Sanders writes: "Democrats must use our majority in a different way - one that helps all Americans, not just the 1% and large, profitable corporations."
Bernie Sanders. (photo: Antonella Crescimbeni)
13 June 21
s we attempt to transform this country and address the long term crises facing working families in terms of decent paying jobs, health care, tax reform, education, child care, climate change, racial justice and immigration reform, do I believe that we will have 10 Republican votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster and do what has to be done?
No. No, I do not.
Do I personally believe that Republicans are serious about doing anything significant that would impact their wealthy campaign contributors and help the working families of this country?
No. No, I do not.
Do I believe that we should take Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell at his word when he said that he would do everything possible to undermine President Biden's agenda?
Yes, I do.
It should be clear to everyone that, at this point, if Republicans do not want to cooperate in passing legislation to address the long-neglected needs of working class Americans, then we have to move forward without them. We did that with the all-important American Rescue Plan. We're going to have to do it again. While the Democratic margins are slim in both the House and the Senate, we do have majorities in both bodies. Let's use them.
If Republicans do not want to cooperate, then we have to move forward without them to create millions of good-paying jobs rebuilding our roads, bridges, water systems and railroads.
If Republicans do not want to cooperate, then we have to move forward without them to tackle the existential threat of climate change and transform our energy system away from fossil fuels.
If Republicans do not want to cooperate, then we have to move forward without them to build the millions of units of affordable housing that we desperately need.
If Republicans do not want to cooperate, then we have to move forward without them to lower the cost of prescription drugs and make health care a human right, not a privilege.
If we are going to pass a bold and progressive agenda through the Senate we must do it with 51 votes, instead of 60, by using the budget reconciliation process. And as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, that is exactly what I intend to do.
At a time when half of our people are living paycheck to paycheck and real, inflation-accounted-for wages have not gone up for workers in 48 years, the task at hand is not to please talk show pundits or to create a phony "bipartisanship" which accomplishes nothing. The time is NOW to address the needs of the American people, millions of whom are working two or three jobs just to put food on the table and a roof over their head.
The time has come for the United States Senate to stop representing wealthy, powerful and billionaire campaign contributors, and to start representing the working families of this country.
Now, Republicans will moan and groan if Democrats go forward without their support, but they appear to have very short memories.
Let us not forget that Republicans passed a $2 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest people of this country without a single Democratic vote.
They also tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take away health care from tens of millions of people in this country without a single Democratic vote as well.
So Democrats must use our majority in a different way — one that helps all Americans, not just the 1% and large, profitable corporations.
And the truth is, my colleagues need to hear from you that you agree. So I am asking:
In this moment, we have got to be bold in terms of jobs, health care, nutrition, education, racial justice, immigration, criminal justice reform, housing, climate change and many other important issues.
Will it be easy?
Of course it won’t be easy.
But we must mobilize people of all backgrounds and from all communities in order to get it done. Because in the history of our country, that is the only way change has ever happened.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders
