Bernie Sanders: 'My Vote For The Final Bill Is By No Means Guaranteed'

[babylonsister]

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/bernie-sanders-my-vote-for-the-final-bill-is-by-no-means-guaranteed.php?ref=fpblg

Bernie Sanders: 'My Vote For The Final Bill Is By No Means Guaranteed'
November 21, 2009, 8:52PM


Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on Nov. 21, 2009, after the Senate 60-39 vote to begin debate on a health care reform bill:

"I voted to proceed on health care reform because our current health care system is disintegrating and must be reformed. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured, and 45,000 die every year because they don't have access to a doctor. We have almost one million Americans going bankrupt because of medically-related diseases, health care costs are soaring and we end up spending almost twice as much per person on health care as any other nation. It is clear that we need real health care reform.

"While I voted to proceed to the health care legislation tonight, I have made it clear to the administration and Democratic leadership that my vote for the final bill is by no means guaranteed. In the weeks to come I intend to do everything I can to make this legislation stronger and more effective for working families and taxpayers in Vermont and America and something all Americans can be proud of."

[Uben]

1. What? Is this guy that ignorant?

Doesn't he watch Faux News?


















/sarcasm

[Name removed]

5. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HelenWheels]

2. We need more like Bernie

So the rest of the Dem's know who they need to cater too.

[Tesha]

8. I've been wondering, of late, exactly how we could clone him.

What, exactly, happened that allowed Vermont to elect such a brilliant
yet lefty politician? What were the critical steps that we'd need to reproduce?

Tesha

[sallyseven]

9. They also elected Dr. Dean.

Remember him?

[Tesha]

13. Good point! Downright sensible, those Green Mountain Staters! (NT)

[KharmaTrain]

3. Bernie Is My Safety Valve...

He is one person I fully trust in shooting straight about what's going on with this debate. So far he's wanted it to move along, as many of us have to get some kind of reform on the books. His assessments of what's been going on have been very insightful as he's carefully watching the process. I see him as the counterbalance to Conservo-dems attempting to water down the bill too much and when he says it's not worth supporting, that will carry a lot of weight.

[mascarax]

6. Agree - I trust him too

We need more like him and less like...well, too many to name.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

10. me too!

"I have made it clear to the administration..."


I think that right there is says it all. Message delivered.



Message received???

[Echo In Light]

4. K&R

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. K&R

[freddie mertz]

11. Bernie is a great American.

And a rare example of a public progressive with a conscience.

I hope he holds out if the bill gets any worse, and hope he succeeds in making it better.

[slipslidingaway]

12. knr nt

[Festivito]

14. Go Bernie, but they'll just pay another Repub to cross lines.

... like they did for Kucinich.

Hold on tight, it's going to be a bumpy ride.