Bernie Sanders leads Dem charge for new stimulus checks

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

It's the latest sign of resistance to a bipartisan Covid relief plan in the Senate.

By BURGESS EVERETT

12/08/2020 01:30 PM EST

Bernie Sanders is rustling up support among his colleagues to demand any Covid relief bill include direct payments to Americans and leave out a broad liability shield for companies against coronavirus-related litigation.

The Vermont independent is circulating a letter, obtained by POLITICO, from him and other progressive senators taking a hard line against a bipartisan $908 billion proposal as written. It’s the latest sign of unease in both parties over a measure that currently lacks another round of stimulus checks, but which may be the best chance to clinch a lame duck deal.

Sanders (I-Vt.) and five of his colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus say the framework being discussed “does not go anywhere near far enough.” The plan includes $160 billion for state and local governments, a temporary liability shield for businesses and money for transportation, vaccines and schools.

“Please join us in demanding that any new COVID-relief proposal includes a $1,200 direct payment to adults and $500 to their children. Further, please work with us to make certain that there is no language in this bill to give a liability shield to corporations who threaten the health and safety of workers and customers,” Sanders and his colleagues wrote to fellow Senate Democrats.

snip

more at link

Bernie fights for us as usual.

[MineralMan]

1. I doubt he will be any more effective than usual with

his proposals. He has not done well with them in the past, and probably will not do well with this one at the moment.

Sadly, Bernie Sanders is not a very effective Senator, partly because he insists on his Independent status.

[Budi]

2. No Bernie. Speaker Pelosi has been Leading That Stimulus Charge

When's the last time Bernie was even in his Senate seat?

Mia.

Politico could at minimum, Tell the Truth.

Bernie hasn't been leading anything when it comes to the Stimulous.
Now he wants credit?
Not!

[MineralMan]

5. I think I'll stop with what I have already said.

Quite frankly, there is not going to be a personal stimulus that gets through this Congress. It will not happen. That is going to be up to the next Congress and a new, Democratic President. There is no way the individual stimulus checks will get past Mitch and Trump this year. That's not going to happen.

And even Bernie Sanders, poor wanderer in the wilderness that he is, can't change that reality.

[Budi]

13. Yup. Claims that you're "leading", isn't going to break the McConnell, Trump gridlock.

👍

[Mariana]

35. Did Sanders actually claim to be leading the effort?

The headline writer claims that he is, but did Sanders say that?

[ramen]

38. I am also curious about that. I no sign of him doing so,

unless I am missing something.

[Mariana]

44. I don't think you are missing anything. nt.

[Budi]

51. LOL. Well someone wants that attribution given to him.

Who wrote the headline?

[ramen]

59. Burgess Everett and-or their editor, info here:

https://www.politico.com/staff/burgess-everett

But whoever it was, it was not Sanders.

[NurseJackie]

37. Ha! "Wanderer in the wilderness!"

You crack me up, MM! But in addition to your sense of humor and the way you turn a phrase... the way you've described the reality of things is right on point. Astute and concise.

It all just leaves me wondering, what the end goal may be. Surely he's intelligent enough to know that this kind of political showboating isn't going to make a bit of difference. So what's the motivation? Who benefits?

🎄🎁🎅⛄ Happy Holidays & Stay Safe 😷🎭

[MineralMan]

46. Wow! Thanks.

That phrase just popped into my mind. So many people see him as some sort of savior, when he is really just an iconoclastic Senator from one of our least populous states. He proposes much but accomplishes little. I've never understood his popularity with some

I like the man, but he never seems to get things quite right, politically.

[DownriverDem]

42. Which is why

the unemployment extension is so needed now.

[MineralMan]

47. Yes, exactly.

[Budi]

52. Talk to McConnell & Trump

Dems have been leading on this in the Senate & the House..for months.

Shouting a sternly worded statenent to the media isn't going to do it.

When was the last time Mr. Sanders took the Senate floor to address this issue to his Republican collegues?

I'll wait for a reply.

[Mr.Bill]

40. To be honest,

as long as McTurtle is in charge of the Senate, there isn't much reason for any Democrat to show up for work.

[Budi]

53. No reason to shout it to the media either then.

He's not telling us anything that hasn't already been fought about or said, in the House or Senate.

[Mr.Bill]

54. True. n/t

[liskddksil]

4. It's critical that Sen. Hawley (R) is not seen as the hero on including $1200 checks

in the deal. We need our side to be seen as fighting for this equally.

[LizBeth]

7. No, what is CRITICAL is getting something done to extend the Dec 26 deadline.

[liskddksil]

18. These are not mutually exclusive. We need to be perceived as fighting for these checks

since its popular. Mitch needs to be the one seen as holding the bag if it doesn't. In November we got blamed and we cannot let that happen again.

[LizBeth]

22. Stop with actively working at creating illusions while very real people suffer. I want truth. Do

the hard work, get it done, and meet the deadline so we can move on to another issue. There are so many. But in the meantime we have thrown a safety net to millions. Just enough. I am not playing Kumbaya and I am not into letting milions get kicked off UI so we can appear to be on the hurting peoples side.

[liskddksil]

25. This is not about whether the bill passes or not - it probably will without the checks.

But the fact that right now like it or not, we are getting out-messaged by a "populist" Republican, Josh Hawley, who gets to be the hero.

[LizBeth]

28. This has been a ridiculous conversation, so, I will let this one go.

[liskddksil]

29. Good comeback nt

[LizBeth]

30. I have been clear and people can see my position. This is not about come backs.

You spend a lot of time in perceptions. I personally prefer to sit in the realty, especially with lives at stake. So, sincerely, whatever.

[Mr.Bill]

41. Not just because it is popular.

The fact is, the best thing you can do for local small businesses is to put money into the pockets of their customers.

[MineralMan]

8. This deal will NOT include those checks.

That will not happen. Next year, in the next Congress, and with a Democratic President, something like that will probably become law. Not now. Not in this Congress.

Bernie Sanders notwithstanding.

[liskddksil]

15. Whether the stimulus checks make it to the bill or not

we need to be seen as on the side of people. We got spanked on this issue in November. We cannot let that happen again. And this is more than Bernie that feels this way.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/529282-democratic-senators-push-for-new-coronarvirus-relief-package-to-include-1200

[LizBeth]

20. Awfully cavalier about millions of lives, so we are "seen" aws being on their side. This is exactly

the gaslighting I am talking about. Not on the side, letting millions drown, so the we can be "seen" as on the peoples sides. Really? Haven't we had enough of this from Trump and four years and more from Republicans?

[liskddksil]

21. If we want to win elections in the future we need to "seen" as fighting for people. We ceded this

argument too many times now and have lost because of it.

[LizBeth]

23. wow,

[MineralMan]

33. I agree. It's just that Bernie's demands don't really

mean anything, unfortunately.

[Lucinda]

58. I think they will cut a last minute deal and include a smaller stimulus payment -

It is one of the last things that the GOP can do before the January senate runoffs. If they think it can make any difference in winning those two Senate seats, they will get it done

[jaxexpat]

39. He's even more maverickey than McCain.

How come McCain benefitted from that moniker and Bernie does not? Titles bequeathed by media personalities are just not fair sometimes, somehow. It's as if they have a stake in the game or something.

[MineralMan]

49. LOL!

[bigtree]

45. he's not alone on this

...so no actual object lesson in this for his critics on whether he's effective or not.

Senator Warren and Senator Sanders are joined in this legislation by, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)

[Lunabell]

3. Thank you Bernie!

He is a great fighter, I hope they prevail.

People need this. Working class people need this more than ever!! We can't just bail out businesses.

[notinkansas]

10. A single $1200 check over the duration of this pandemic

does not begin to bring significant economic relief. It is in fact shamefully insufficient.

Thank you, Bernie.

[Lunabell]

26. I know!!

And what a boon to Christmas retailers too! I mean, we just have to think about business!!

[LizBeth]

6. We need this done now. He has 24 hours to get it done. He can't. We need to save millions of people

now. In a month we will do more, and in four months this whole thing will look different. Sanders is fighting an almost dead battle, at the expense of millions.

[notinkansas]

14. How will we be able to do more in a month

given the number of repubs in the Senate? Even if Dems take the two Georgia Senate seats, repubs will move heaven and earth to deny Biden any victories.

[LizBeth]

16. With House and executive, Biden has options. Are you suggesting we ought to let millions drown?

[notinkansas]

27. Will Biden's 'options' be any different than those

Obama had? That didn't exactly work out very well.

And no - letting millions drown is not an objective anybody wants. The American people have needed economic relief from the very beginning of this fiasco. repubs need to understand they will pay a serious political price if they do not act - in a way that actually provides Americans financial support. Not just corporations.

[Autumn]

9. Yes he does fight for us. As for leading the charge I agree with that.

He's the one I see and hear talking about getting them all the time. Rec!

[flamingdem]

11. They need to extend UI much more than give everyone $1200

There are other ways to help those who fall through the cracks.

That seems like Bernie drawing attention to himself. He should support the new Biden Admin. We need to be united. Let him dissent after Jan 20 if he must.

[liskddksil]

19. This is not just Bernie

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/529282-democratic-senators-push-for-new-coronarvirus-relief-package-to-include-1200

[AmericanCanuck]

17. The shill reporters at politico back at Bernie worship

It was Speaker Pelosi and Chuck Schumer who have been fighting all this time.

Bernie is late to the party.

[liskddksil]

24. Like it or not, right now Senator Hawley is getting the praise

for fighting for the checks. We need to be seen as equally fighting for this, since it is popular, whether it makes it in this round or not.

[Hortensis]

31. Just starting? Hasn't he been since last May with our 46-member Dem caucus?

Of course, he's not a leader, and the Republicans have the majority, not us, but there'd be far more strength in standing as one of 48 progressives (including 2 indies) than leader of 5 putting on this little media show.

Fulsome apologies to follow if this posturing adds a nickel to the bill McConnell allows to be passed, of course.

[jaxexpat]

43. "Fulsome apologies", a great name for a mixed drink, with the little onions and some other stuff.

"Top shelf regret", another great drink name.

[Hortensis]

50. Lol. I'll go for Fulsome Apologies, stranger things have happened.

For instance when he's made deals with the Republicans that sabotaged, or just declared opposition to, the Democratic position. But, one this time could conceivably add a few nickels even. If McConnell had some use for the opportunity offered.

I see a Fulsome Apology as cringingly sweet (doesn't take much to do that for me) and small to get it down quickly, but very strong.

[W_HAMILTON]

32. I hope he's lobbying the Republicans that he and his "movement" believed they could win over.

Because it's not like Democrats are the ones refusing to provide stimulus checks -- it is Mitch McConnell and his Republicans. Go lobby them and be sure to report back any success you have!

[George II]

34. He hasn't been involved in any of the negotiations, but I see that yesterday...

....(his first day in Washington since November 17, by the way) he's gone behind Dick Durban's back and has been "negotiating" with RW republican Senator Josh Hawley.

[liskddksil]

36. Actually he's working with 5 other Democratic Senators to fight for what the people want and need

If we weren't than Josh Hawley gets to be the hero and we can't have that.

[George II]

57. So he's conducting "negotiations" with republicans outside the Senate Democratic Leadership?

[LanternWaste]

48. He's leading from the middle of the pack.

The article had a swell applause-line as its lead, but never really supported it as such in any meaningful way. I certainly hope Sanders begins to work with the Democratic leadership, that would be really nice.

Fingers crossed.

[pecosbob]

55. When Politico wants to stir sh*t here all they have to do is put Bernie's name in the lede.

I usually file these stories with those by GOP pundits telling Dems how how they should try to fix things.

[betsuni]

56. Sanders was asked if "walking away" from the 1.8 deal was a mistake: "That's what I'm saying!"

But that deal had a near-total grant of immunity for corporations, not a temporary one, and no funds for state and local governments for testing. Pelosi needed funding for testing and told Mnuchin to come back with something. They didn't. Pelosi: "People said, 'Accept the deal' and I was like 'What deal? They haven't agreed to any of this." You can't walk away from something that doesn't exist.

And if Pelosi had gotten a deal, it would have a worse version of liability immunity. Then everybody would blame her for that.

I think the letter should have been written to Republican colleagues. They're the ones who don't want stimulus checks.

[JI7]

60. It's mostly self promotion on his part

[Yeehah]

61. Thanks, Senator Sanders!

Keep up the good fight!

[Martin Eden]

62. I disagree with the "stimulus" checks

Use available funds to sustain people who've lost their jobs in this pandemic and to help small businesses stay afloat until things can return to a semblance of normal.

Why give money to wealthy people who won't spend any more than they otherwise would with or without an extra $600?

Help the people who need help the most, who are choosing between medicine and food or facing eviction.

I have a decent salary (less than 6 figures) in a secure job. The earlier check didn't prompt my wife and I to spend more. In fact we're spending less because we're not traveling or going to restaurants and entertainment venues.

So many people need so much help in so many areas. I sincerely do not understand why pandemic relief funds shouldn't be more focused on those who need it the most.