Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders was born in Brooklyn in 1941, his father was a Jewish immigrant from Poland who fled after World War II, his mother a New York City resident. He was raised in New York and later graduated from the University of Chicago. At the University of Chicago Bernie studied political science and was an active in many protests against segregation. His political career began in 1981 when he ran for Mayor of Burlington, the largest city in Vermont. He was elected to a total of four terms and received national awards for his work. In 1990 Sanders ran for the Vermont House of Representatives and won, becoming was the first independent in the House in 40 years. He served as representative for 16 years before becoming Senator in 2006. He is currently serving his second term as senator and is running for president.

Campaign Website

Tax Reform

Prevent large corporations from shifting profits overseas to avoid paying US taxes. Increase taxes on capital gains and dividends. Close loopholes on corporate taxes. (BSWII)

• 6.2 percent income-based health care premium paid by employers
• 2.2 percent income-based premium paid by households.
• Progressive income tax rates.

Under this plan the marginal income tax rate would be:

37 percent on income between $250,000 and $500,000. 43 percent on income between $500,000 and $2 million. 48 percent on income between $2 million and $10 million. (0.08% of population) 52 percent on income above $10 million. (.01% of the population)

• Taxing capital gains and dividends the same as income from work
• Limit tax deductions for rich
• The Responsible Estate Tax

Creation of progressive estate tax on the top 0.3 percent of Americans who inherit more than $3.5 million.

(BSWHC)

Jobs and Business Policy

Business

• Increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 by 2020. (BSWII)
• Favors the Employee Free Choice Act, a reform that would protect workers' rights to unionize and make it harder for management to threaten unionizing workers.
• Clean Energy workforce would create 10 million jobs. (BSWCC)
• Claims that the separation of health insurance and employment allows entrepreneurs and businesses to move forward without health insurance being an issue and at lower costs. (BSWHC)

WallStreet

• Too big to fail, Too big to Exist Act which would break up big banks and prohibit organizations that are too large from accessing using uninsured deposits for risky activities. (BSWWS)
• Supports reinstating legislation similar to the Glass-Steagall Act. (BI)
• Tax on Wall Street Speculation that would fund tuition-free college. (BI)

Health Policy

"I want to end the international embarrassment of the United States of America being the only major country on earth that doesn't guarantee health care to all people as a right and not a privilege." - Bernie Sanders (HP)

Bernie believes in guaranteeing healthcare as a right of citizenship by enacting a medicare for all single-payer healthcare system. He also favors enacting universal childcare and prekindergarten policy. (BSWII) In Bernie's system the rich pay more in order to ensure that health care is a right not a privilege. He claims we must join the rest of the modern world with universal healthcare. Statistically America spends more per person on Healthcare than any other advanced nation in the world, but ends up with less. He argues that providing universal health care is a morally principled and financially responsible decision. He will also fight to lower prescription drug policies. (BSWHC) Sanders is also in favor of expanding the VA so that every veteran can receive the care they need, both mental and physical. (BSWV)

Drug Policy

Bernie believes that the war on drugs has failed and instead of pursuing a path of punishment America should try to treat drug addiction. He supports medical marijuana and decriminalization of recreational marijuana. He believes that states should have the right to vote on full legalization. For hard drugs Bernie supports increased education and rehabilitation.

Middle East

Supports Iran deal and wants less military involvement in the Middle East. If ISIS is to be defeated it should be done by other Middle Eastern nations or in a coalition with other Middle Eastern nations instead of unilateral action. Bernie wants to involve the Saudis and our allies in the Middle East in our decision making process in order to create change that is actually effective and lasting.

Trade

Reversing trade policies like NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR that have driven down wages and caused the loss of millions of jobs. (BSWII) Trade policy would focus on restoring jobs for Americans. Stop exports of oil abroad to focus on clean energy solutions at home. Against all Free-Trade agreements on the grounds that it hurts the American people and represents only the interests of corporate America.

Immigration

Bernie Sanders Immigration Goals:

• Dismantle deportation programs and detention centers
• Create a way for a swift and fair legislative roadmap to citizenship for eleven million undocumented immigrants
• Broad eligibility for citizenship to all non-criminals in the US
• Establish a reasonable wait for citizenship of 5 years
• Regulate the flow of immigrants by modernizing the visa system and rewriting trade agreements
• End for profit prisons that lead to detention of immigrants
• Demilitarize the border in order to reduce costs and border deaths
• Expand support for refugees.

(BSWI)

Environmental

Bernie seeks to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels by promoting wind and solar energy and placing a tax on carbon pollution. Bernie believes in a 100% clean energy future. He wants to pursue a nuclear free clean energy policy that will decrease dependence on foreign oil, including the following:

• Ban fossil fuel lobbyists from working in the White House.
• Ban Arctic oil drilling and offshore oil drilling.
• Reduce carbon emissions in order to reduce the harmful effects of global warming on the environment.
• Ban fracking, mountaintop coal mining, and all oil or natural gas extraction from American public land.
• Increase fuel economy standards to 65 mpg by 2025.
• Clean-Energy Workforce of 10 million jobs and 100% clean energy system for electricity, heating, and transportation.

(BSWCC)

"Right now, we have an energy policy that is rigged to boost the profits of big oil companies like Exxon, BP, and Shell at the expense of average Americans. CEO’s are raking in record profits while climate change ravages our planet and our people — all because the wealthiest industry in the history of our planet has bribed politicians into complacency in the face of climate change. Enough is enough. It’s time for a political revolution that takes on the fossil fuel billionaires, accelerates our transition to clean energy, and finally puts people before the profits of polluters." - Senator Bernie Sanders

Sources

(FTBD) = http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-drug-policy/ (OTID) = http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Bernie_Sanders_Drugs.htm (OTIT) = http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Bernie_Sanders_Free_Trade.htm (BSW) = https://berniesanders.com/issues/ (BSWII) = https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/ (BSWI) = https://berniesanders.com/issues/a-fair-and-humane-immigration-policy/ (BSWCC) = https://berniesanders.com/issues/climate-change/ (BSWV) = https://berniesanders.com/issues/caring-for-our-veterans/ (BSWHC) = https://berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/ (HP) = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-hanley/bernie-sanders-health-car_b_8567000.html (BSWWS) = https://berniesanders.com/issues/reforming-wall-street/ (BI) = http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-vs-bernie-sanders-on-the-issues-2015-9