"We deserve SOMEONE WHO WRITES THE DAMN BILLS'' - @RashidaTlaib

[Donkees]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. We sure do! These are the enacted bills Bernie has sponsored:

Sanders was the primary sponsor of 7 bills that were enacted:

S. 885 (113th): A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 35 Park Street in Danville, Vermont, as the “Thaddeus Stevens Post Office”.

S. 2782 (113th): A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to improve the Federal charter for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and for other ...

S. 893 (113th): Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013

H.R. 5245 (109th): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the “Matthew Lyon Post Office Building”.

H.J.Res. 129 (104th): Granting the consent of Congress to the Vermont-New Hampshire Interstate Public Water Supply Compact.

H.R. 1353 (102nd): Entitled the “Taconic Mountains Protection Act of 1991”.

H.J.Res. 132 (102nd): To designate March 4, 1991, as “Vermont Bicentennial Day”.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/bernard_sanders/400357

[OldRed2450]

3. Lol!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I'm just stating facts.

One may draw whatever inferences one wants.

[Hortensis]

31. :) He has one of the most underused personal staffs,

the typical 50 to 60 last I heard, in the senate, and of course he has little need for committee staff.

Btw, Lawrence O'Donnell said Elijah Cummings' staff for Ways and Means was/is famous as one of the best ever. Many of the very best people tried to get in with him, and with all the action under him his staff was among the sharpest and highest qualified in the senate, the ones other staffers took their questions to.

[Dem4Life1102]

54. 7 is a great number

considering that for most of his time in the Senate it has been controlled by the GOP.

[OldRed2450]

56. That's true for Warren as well, right?

[Dem4Life1102]

57. True but

She hasn’t been in the senate as long as Sanders

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I did. I don't now.

We live and learn.

But my support or lack of it is irrelevant to my previous post, which states facts with no spin at all. You may infer whatever you wish.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. It's strange how someone as savvy and educated as you supported someone with zero accomplishments

Or maybe the fact of the matter is a lot of work gets done through the amendment process when you are attached to the party not in power.

Or maybe this is partisan nonsense.

[George II]

9. In other words, he has been good at following with amendments (which is debatable anyway)....

.....instead of leading with passable bills.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. There are now other candidates who I believe are more effective proponents

of various principles and issues I support. The 2016 primaries were binary; this one isn't. There's a better selection this time.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. Then why not talk about them instead of using made up nonsense that he hasn't been effective?

You really supported someone with zero accomplishments? I would be embarrassed to admit that if it were true.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. I didn't make anything up. I posted a correct list

of Sanders' enacted legislation. I didn't say he hadn't been effective or that he had zero accomplishments. That's your inference, not mine.

[George II]

21. That's the nature of a political discussion site. If it's "made up nonsense", what specifically....

...ARE those accomplishments of which you speak. Lacking production of those, what about your last sentence?

[ehrnst]

58. It's not "made up nonsense." And it's disqualifying. (nt)

[TidalWave46]

29. Or no different than a lot of good Democrats.

Clinton wasn’t their thing. Pretty clear that a majority of those who supported him in 16 are not supporting him this year, for whatever reason. The exception is people staying with him, not those who are finding much better options.

[AncientGeezer]

32. What are the actual "accmplishments" of Sen. Sanders?

I'm serious...actual Legislative accomplishments....not Post Office naming....meaningful, working, legislation.
You must have several examples right?

[George II]

8. As for the "damn bill" that he claims he wrote:

Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Health_Care_Act#targetText=The%20United%20States%20National%20Health

The United States National Health Care Act or Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act is a bill first introduced in the United States House of Representatives by former Representative John Conyers (D-MI) in 2003, with 25 cosponsors.*

MEDICARE FOR ALL ACT!

*Introduced on February 11, 2003 with 25 co-sponsors. Representative Sanders became the 31st of 38 co-sponsors on April 22, 2004, more than 14 months after it was originally introduced.

[Me.]

24. So He Didn't Write It?

[George II]

25. Certainly not the original "Medicare for All" bill.

[Me.]

11. That's What I Was Going To Say

[TomVilmer]

38. And this is a full list of the 415 bills Bernie has sponsored:

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=400357

[StarfishSaver]

41. Sponsoring bills is easy

Getting them passed is hard, but it's really what matters in the end.

[TomVilmer]

48. Comparing such numbers makes no sense...

Many bills gets introduced, very few survives. And of those none will become law without a lot of changes and tinkering. Language from one proposal will end up in another etc - and most of the actual writing is done in cooperation by staffers.

Bernie Sanders co-wrote such a bill, which is the one he was shouting about in that debate. John Conyers did another one, and everybody is mirroring and copying the best ideas.

The total amount of sponsoring and passed laws tells very little about effort, but mostly shows how mainstream the politicians are, or not.

[Doormouse]

45. That's pretty much the norm.

535 members of Congress.

150-250 bills per year that pass. A whole lot of them nothing bills.

Be difficult to run up big numbers even in a 25-40 year career.

[Gothmog]

59. LOL

[George II]

2. Interesting that this is being said on the day that we lost long-time Congressman John Conyers.

[Mr.Bill]

12. Actually if he writes bills,

he is needed in the Senate. The president does not write bills. This is like hiring somebody to drive a race car because he's a good cook.

[sheshe2]

13. If that is what she wants she should be endorsing Warren.

Here is a sample and this was only through 2016.

1. In 2011, while working as an assistant for President Obama, Warren single-handedly conceived of and established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a watchdog agency that helps protect the little guy from Wall Street’s dirty schemes. Thanks to the newly-formed agency, mortgage lenders can no longer push you into a loan you cannot afford. And these servicers now have to make a good faith effort to keep you out of foreclosure. If they don’t, they face hefty civil penalties.

It’s not just mortgage companies and big banks that now have to sleep with their eyes open. Credit card companies also now have to play by the rules. In 2012, the bureau ordered three American Express subsidiaries to pay out $85 million to over 250,000 customers they screwed over through illegal practices.

Warren managed to do all of this even while the GOP did everything in their power to cockblock it. And when they failed that mission, they bitched and moaned and managed to prevent her from being nominated head of the CFPB. She then used their tantrum as a pathway to run for Senate.

And she won. Easily.

3. In only three years, she has sponsored at least 36 bills, including the Equal Employment Act for All, the Schedules That Work Act, the Trade Transparency Act, and the Fed Accountability Act. She consistently fights for legislation that champions for women’s rights, paid family leave, low-wage workers, fair trade and affordable education.


https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/5/9/1524727/-Elizabeth-Warren-s-List-of-Accomplishments-is-Bigger-than-Trump-s-Hanging-Chad

[TomCADem]

14. Bernie Sanders Pledges To Repeal Pro-Gun Law He Helped Pass

I especially like it when he claims credit for leading the effort to repeal bills that he himself helped pass.

https://thinkprogress.org/bernie-sanders-pledges-to-repeal-pro-gun-law-he-helped-pass-957f99d381fd/

As he climbs in the polls in Iowa and around the country, Bernie Sanders still can’t seem to avoid criticism on one issue that stands out in his otherwise progressive agenda: his vote for legislation that gives the gun industry legal immunity. On Thursday, the Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont senator announced that he would help to repeal that bill.

Sanders said that he will co-sponsor legislation to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a law passed by Congress in 2005 that shields gun manufacturers from liability in lawsuits over gun violence. Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, praised Sanders’ decision, calling it a clear victory for gun control advocates which would have been “unthinkable a month ago.”

“PLCAA really is one of the most evil special interest laws in history. It’s not hyperbole,” Gross said on a press call Thursday. “PLCAA was also a bill that then-Congressman Bernie Sanders helped to pass in 2005, ushering in a deadly decade of unchecked gun industry negligence that’s resulted in untold tragedy, gun violence, and deaths in our country.

Gross noted that Sanders’ apparent evolution on the issue comes after he met with two family members of gun violence victims on Wednesday. The announcement also comes just days before the Iowa caucuses and could help the senator reconcile with gun control advocates, many of whom have not been able to forgive him for his record on guns.

[George II]

28. Beyond that, even as recently as 2016 he refused to apologize to the families....

....of the children killed in Sandy Hook due to his support of the PLCAA.

So perhaps NOW an apology will be forthcoming?

[Me.]

16. Some Stats

Cosponsored the 2nd most bills compared to All Senators

Warren cosponsored 646 bills and resolutions introduced by other Members of Congress. Cosponsorship shows a willingness to work with others to advance policy goals. View Cosponsored Bills »
#2 646 Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-MA]
#3 591 Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
#7 517 Sen. Cory Booker [D-NJ]
#20 396 Sen. Kamala Harris [D-CA]


Writing Bipartisan Bills
#3 65 Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
#12 42 Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-MA]
#36 23 Sen. Cory Booker [D-NJ]
#97 1 Sen. Bernard “Bernie” Sanders [I-VT]

[sheshe2]

17. Oh SNAP!

[Me.]

19. ...

[sheshe2]

20. ...

[George II]

23. Bazinga! There's a fifth Senator who is a candidate, doesn't appear on your first list.

[OldRed2450]

27. Who was the first?

[Me.]

35. This Senator

#1 664 Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2018/party-senate-democrat/cosponsored

[OldRed2450]

36. Thank you!

[pnwmom]

22. If that's what she thinks, then why would she support Bernie?

In all his time he's written very little successful legislation.

[Uncle Joe]

30. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Donkees.

[AncientGeezer]

33. A thread that shows Sen. Sanders has not done more than name a Post Office

Cool

[Uncle Joe]

34. The only thing your post is showing is that your post is false.

Not cool.

[AncientGeezer]

37. Can you show me wrong??

If you can...I'll donate to his campaign

[Uncle Joe]

39. If one honestly believes that Bernie "has done nothing more than name a post office."

There isn't much anyone can do to help them.

They have to break through their own denial and irrationality or they won't but that isn't going to stop me from kicking and recommending a good Bernie Sanders OP.

This is worth reading if one actually cares about reality.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/democratic-senators-pass-bills-rate/

Number of Introduced Bills Passed by One Chamber

Warren has introduced 305 bills. 15 passed.
Booker has introduced 269 bills. 12 passed.
Harris has introduced 86 bills. 5 passed.
Sanders has introduced 909 bills. 8 passed.
Number of Introduced Bills that Became Law

Warren has introduced 305 bills. 0 became law.
Booker has introduced 269 bills. 2 became law.
Harris has introduced 86 bills. 0 became law.
Sanders has introduced 909 bills. 3 became law.

Number of Co-Sponsored Bills that Became Law as of March 2019

Warren has co-sponsored 1,766 bills. 45 became law.
Booker has co-sponsored 1,314 bills. 36 became law.
Harris has co-sponsored 575 bills. 13 became law.
Sanders has co-sponsored 5,979 bills. 217 became law.

[AncientGeezer]

42. So...you can't show me wrong...that's what you are saying.

From your source.....laughable.....

S. 885 (113th): A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 35 Park Street in Danville, Vermont, as the “Thaddeus Stevens Post Office”.
S. 2782 (113th): A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to improve the Federal charter for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and for other …
S. 893 (113th): Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013
H.R. 5245 (109th): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the “Matthew Lyon Post Office Building”.
H.J.Res. 129 (104th): Granting the consent of Congress to the Vermont-New Hampshire Interstate Public Water Supply Compact.
H.R. 1353 (102nd): Entitled the “Taconic Mountains Protection Act of 1991”.
H.J.Res. 132 (102nd): To designate March 4, 1991, as “Vermont Bicentennial Day”.

[George II]

47. Let's put this in perspective:

Warren has been in Congress (Senate) for about six years (since January 2013)
Booker has been in Congress (Senate) for about six years (since January 2013)
Harris has been in Congress (Senate) for about two years (since January 2017)
Sanders has been in Congress (House and Senate) for about 28 years (since January 1991)

Warren has introduced 305 bills. 15 passed. - 50.8, 2.5 per year
Booker has introduced 269 bills. 12 passed. - 44.8, 2.0 per year
Harris has introduced 86 bills. 5 passed. - 43.0, 2.5 per year
Sanders has introduced 909 bills. 8 passed. - 32.0, 0.3 per year (!)

Number of Introduced Bills that Became Law:

Warren has introduced 305 bills. 0 became law. - 50.8, 0.0 per year
Booker has introduced 269 bills. 2 became law. - 44.8, 0.33 per year
Harris has introduced 86 bills. 0 became law. - 43.0, 0.0 per year
Sanders has introduced 909 bills. 3 became law. - 32.0, 0.1 per year

Number of Co-Sponsored Bills that Became Law as of March 2019

Warren has co-sponsored 1,766 bills. 45 became law. - 294.3, 7.5 per year
Booker has co-sponsored 1,314 bills. 36 became law. - 219.0, 6.0 per year
Harris has co-sponsored 575 bills. 13 became law. - 287.5, 6.5 per year
Sanders has co-sponsored 5,979 bills. 217 became law - 213.5, 7.7 per year

With his longevity and familiarity with the way the House and Senate operate, one would think he would have much more success than his opponents.

[George II]

43. Yeahbut, there was that "Vermont Bicentennial" bill, too!

[AncientGeezer]

44. Crap...I totally forgot about that. That's on me....100%.

[StarfishSaver]

40. I see what you did there.

[UncleNoel]

46. We NEED A PRESIDENT WHO CAN GET BILLS PASSEED....

Joe Bidden is the man.

[brooklynite]

49. If only he could get the bills passed...

[betsuni]

50. "In fact, as it turns out, ... senators ... don't write legislature at all.

And neither do their staffs. You may have seen a filmstrip in sixth grade on how a bill becomes a law, but the way a bill becomes a bill is via the Office of the Legislature Counsel. Senate staff from both parties bring in their bosses' ideas, and then a team of nonpartisan lawyers carefully translates them into intelligible legalize in order to make sure that bills actually do what their authors want them to do."

From Al Franken's "Giant of the Senate."

[Happy Hoosier]

52. I had a friend who was a staffer....

.... according to her, at least, staffers do play a big role. But yeah, the Lawyers revise it for legalese after the policy points are hammered out.

[betsuni]

53. Sanders, when asked about his student loan plan:

"I don't have the plan in my pocket right now."

[Happy Hoosier]

51. So.... staff members?

I mean, it's a picky point, but it's something that bothers me about the ego with legs that is Bernie Sanders (and some other politicians). Staff members do 99% of the research and actual writing. It's a laborious process to be sure. Do people like Bernie contribute? Sure. Do they lead? Sure. But I hate seeing the work of folks obscured by ego.

FYI, I had a friend who was a Senatorial staffer who quit after a while, after getting no credit, and not much respect from the Senator they staffed for.

[HeartlandProgressive]

55. K&R