Bernie's Congressional Report Card - Sourced

[AtomicKitten]

[Fawke Em]

1. K & R

[PatrickforO]

2. A wonderful post!

Thank you!

[marym625]

3. AWESOME! Thank you!

This is EXCELLENT!

[99Forever]

4. Boom!

So much for Camp Weathervane's "can't get anything done" meme.

[Mnpaul]

16. Oh, it gets better

if they were to delve into his record:

Over the years, Sanders has tucked away funding for health centers in appropriation bills signed by George W. Bush, into Barack Obama’s stimulus program, and through the earmarking process. But his biggest achievement came in 2010 through the Affordable Care Act. In a series of high-stakes legislative maneuvers, Sanders struck a deal to include $11 billion for health clinics in the law.
https://theintercept.com/2015/07/06/gop-senators-support-sanders-obamacare-expansion/

Bernie was named the "amendment king" in the House.

In Congress, Bernie has fought tirelessly for working families, focusing on the shrinking middle class and growing gap between the rich and everyone else. Bernie has been called a “practical and successful legislator” and he was dubbed the “amendment king” in the House of Representatives for passing more amendments than any other member of Congress. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Bernie worked across the aisle to “bridge Washington’s toxic partisan divide and cut one of the most significant deals in years.” In 2015, Democratic leadership tapped Bernie to serve as the caucus’ ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee.
https://berniesanders.com/about/

[beam me up scottie]

20. It sure does!

Thank you for posting that, Mnpaul!

[Marty McGraw]

47. That is so cool

That you brought this to light

[beam me up scottie]

5. And there it is!

Another meme bites the dust!

[moobu2]

6. It looks like George McGovern

from what I've read. McGovern got like 17 electoral votes out of 520.

[Luminous Animal]

8. Yesssssss. And the people in this United States are exactly where they were 43 years ago.

[moobu2]

9. I think Bernie Sanders could get a few more electoral votes obviously

like maybe 22 or 23 maybe.

[Luminous Animal]

12. And you based this on your own self-musement while drinking your

morning hot beverage?

[neverforget]

56. 22 or 23 electoral votes? Clinton supporters aren't going to vote for him?

[Historic NY]

21. Well some people here want to go back 73+ years..

to FDR......isn't that sorta living way in the past. But I guess they over look it was the war that brought the nation out of the depression.

[Armstead]

35. No just rolling back a lot of destructive shit from the last 30 years or so

[Luminous Animal]

38. They do not want to go back 73 years ago, they want to build on it. We want human happiness

and well being.

The country (finally) looks ready to do so.

FDR's Bill of Rights

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.

….

“All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

Europe secured many of those rights for their citizens. We did not. It is time we joined the rest of the so-called "first would"

[beam me up scottie]

10. "Mostly wasted efforts it look like."

moobu2 (4,039 posts)

21. Mostly wasted efforts it look like.

He's been in Washington for more than 20 years and hasn't gotten anything done but a bunch of talking. He's not a member of one of the 2 political party's so how could he do anything.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=640579

LAWS ENACTED: Top 10% among All Senators

[moobu2]

15. How was the 'laws enacted' percentage calculated?

was it over the entire time he's been in Washington against others who weren't there but for a few terms? Bernie's been there for almost a 1/4 century.

[beam me up scottie]

18. Moving the goalposts, are we?

You said:

He's been in Washington for more than 20 years and hasn't gotten anything done but a bunch of talking.

Care to walk that back now?

[cpompilo]

27. **crickets**

[beam me up scottie]

46. I hear them too. :)

[moobu2]

60. It's relative.

If Bernie has been in Washington for 1/4 century and has a few bills enacted and you compare that record to someone who served 1 or 2 terms and enacted the same number without considering the time they both were in office then it isn't a fair comparison. I'm not moving anything just using logic.

[Historic NY]

24. Can you even name what laws he proposed were enacted?????

10% is such a low number it shouldn't be hard.

[beam me up scottie]

25. Reading comprehension difficulties?

You guys are so desperate to find something - anything to "prove" he's ineffective you're willing to flush any credibility you might once have had right down the crapper.

[Historic NY]

26. No name one bill that was signed...

I don't have a problem reading it just the propaganda is thick.

[beam me up scottie]

29. Senate Passes Veterans Health Care Bill

Senate Passes Veterans Health Care Bill
Thursday, July 31, 2014


WASHINGTON, July 31 – The Senate tonight approved and sent to President Barack Obama a bill to improve access to health care for veterans and reform the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Crafted by the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairmen – Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) – the $16.3 billion bill passed the Senate by a vote of 91-3. The House of Representatives voted 420-5 on Wednesday to approve the same measure.

“This bill keeps our commitment to the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our country. It makes certain that we address the immediate crisis of veterans being forced onto long waiting lists for health care. It strengthens the VA so that it will be able to hire the doctors, nurses and medical personnel it needs so we can permanently put an end to the long waiting lists. It addresses the very serious problem of accountability and makes certain that dishonest and incompetent senior officials do not remain employed at the VA,” Sanders said.

The measure provides $5 billion for the VA to recruit more doctors, nurses and other medical providers to care for the surging number of veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans on long VA waiting lists and those who live far from VA facilities may see private doctors or go to community health centers, Department of Defense facilities and Indian Health Centers. The bill has $10 billion for that emergency provision for veterans who cannot get an appointment within 30 days or live more than 40 miles from a VA clinic. Another $1.3 billion will pay for leasing 27 new clinics in 18 states and Puerto Rico.

“Planes and tanks and guns are a cost of war,” Sanders said. “So is taking care of the men and women who use those weapons and fight our battles.”

The legislation was passed two days after the Senate confirmed Robert McDonald as the new VA secretary. It will give him more tools to do his job better. One provision would make it easier for the secretary to fire or demote senior executives who falsified records and tried to cover up delays in treating patients.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-veterans-health-care-bill

Not good enough Bernie?

[Historic NY]

32. Wow it took you that long....

Here try this I'm sure you can see the signed by the President box....

https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033

[beam me up scottie]

33. WTF? How long should it have taken for me to meet your imperious demand?

Who signed this bill?

Procedural history[edit]

The bill H.R. 3230 was introduced into the United States House of Representatives on October 2, 2013 by Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) as the "Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act".[6] The bill was referred to the United States House Committee on Appropriations. The bill was one of the October 2013 mini-continuing resolutions passed by the House during the United States federal government shutdown of 2013. On October 3, 2013 the House voted in Roll Call Vote 516 to pass the bill 265-160.[6] On June 11, 2014, the United States Senate changed the name of the bill to the "Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014" and voted to pass the bill 93-3 in Roll Call Vote 187.[6]

Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Jeff Miller said that "many of the provisions included in today's Senate-passed bill are based on ideas that have already cleared the House, so I'm hopeful both chambers of Congress can soon agree on a final package to send to the president's desk."[1] Miller was referring to the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014 (H.R. 4810; 113th Congress) which contained similar provisions and passed the House on June 10, 2014.[21]

The House and Senate established a conference committee to agree on amendments to the bill. The committee met on June 24, 2014. The House voted to agree to the conference report on July 30, 2014 with a vote of 420-5 in Roll Call Vote 467.[6] The Senate voted to agree to the conference report on July 31, 2014 with a vote of 91-3 in Roll Call Vote 254.[6] President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on August 7, 2014.[6]

Debate and discussion[edit]

Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) were the two main senators who negotiated the bill.[1] McCain said "is this a final solution to these problems? No, but it is a beginning."[1] McCain also called the situation an "emergency" and said "if it's not an emergency that we've neglected these brave men and women who have protected our country, then I don't know what is."[18]

Only three senators voted against the bill, Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Bob Corker (R-TN), and Ron Johnson (R-WI).[18]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans%27_Access_to_Care_through_Choice,_Accountability,_and_Transparency_Act_of_2014

[Historic NY]

39. What your not a BS researcher..

I wouldn't depend on wikipedia...especially when I posted a link. Go back and look it should be easy enough for you.

That's one of the newest....good thing McCain teamed up with him.

[beam me up scottie]

42. Thank you for admitting you were wrong: "That's one of the newest"

Total bills passed: 206

https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033?q=%7B"bill-status"%3A"law"%7D


BS?


Someone's full of HC!

[Historic NY]

43. Duh...thats only his newest...

stick your head in the sand....Adios...

[beam me up scottie]

44. LMAO!

This is why you don't bring a plastic spork when you go to the OK Corral.

[Fairgo]

57. well, that was a little embarrassing

You do not suffer foolishness gladly, but you suffer it well.

[beam me up scottie]

61. Thank you!

I find posters like that most amusing.

[beam me up scottie]

34. Dig through the rest yourself:

https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033?q=%7B"bill-status"%3A"law"%7D

[JDPriestly]

55. McGovern ran in 1972 while the Viet Nam War was in progress and after LBJ signed the

Civil Rights Act. He ran against an incumbent. The Southern Strategy was new, and Democrats did not know how to get elected in the new paradigm.

The situation, the political situation is not at all comparable.

The 1968 Democratic Convention was torn apart by a couple of issues: the War Viet Nam War demonstrations and questions about the seating of delegates.

The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because President Lyndon B. Johnson had announced he would not seek reelection, the purpose of the convention was to select a new presidential nominee to run as the Democratic Party's candidate for the office.[1] The keynote speaker was Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).[2]

Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine were nominated for President and Vice President, respectively.

The convention was held during a year of violence, political turbulence, and civil unrest, particularly riots in more than 100 cities[3] following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4.[4] The convention also followed the assassination of Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York, on June 5.[5] Both Kennedy and Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota had been running against the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Democratic_National_Convention

The country and Democrats were so badly divided in 1968 that we were unable to unseat Nixon in 1972.

We won in 1976 because Nixon was such a liar and because of Watergate and the Niixon impeachment. But the Viet Nam War split the Democratic Party. We lost a lot of Democrats because of the mistake of getting involved in that war and then basically losing it at a cost of the lives of so many young Americans.

We need to remember that we cannot fix everything in the world. And we need to focus on being a good country here where we are.

[kenfrequed]

74. Also

McGovern lost in no small part because of some Democratic party old guard and wealth y party backers that intentionally threw their support to Nixon. Are the people here making the McGovern analogy stating their intention.

[rhett o rick]

67. So do you like how Sen Sanders stands on issues or maybe you'd prefer someone

closer to Wall Street. Comparing him to McGovern is absurd. Times are different. Millions elected Obama because he ran on change but failed to follow thru. The people still want change. Granted H. Clinton has the big money behind her, but people are getting tired of the wealthy 1% looting the economy. Why anyone would want to continue our slide into poverty and oligarchy, I can't understand.

Support the 99%, support Sen Sanders.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

81. Yes. It does. I voted for him and would do so again.

[CharlotteVale]

7. K&R

[99th_Monkey]

11. But, but ..

Hillary supporters told me "Bernie hasn't accomplish anything in Congress"

They wouldn't lie would they?

[beam me up scottie]

13. He only renamed some post offices!!!

[99th_Monkey]

14. Yah, like that.

Glad a more accurate & complete record of his service is now out there.

[Baltimore18]

30. He also sponsored the Veterans' Cost of Living Adjustment Act:

https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033?q=%7B%22bill-status%22%3A%22law%22%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%7D

[beam me up scottie]

31. Bernie always stood up for veterans.

[valerief]

19. Let's promote him to president!

[appalachiablue]

22. K & R. Super! Thank you. That's Bernie Sanders!

~ Do Not Underestimate Bernie Sanders. ~ Geaux Bernie Geaux! ~

[beam me up scottie]

48. GEAUX BERNIE!

That's a great picture!

[zeemike]

23. And it is still not good enough.

And why is a mystery.

[Armstead]

37. A mystery?

I can think of several different reasons it's never good enough for some people.

[cpompilo]

28. Thank You!

[NYC Liberal]

36. Nice fine print there.

"Laws Enacted" in big, bold print next to "Top 10%" -- with "and Bills Introduced and Bills Out of Committee" in smaller print underneath.

Here are the three bills that Sanders has actually gotten passed and enacted into law:

H.R. 5245 (109th): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the “Matthew Lyon Post Office Building”.
Sponsor: Sen. Bernard “Bernie” Sanders [I-VT]
Introduced: Apr 27, 2006
Enacted — Signed by the President: Aug 2, 2006

S. 885 (113th): A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 35 Park Street in Danville, Vermont, as the “Thaddeus Stevens Post Office”.
Sponsor: Sen. Bernard “Bernie” Sanders [I-VT]
Introduced: May 7, 2013
Enacted — Signed by the President: Nov 26, 2014

S. 893 (113th): Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013
Sponsor: Sen. Bernard “Bernie” Sanders [I-VT]
Introduced: May 8, 2013
Enacted — Signed by the President: Nov 21, 2013

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=400357#sort=introduced_date&current_status[]=28

Also, if you include only Senators (going back to 1973, the earliest year the site has data for), 74% have gotten more than 3 bills enacted.

[beam me up scottie]

40. Cosponsored Legislation: 203

https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033?q=%7B"bill-status"%3A"law"%7D


How many bills did Hillary get passed ?

[Armstead]

41. Nice cherry picking there

If you look at the overall totals as a legislature, he ranges from average to very high in many categories, and low in a few.

Overall it indicates that he has been a good legislator in technical performance.....and, in less tangible but significant standards, he has been EXCELLENT in terms of raising and fighting for important issues and policies.

But I know, you'll find a new way to move those ol' goalposts.

[NYC Liberal]

59. "he has been EXCELLENT in terms of raising and fighting for important issues and policies"

Really? Funny how he has been in Congress for 25 years, and yet until very recently 60-70% of the public had no opinion of him. Even now, that number is still around 40%.

[beam me up scottie]

63. From post #16:

Over the years, Sanders has tucked away funding for health centers in appropriation bills signed by George W. Bush, into Barack Obama’s stimulus program, and through the earmarking process. But his biggest achievement came in 2010 through the Affordable Care Act. In a series of high-stakes legislative maneuvers, Sanders struck a deal to include $11 billion for health clinics in the law.

https://theintercept.com/2015/07/06/gop-senators-support-sanders-obamacare-expansion/

Bernie was named the "amendment king" in the House.

In Congress, Bernie has fought tirelessly for working families, focusing on the shrinking middle class and growing gap between the rich and everyone else. Bernie has been called a “practical and successful legislator” and he was dubbed the “amendment king” in the House of Representatives for passing more amendments than any other member of Congress. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Bernie worked across the aisle to “bridge Washington’s toxic partisan divide and cut one of the most significant deals in years.” In 2015, Democratic leadership tapped Bernie to serve as the caucus’ ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee.

https://berniesanders.com/about/

But thanks for playing!

[Armstead]

64. How many Senators, much less Congressmen, have people ever heard of?

And what did Clinton do to stand out in Congress? How many would have ever heard of her apart from her previous name recognition before she even ran for that office?

[rhett o rick]

70. If you can't win on comparison of issues, then look to personalities.

Sen Sanders has done his job for years and did not seek the spotlight. And that's why the enthusiasm for him is so overwhelming. People are learning what he is about. And he is about fighting for the people and not Wall Street.

[Baltimore18]

45. I don't think this Congress has been passing any laws for a while now.

I'm surprised to learn that Bernie is the second most progressive Senator, according to legislation.

The first is Richard Blumenthal. (CT)

[SunSeeker]

49. Gee, seems like something is missing ...what could it be...hmmm, what's been in the news?

Oh! I know! I know! GUNZ. What's Sanders' grade with gun control groups? I don't know if the Brady Campaign forgave him for voting against the Brady Bill and for the PLCAA, but they gave Vermont an F. http://www.bradycampaign.org/2013-state-scorecard

[beam me up scottie]

50. They gave Vermont an F? Wow, good thing Vermont isn't running for the nomination!

[SunSeeker]

51. I'm sure Sanders is really concerned about that score for his home state of 40 years...

And will get right on it to fix that!

[beam me up scottie]

52. You do realize Bernie's not the dictator of Vermont, right?

I'll let him know you're concerned and I'm sure he'll get right on it.

I'm from Vermont and I could care less what flatlanders here think.

[SunSeeker]

53. Oh, not to worry. I am well aware he is not able to fix things. nt

[beam me up scottie]

54. Aw, someone's feeling the Bern!

[SunSeeker]

58. Not me. You can keep your tube. Bengay smells nasty. nt

[beam me up scottie]

62. Who would put Bengay on a Bern? That's just crazy talk!

[SunSeeker]

65. You're the one trying to smear that tube on people, not me. nt

[beam me up scottie]

66. Can't you read? It says BERN CREAM! Not BENGAY. Give it a try!

[SunSeeker]

72. Bern Cream IS Bengay.

No thanks, I'll let you play with that shit.

[beam me up scottie]

75. Aw, still Bernin? How about some rap music?

[SunSeeker]

77. Nope. The only way that lame rap song will make anyone "feel the Bern"...

is if they smeared your tube of Bengay on their tender bits.

[beam me up scottie]

78. Bern cream still not doing the trick? How about some H2O?

[beam me up scottie]

79. Oh and thanks for keeping this kicked, everyone should see the card in the op!

[rhett o rick]

68. And what happens when Clinton fixes things? We end up with a million innocent people dead in Iraq.

How can people over look that?

[SunSeeker]

71. How can people overlook it? Because blaming Hillary for Iraq is a bullshit smear.

[rhett o rick]

80. She is responsible for choosing to side with George Bush in invading Iraq. That's a fact, not a

smear. Many people think that letting the Republicons invade Iraq is the biggest mistake in a century. I do understand how embarrassing it is to be a Democrat whose candidate chose to betray her party and join the Republicons in waging war on Iraq.

She is responsible for her record. I wished at the time that she would stand up to the Republicons and tell them to go to hell. It might not have mattered but she would have taken a Democratic stand.

[Uncle Joe]

69. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Atomic Kitten.

[sabrina 1]

73. Excellent record, thank you!

[restorefreedom]

76. needs another kick

great chart!