Sen. Bernie Sanders is frustrated with the progress of Democratic policy in Congress.
On Sunday, Sanders said Senate Republicans are “laughing all the way to Election Day” because “they have not had to cast one bloody vote” on the Democrats’ roughly $1.2 trillion social spending and climate package, which is stalled in the upper chamber.
“What has bothered me very much is the Republicans are laughing all the way to Election Day. They have not had to cast one bloody vote … which shows us where they’re at. And we have got to change that,” Sanders told co-anchor Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The House-passed spending package has languished in the Senate because of opposition from Republicans and centrist Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.). Manchin and Sinema refused to get behind the legislation despite weeks of negotiations between the White House and Capitol Hill lawmakers.
The Vermont Independent on Sunday urged the Senate to put individual policy initiatives from the social spending and climate package on the floor for votes, a move that would compel members to take a stance on the proposals.
He said Democrats can then cobble together a package with the proposals that appear to have enough support to pass.
Sanders emphasized that many of the initiatives in the larger bill have widespread support among Americans before saying that the Senate has allowed to GOP to “get away with murder” by not bringing legislation to the floor unless it has the votes to pass.
“I think when you bring bills on the floor — we have allowed the Republicans to get away with murder. They haven’t had to vote on anything. Now, if they want to vote against lowering the cost of prescription drugs, expanding Medicaid, dealing with child care, dealing with housing, let them vote, and let Manchin and Sinema decide which side they are on,” Sanders said.
“And when all of that shakes out, we’ll see where we are. I have the feeling that we will be able to get 50 votes or more on some of these issues. We could put that piece together and then pass something that’s very significant,” he added.
The fight over one of the Democrats’ marquee bills comes as the midterm elections are inching closer. Democrats are looking to maintain their majority in the House, while Republicans are ramping up efforts to flip the lower chamber. On the Senate side, both parties are vying to pick up seats and tip the chamber from its current 50-50 split.
Sen. Sanders isn’t the only Democrat who believes the lack of progress will doom the 2022 elections and potentially the 2024 presidential election for the party. It seems unlikely that the Democrats will be able to pass anything to satisfy Progressives without the help of Manchin and Sinema.
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Original Article: https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/590955-sanders-says-gop-is-laughing-all-the-way-to-election-day-they-have
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Bernie, here is the way things work. If you and your posse wants something so much then the Republicans have to make sure this never gets passed. We are a Republic and not a Socialist country and do not wish to have anything you want. These freebies would evently bring our great Country down.
Bernie, keep it up. You are setting yourself up for execution.
All democrats have to do is:
1. Announce a cure for Covid the day before we vote
2. Lower the price of gasoline by 3 cents a gallon the day before we vote
3. Announce another stimulus check is in the mail the day before we vote.
AND AMERICANS WILL BELIEVE IT….. at least enough to keep Biden and his socialists in the White House.
Sammy Knows American,
U have ALL Three Correct. Ur LAST Sentance is WRONG !
#1. Is correct about the CURE !
# 2. is correct about Price of Gasoline
# 3. Is correct about the Stimulus Checks
# 4. Is Completely WRONG ! We The People don’t want to keep Beijing Joey and his FAKE Administration and the Demo Demons of the Democratic Socialist/Communist Party in the House , Senate or even the in We The People’s White House. Unless Ur are a Democratic Commie. Lol !
I am an independent who leans just slightly right of center. Bernie is right on this one. I have always been in favor of one bill for one item, not packing all kinds of crap into big bills like BOTH parties have done to hide their pet projects. Yes one bill one program one vote is actually a very conservative approach but it seems that none of the people who are commenting on this article are smart enough to realize it. This will also help us see where all of our senators are on each issue so that we can be smarter voters in 2022!!!
Bernie you say republicans are laughing all the way to the vote, if the republicans take control of congress I hope they find their backbone and stand up to the democRATS, do what is right for a change instead of tucking their tail and backing down from the socialist democRATS if they will maybe they can get this republic back on track to being one of the greatest in the world, also hope the voters remember what liers the democRATS are and ignores their promises of pie in the sky come November