December 20, 2012
Protect Disabled Veterans
The White House and congressional leaders continued to negotiate a broad deficit reduction agreement as a year-end deadline neared. As the incoming chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Bernie held a news conference flanked by 20 of the nation’s leading veterans’ organizations including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Bernie’s message was clear: "Do not balance the budget on the backs of disabled veterans who have lost their arms, their legs and their eyesight defending our country." Bernie was responding to news reports that President Obama was acceding to Republican requests to cut Social Security and benefits for disabled veterans. Bernie has helped lead the fight against that terrible proposal. He drove home the point minutes later in a television interview citing broad public opposition to cuts in Social Security and Medicare and overwhelming support for raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans. "The American people are saying let's do deficit reduction, but do it in a way that is fair," Bernie told Thomas Roberts.
Watch the news conference »
Watch the Thomas Roberts interview »
Defend Social Security
Social Security has a $2.7 trillion surplus, can pay all benefits owed to all eligible Americans for the next 21 years and, because it is funded independently, has not contributed one penny to the deficit. Bernie agrees with AARP, the National Coalition to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and virtually all seniors’ organizations that Social Security should not be part of the deficit reduction negotiations. Bernie opposes the so-called chained CPI, which would lower benefits for the typical Social Security recipient who retires at age 65 by $653 a year at age 75 and by $1,139 a year at age 85. Bernie will vigorously oppose Republicans and President Obama and anyone else who wants to balance the budget on the backs of seniors.
Listen to the speech »
Watch the Ed Schultz interview »
Listen to an NPR report »
Sign Bernie's petition »
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Tragedy
in Connecticut
The nation mourned with the people in a small New England town where a mass murderer gunned down 20 grade school children. A grandfather of seven, Bernie shared in the national outpouring of grief over this "unspeakable and unimaginable tragedy." In Washington, the shootings renewed a debate on gun violence and mass killings. Bernie stressed that there is no simple solution to this crisis but that Congress must act in a bold and decisive way. Bernie cited the need for improved and accessible mental health care. He decried violence in movies and video games. And he said "we must make certain that highly destructive weapons do not fall into the hands of people who should not have them." Read more » Listen to a Vermont Public Radio report » |
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