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Vermont Is Helping to Lead the Nation in Transforming Our Energy System

(240) Comments | Posted April 18, 2012 | 5:04 PM

We come from Vermont. We know our small state cannot reverse global warming on our own, but we can provide a model for America which helps lead our nation and the world to a more sustainable and secure energy future.

We see three major imperatives.
...

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Stop the Nuclear Industry Welfare Program

(710) Comments | Posted April 16, 2012 | 7:56 AM

This nation is facing a $15 trillion national debt, and there is no shortage of opinions about how to move toward deficit reduction in the federal budget. One topic you will not hear discussed very often on Capitol Hill is the idea of ending one of the oldest American welfare...

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We the People

(711) Comments | Posted January 20, 2012 | 1:52 PM

If you are concerned about the collapse of the middle class, you should be concerned about how American campaigns are financed. If you wonder why the United States is the only country in the industrialized world not to have a national health care program, if you're asking why we pay...

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America Must Not Back Down on Sustainable Energy

(442) Comments | Posted December 16, 2011 | 11:06 AM

If you read just the headlines these days, you might think renewable energy in America is going the way of Solyndra. Don't take our word for it: a recent headline from Fox News declared "ENTIRE Solar Industry on Brink of Collapse."

We cannot allow long-time opponents of...

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Saving Our Democracy

(2312) Comments | Posted December 8, 2011 | 5:08 PM

The Constitution of this country has served us well, but when the Supreme Court says that attempts by the federal government and states to impose reasonable restrictions on campaign ads are unconstitutional, our democracy is in grave danger. That is why I have introduced a resolution in the Senate calling...

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Making AIDS Treatment Affordable

(81) Comments | Posted December 1, 2011 | 12:03 PM

When World Aids Day was first observed in 1988, there was no truly effective treatment for what was almost always a deadly disease. Today the biggest problem in caring for those with AIDS is no longer mainly a medical or scientific problem. The crisis is access to affordable drugs. Despite...

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Democrats, Stop Caving In

(1107) Comments | Posted November 18, 2011 | 12:29 PM

Here is something we all can agree on: Federal deficits are a serious problem.

Here is something no one seriously disputes: Today's big deficits were caused mainly by big tax cuts for the wealthy, two unpaid-for wars, a horrible recession caused by Wall Street greed, and an expensive prescription...

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The Veil of Secrecy at the Fed Has Been Lifted, Now It's Time for Change

(438) Comments | Posted November 2, 2011 | 2:50 PM

As a result of the greed, recklessness, and illegal behavior on Wall Street, the American people have experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Millions of Americans, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs, homes, life savings, and ability to send their kids to...

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Wall Street Protests

(510) Comments | Posted October 7, 2011 | 4:02 PM

The Occupy Wall Street protests are shining a national spotlight on the most powerful, dangerous and secretive economic and political force in America.

If this country is to break out of the horrendous recession and create the millions of jobs we desperately need, if we are going to create a...

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Wall Street's Secret Oil Games

(473) Comments | Posted September 16, 2011 | 12:01 PM

The top six financial institutions in this country own assets equal to more than 60 percent of our gross domestic product and possess enormous economic and political power. One of the great questions of our time is whether the American people, through Congress, will control the greed, recklessness and illegal...

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Is Poverty a Death Sentence?

(1354) Comments | Posted September 13, 2011 | 3:39 PM

The crisis of poverty in America is one of the great moral and economic issues facing our country. It is very rarely talked about in the mainstream media. It gets even less attention in Congress. Why should people care? Many poor people don't vote. They certainly don't make large campaign...

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Why I Voted No on the Deficit Deal

(1099) Comments | Posted August 5, 2011 | 1:13 PM

A $2.5 trillion deficit-reduction deal brokered by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner, and President Barack Obama is grotesquely unfair. It also is bad economic policy. In the midst of a terrible recession, it will cost hundreds of thousands of jobs.

At a...

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Why Americans Are So Angry

(1788) Comments | Posted July 29, 2011 | 1:29 PM

The rich are getting richer. Their effective tax rate, in recent years, has been reduced to the lowest in modern history. Nurses, teachers and firemen actually pay a higher tax rate than some billionaires. It's no wonder the American people are angry.

Many corporations, including General Electric and Exxon-Mobil, have...

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Congratulations Sen. Coburn

(726) Comments | Posted July 20, 2011 | 7:05 PM

If there was ever a time in the modern history of America that the American people should become engaged in what's going on here in Washington, now is that time. Decisions are being made that will impact not only our generation but the lives of our children and our grandchildren...

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Elections Have Consequences

(1191) Comments | Posted July 14, 2011 | 6:15 PM

We are at a pivotal moment in American history, and many Americans watching the deficit talks in Washington are confused, perplexed, angry and frustrated.

This country, which has paid its debts from Day 1, must pay its debts. Anyone who says it is not a big deal for this country...

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Shared Sacrifice: Sign Bernie's Letter to the President

(173) Comments | Posted June 27, 2011 | 10:15 AM

Sign Bernie's Letter to the President
Dear Mr. President,

This is a pivotal moment in the history of our country. Decisions are being made about the national budget that will impact the lives of virtually every American for decades to come. As we address the issue...

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Stop Oil Speculation Now

(629) Comments | Posted June 15, 2011 | 4:52 PM

The increased cost of oil and gasoline is damaging the American economy and is causing severe economic pain to millions of people, especially in rural America, who often have to drive long distances to work. Many workers are already seeing stagnant or declining wages and high gas prices are just...

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Deficit Reduction Requires Shared Sacrifice: Will the President Stand Tall?

(873) Comments | Posted June 2, 2011 | 1:15 PM

Congress and the White House are now focused on how we deal with our huge deficit -- a crisis brought about over the last 10 years by two wars, tax breaks for the rich, the Wall Street bailout and a prescription drug program -- all unpaid for. The deficit also...

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