Oversight
Pentagon must fix waste, fraud and abuse before seeking budget increase, Sanders says
Sanders Tells DOD Fix Fraud & Waste Before Busting Spending Caps WASHINGTON, March 4 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, said the Pentagon must corral wasteful spending before Congress approves additional spending levels for defense above the current law spending cap. Sanders, who has for years pressed the Pentagon to get control of waste, fraud and abuse by military contractors, asked new Pentagon chief Ashton Carter for a meeting to discuss… Continue Reading
03.02.15
6 Ridiculous Corporate Tax Giveaways that Obama Could Fix with the Stroke of a Pen
Sanders Asks Obama to Close Six Egregious Corporate Tax Loopholes WASHINGTON, March 2 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, said President Obama could act on his own to raise over $100 billion over a decade by closing the worst corporate tax loopholes. Sanders identified several actions that the White House could take to prevent corporations from using offshore tax havens and other tax dodges and to prevent wealthy individuals from avoiding income … Continue Reading
02.28.15
New Detailed Chart From Sanders & Others Shows Lack of Transparency in TPP Back-Room Negotiations
Senators to U.S. Trade Rep: End Trade Deal Secrecy WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, led a group of senators calling for an end to secret, back-room negotiations on a free trade agreement. A letter by Sanders signed by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asked the top U.S. trade negotiator to make public details in proposed text of a 12… Continue Reading
02.27.15
Sanders on New CBO Director Appointment
Sanders Statement on New CBO Director WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the Senate Budget Committee ranking member, today issued the following statement on the appointment of Keith Hall to be the Congressional Budget Office director. "I look forward to working with Keith Hall in his new role as head of the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO staff has played a critical role in helping to write sound economic plans. The outgoing director, Doug Elmendorf, has done excellent w… Continue Reading
02.18.15
Legalized Tax Fraud: How Top US Corporations Continue to Profit Through Offshore Tax Havens
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today called on America's leading corporations to stop sheltering profits in the Cayman Islands and other offshore tax havens. He also urged them to stop lobbying Congress for additional tax breaks as the Business Roundtable, an organization representing some of the largest corporations in the country, is expected to do tomorrow. Sanders issued a new report that provides a fresh glimpse into th… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Don't Use A Manufactured Crisis to Cut Social Security Disability
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, said today that Congress should reallocate funds into the Social Security disability fund to prevent a manufactured crisis jeopardizing income for the most vulnerable. Sanders spoke at a Senate Budget Committee hearing to discuss the program. His remarks as prepared for delivery are below: "Thank you Chairman Enzi. The Social Security Disability Insurance program is a life and death program fo… Continue Reading
02.10.15
Sanders Says Rise In Inequality Jeopardizes Social Security
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today headlined an important briefing about wage inequality and its impact on Social Security. The event, hosted by the Strengthen Social Security Coalition, provided a venue for the release of a new report on the issue and a conversation about the implications of possible cuts to the program. Below are Sanders's remarks as prepared for delivery: "We have got to send a very loud and a very cle… Continue Reading
02.10.15
Sanders Issues New Report Documenting Republican Effort to Cut Social Security
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, said that he would fight Republican attempts to cut Social Security and today issued a report detailing the importance of Social Security and how attempts to cut it are unnecessary. "Republicans are manufacturing a phony crisis in Social Security in order to cut the earned benefits of millions of the most vulnerable people in this country," Sanders said. "The American people won't let them get … Continue Reading
02.07.15
Sanders Raps TV Outlets For Failure To Cover Secret Trade Deals
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today made the case against a proposed 12-nation trade deal that he said would be a "disaster" for American workers but good for multi-national corporations wanting to ship more jobs to low-wage nations in Asia. Sanders also criticized major national news organizations for ignoring how trade deals have hurt working families. A media watchdog group recently reported that it found no mention on network evening newscasts during the past ye… Continue Reading
02.05.15
Ahead of Hearing on Social Security Disability, Sanders warns against cuts
Republicans Want to Cut Social Security Disability Benefits, Sanders Warns WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today warned in a Senate floor speech that "Republicans are manufacturing a crisis where none exists" in their effort to cut Social Security disability benefits. In the budget blueprint that President Barack Obama sent to Congress on Monday, the White House requested authority to shift funds from Social Security's re… Continue Reading
02.05.15
Sanders Says We Can Create Jobs By Making Profitable Corporations Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes
WASHINGTON, DC., Feb. 3 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today spoke at a hearing on the president's budget proposal for fiscal year 2016. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman, the good news is that our country has made substantial economic progress in the last 6 years since President George W. Bush left office. Instead of losing 800,000 jobs a month as we were during the final months of the Bush Administration, we ar… Continue Reading
02.03.15
Sanders Says We Can Create Jobs By Making Profitable Corporations Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes
WASHINGTON, DC., Feb. 3 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today spoke at a hearing on the president's budget proposal for fiscal year 2016. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman, the good news is that our country has made substantial economic progress in the last 6 years since President George W. Bush left office. Instead of losing 800,000 jobs a month as we were during the final months of the Bush Administration, we are… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Sanders Statement on Budget Proposal for FY 2016
BURLINGTON, Vt., Feb. 2 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today issued the following statement about President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal year 2016: "The president's budget begins to move us in the right direction. By rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, we can create millions of good-paying jobs. By making community college free, we can finally provide affordable access to higher education for working-class families. By ending outrag… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Sanders effort to increase overtime earnings for Americans
Sanders, Murray & Other Senators Push For End to Overtime Rule to Protect Workers WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today asked President Obama to immediately make changes to labor laws that would end the practice of workers being denied overtime pay simply because they are labeled "supervisors." In many cases, those "supervisors" may be paid as little as $23,660 a year but receive no overtime when they work more than … Continue Reading
01.29.15
Sanders Supports Move to End Artificial Spending Limits
Sanders Supports Move to End Artificial Spending Limits WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today issued the following statement about President Obama's decision not to be constrained by the sequester caps when he submits his budget on Monday: "I support what the president has proposed and will work to eliminate the artificial sequestration cap on non-discretionary spending. It's a step in the right direction and an importan… Continue Reading
01.28.15
Sanders Says Deficits in Good Jobs, Infrastructure, Equality Will Be His Focus
Sanders Spells Out 6 Key Points on For Restoring the Economy WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today opened his first hearing of the new Congress with a call for focusing on the needs of American families. His remarks as prepared for delivery follow: "Thank you Chairman Enzi. I look forward to working with you and I would like to welcome all of the other Senators who are with us today. I would also like to thank Director … Continue Reading
01.27.15
Sanders Introduces Bill to Rebuild America’s Crumbling Infrastructure, Support 13 Million Jobs
Sanders Introduces Bill to Rebuild America's Crumbling Infrastructure, Support 13 Million Jobs WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today introduced far-reaching legislation to rebuild America's crumbling network of roads, bridges and transit. His 5-year-plan would invest $1 trillion in the effort and create or maintain at least 13 million decent-paying jobs. Support for the legislat… Continue Reading
01.26.15
New CBO report does not show suffering of American families
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today said that the Congressional Budget Office report on the budget and economic outlook only tells part of the story on the economy and the federal budget. He issued the following statement: "CBO's report is important, but it only tells us part of the story. What we must never forget is that tens of millions of Americans today are struggling to keep their heads above water economically whil… Continue Reading
01.24.15
New Committee Report Spells Out Path For Rebuilding the Middle Class
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today issued a white payer laying out challenges that he said the Senate Budget Committee and the country must address. The report can be found below:… Continue Reading
01.21.15
Sanders Promises to Fight Failed Trade Policies
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today joined six House leaders to state their strong opposition to a proposed trade agreement that they say was negotiated in secret and will hurt American workers. They promised to build a bipartisan coalition and work with organized labor, environmental groups and others to defeat the Trans-Pacific Partnership. "Since 2001, the U.S. has lost more than 60,000 factories and millions of good-pay… Continue Reading