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beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)
23. Oopsie! "Bernie Gets It Done: Sanders' Record of Pushing Through Major Reforms Will Surprise You"
Sat Mar 12, 2016, 06:33 PM
Mar 2016
Bernie Gets It Done: Sanders' Record of Pushing Through Major Reforms Will Surprise You
What kind of experience does Bernie Sanders have? Let's take a look.
By Zaid Jilani / AlterNet
October 17, 2015

Once Sanders made it to the Senate in 2006, his ability to use amendments to advance a progressive agenda was empowered. Here are some of the amendments he passed in the Senate:

Greening the U.S. Government (June 2007): A Sanders amendment made a change to the law so at least 30 percent of the hot water demand in newer federal buildings is provided through solar water heaters.

Protecting Our Troops (October 2007): Sanders used an amendment to win $10 million for operation and maintenance of the Army National Guard, which had been stretched thin and overextended by the war in Iraq.

Restricting the Bailout to Protect U.S. Workers (Feburary 2009): A Sanders amendment required the banking bailout to utilize stricter H-1B hiring standards to ensure bailout funds weren't used to displace American workers.

Helping Veterans' Kids (July 2009): A Sanders amendment required the Comptroller General to put together comprehensive reporting on financial assistance for child care available to parents in the Armed Forces.

Exposing Corruption in the Military-Industrial Complex (November 2012): A Sanders amendment required “public availability of the database of senior Department officials seeking employment with defense contractors” – an important step toward transparency that revealed the corruption of the revolving door in action.

...

Using the Power of a Senator

While Sanders was an amendment king who was able to bring bipartisan coalitions together to make serious changes to laws, he also knew how to be a thorn in the side of the establishment until it offered up something in return. Sanders was able to get the first-ever audit of funds given out by the Federal Reserve, which made transparent over $2 trillion of funds handed out by the secretive organization. This was a cause that Republican congressman Ron Paul (TX) had been pursuing for decades, but Sanders was able to get the votes to do it by forging a compromise that required an audit for the bailout period alone.

When the Affordable Care Act was in danger of not having the votes to pass, Sanders used his leverage to win enough funding for free health treatment for 10 million Americans through Community Health Centers. This gutsy move—holding out until the funds were put into the bill—has even Republican members of Congress requesting the funds, which have helped millions of Americans who otherwise would not have access.

Another moment came when Sanders, who was then chair of the Veterans committee, worked with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), to overhaul the Veterans Administration. McCain praised Sanders' work on the bill in an interview with National Journal. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) even went so far as to say the bill would never have passed without Sanders' ability to bring the parties to a deal.

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-gets-it-done-sanders-record-pushing-through-major-reforms-will-surprise-you


What did Hillary do, I mean besides help get us into the Iraq war?

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

But wait! There's more! NurseJackie Mar 2016 #1
Well, HRC will take what she can get when she can get it, that's for sure. cyberswede Mar 2016 #2
the market economy at work kennetha Mar 2016 #7
Bernie is not "too good" for the real world bigwillq Mar 2016 #3
Why support Bernie when you can $ide with the trillion dollar for-profit health care industry? beam me up scottie Mar 2016 #4
Boy your threads as of late resemble UglyGreed Mar 2016 #5
If you can't beat 'e, join 'em. kennetha Mar 2016 #11
Alternately, you could just be a hypocrite. Scootaloo Mar 2016 #26
I can assure you Aerows Mar 2016 #6
Yes, many are tired of "pragmatic" politicians that continue to pull us to the right. Broward Mar 2016 #8
You just don't get it, do you? kennetha Mar 2016 #10
Oh, I get it. You are an opposing force to the progressive movement. Broward Mar 2016 #12
nonsense kennetha Mar 2016 #13
Hmmm... The supporters ever more resemble their candidate Fumesucker Mar 2016 #9
Tired of choie Mar 2016 #14
Bernie has accomplished almost nothing of substance in 25 years in Congress kennetha Mar 2016 #16
Only if you measure accomplishments by how much money he made from special interests. beam me up scottie Mar 2016 #18
No I'm talking about law making -- which is what you do in Congress. You know make laws. kennetha Mar 2016 #19
Oopsie! "Bernie Gets It Done: Sanders' Record of Pushing Through Major Reforms Will Surprise You" beam me up scottie Mar 2016 #23
Say it a third time, maybe then somebody will believe it choie Mar 2016 #21
Bernie is so pure kennetha Mar 2016 #15
You mean not bought and paid for? beam me up scottie Mar 2016 #17
accomplish nothing. an inconsequential blowhard kennetha Mar 2016 #20
No, just too good for your kind of world. sadoldgirl Mar 2016 #24
With Clinton lots of new wars will be accomplished! JackRiddler Mar 2016 #22
Please lay out specific proposals that Hillary has for universal health care covrerage libtodeath Mar 2016 #25
Sorry that I don't see in Hillary what you do...... daleanime Mar 2016 #27
We build what our "real world" is. laruemtt Mar 2016 #28
Ah, Realistic approach / attempt! Jackilope Mar 2016 #29
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