The Bernie Buzz

Several excerpts from Senator Bernie Sanders' most recent newsletter are below.

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Staggering increases in prices for many generic drugs were examined on Thursday at a Senate hearing that Bernie chaired. Three pharmaceutical companies were invited to testify but refused. Generic drugs – copies of drugs no longer protected by patents – historically have cost much less than brand-name prescription medicines. “If generic drug prices continue to rise at the rates that we are seeing, millions of Americans may not be able to afford the medicines they desperately need. Drug companies have seen the opportunity to make a whole lot of money and they are seizing that opportunity,” Bernie told The Associated Press.

	Read the AP report

Watch Bernie at the hearing

Immigration On major issue after major issue, including immigration reform, where the Senate passed a comprehensive bill last year, the Republican-controlled House has refused to act. On Thursday, in response to a broken immigration system, the president acted on his own to protect millions of families. Bernie applauded the president but found it truly amazing that the major broadcast TV networks refused to air Obama’s prime-time address. “People can be for immigration reform or against it, but clearly we need an intelligent, informed debate.” Watch the president's address

Senate Stops Keystone Pipeline The Senate on Tuesday defeated a House-passed bill to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline. “The scientific community is telling us that we have a narrow window of opportunity to address the crisis of climate change and to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels and into energy efficiency and sustainable energy. The idea of encouraging production of the dirtiest oil on the planet is totally insane,” Bernie told Chris Hayes hours after the Senate vote. Watch Bernie on MSNBC

Seven big U.S. companies paid CEOs more than Uncle Sam in 2013: study Kevin Drawbaugh for Reuters