News from Politicians - VT http://polfeeds.com/vt/ Press releases, blog posts, photos, videos, and more from the politicians and candidates you select. News en-us <![CDATA[9.30.08 - Message from the CAO regarding high web traffic and contacting Congressman Welch]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:04:39 CDT The following is a message from the Chief Administrative Officer regarding website traffic issues.  If you have a problem contacting Congressman Welch via the link at the bottom of page, please call our office at 888-605-7270 or 202-225-4115, or please try the link again.

"In order to ensure that constituents can access and view the House.gov website and all websites within the domain, including those of all Members and Committees, House computer engineers have had to implement limits on the unprecedented amount of emails flowing into the system via the Write Your Rep application at this time. During hours of peak demand, some constituents attempting to use the system may receive a message asking them to try back at a later time, when demand is not so extreme. This measure has become temporarily necessary to ensure that Congressional websites are not completely disabled by the millions of emails flowing into the system. Engineers are working diligently to accommodate this enormous traffic flow and we appreciate your patience in this matter. - Chief Administrative Officer"




]]> <![CDATA[Easy Street]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[News Oct. 2]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT Senate Passes Bailout Bill A $700 billion financial industry rescue plan has been approved by the Senate. The final vote was 74-25, with 39 Democrats, 34 Republicans and independent Joe Lieberman voting "yes." Nine Democrats, 15 Republicans, and independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont voted "no." A vote in the House is next, reported The Associated Press.

Masters of the Universe "The masters of the universe, those brilliant Wall Street insiders who have made more money than the average American can even dream of, have brought our financial system to the brink of collapse," Sanders said, calling the bailout of Wall Street fundamentally unfair, according to an Associated Press article published worldwide. The remark also was an AP "quote of the day."

'We Can Do Better' "This country faces many serious problems . . . We must act, but we must act in a way that improves the situation," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. "We can do better than the legislation we are dealing with tonight," Sanders added in the Chicago Tribune.]]> <![CDATA[Wall Street Bailout]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT

]]> <![CDATA[News Oct. 1 - PM Extra]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT We Can Do Better Saying the Wall Street bailout bill the Senate is debating is better than the original Bush administration proposal, Senator Bernie Sanders said on a Senate floor speech that it is "still not good enough." He offered an amendment that would place a surtax on families with earnings over $1 million and individuals who earn more than $500,000.

Bailout Amendment A work-in-progress until tonight's vote, the bill will likely contain provisions for greater judicial oversight, higher caps for federally insured bank accounts and more tax credits for renewable energy. Because the bill's language has not yet been finalized, Sen. Patrick Leahy has yet to decide if he will support it. Among tonight's proposed changes is an amendment that would tax America's richest citizens to fund the bailout, sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders). Leahy plans to vote for the Sanders amendment, reported The Burlington Free Press online.

Wall Street Greed Neil Cavuto asked on his Fox News program: "I am told that (your amendment) does not have enough votes, but you are making a statement, right?" Sanders replied, "Yes, this financial meltdown has been caused by the greed of Wall Street, and during Bush's seven and half years in office, what we have seen is the decline of the middle class. People are working longer hours for lower wages. Poverty is increasing, while the people at the top, not just the CEO's at Wall Street, but the CEO's of major companies, big business in general, have done very, very well, and we are now in a position where the top 1 percent earns more than the bottom 50 percent."]]> <![CDATA[Sanders Amendment: Make Wall Street Pay for Bailout]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[Sanders Amendment: Make Wall Street Pay for Bailout]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT

]]> <![CDATA[Vermont Congressional Delegation Hails $1 Million For Rail Upgrades On Vermont's Amtrak Lines]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[News Oct. 1]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT Senate Bailout Vote The Senate votes tonight on an emergency financial rescue package rejected Monday by the House. The Senate first will vote on an amendment by Sen. Bernard Sanders to tax millionaires to pay for the potential cost of the bailout, The Wall Street Journal, Congressional Quarterly, Roll Call, Politico and CBS News online reported. The amendment is expected to fail. The final Senate version will raise the cap on bank accounts insured by the federal government to $250,000, and extend renewable energy and other business tax credits.

Sanders to Vote No, Unless Sanders expects the federal bailout bill to pass the Senate, but he doesn't like how the money will be spent and he's not sure that the bailout will work. "Congress does have to act. The financial system and the economy are in very precarious states [but] "this bill does not deal with the root causes of how we got to where we are." The only way he will support the bailout is if the Senate agrees to a surtax, but he does not expect his amendment to pass, reported WCAX.

Vermont Reaction Vermont's senators joined Rep. Peter Welch in opposing the bill, according to the St. Albans Messenger. "I have received hundreds of calls and more than 2,000 e-mails from Vermonters, almost all of them against this plan," Sanders said. Sanders told Vermont Public Radio the current crisis is largely the result of efforts to deregulate the financial services industry and he says any new bail out bill must reverse this trend.]]> <![CDATA[Sanders: No on Middle Class Bail Out of Wall Street]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 CDT

]]> <![CDATA[9.30.08 - Message from the CAO regarding high web traffic and contacting Congressman Welch]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:04:39 CDT The following is a message from the CAO regarding website traffic issues.  If you have a problem contacting Congressman Welch via the link at the bottom of page, please call our office at 888-605-7270 or 202-225-4115, or please try the link again.

"In order to ensure that constituents can access and view the House.gov website and all websites within the domain, including those of all Members and Committees, House computer engineers have had to implement limits on the unprecedented amount of emails flowing into the system via the Write Your Rep application at this time. During hours of peak demand, some constituents attempting to use the system may receive a message asking them to try back at a later time, when demand is not so extreme. This measure has become temporarily necessary to ensure that Congressional websites are not completely disabled by the millions of emails flowing into the system. Engineers are working diligently to accommodate this enormous traffic flow and we appreciate your patience in this matter. - Chief Administrative Officer"

]]> <![CDATA[Today's News]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Bailout Fallout Defying President Bush and leaders of both parties, the House on Monday rejected a $700 billion economic plan in a revolt that rocked the Capitol, sent markets plunging and left top lawmakers groping for a resolution. "With the House vote today, it is time to send a loud and clear message that if a bailout is necessary, it must be paid for by those on Wall Street who caused the problem and the very wealthy who pocketed huge profits," Sanders said, according to The Burlington Free Press, Vermont Press Bureau, The Associated Press and Politico.

Voter Fury Stopped Bailout The defeat in Congress...followed an intense outpouring of voter anger, fanned by politicians, interest groups and media on the left and right, that overwhelmed calls from the president and top lawmakers to pass the deal. Voters opposed to the deal deluged Capitol Hill with letters, e-mails, phone calls and faxes over the past week. Some 23,000 signatures were collected over two days by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, calling for a five-year, 10 percent surtax on the wealthiest Americans to help fund the bailout...The Wall Street Journal reported.

Vermont Reaction Vermont Congressman Peter Welch voted against the bailout package, saying $700 billion was too much without enough protections for the public. Jane Knodell, a UVM economics professor, said, "Everyone who voted no better have a better idea in their back pocket." Earlier Monday, WCAX reported that "Senator Bernie Sanders is reportedly leaning against voting in favor of the...bailout."]]> <![CDATA[Bailout Battle Turns to Senate]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT

]]> <![CDATA[Bailout Blocked, Sanders Reacts]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[News Sept. 30]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Bailout Fallout Defying President Bush and leaders of both parties, the House on Monday rejected a $700 billion economic plan in a revolt that rocked the Capitol, sent markets plunging and left top lawmakers groping for a resolution. "With the House vote today, it is time to send a loud and clear message that if a bailout is necessary, it must be paid for by those on Wall Street who caused the problem and the very wealthy who pocketed huge profits," Sanders said, according to The Burlington Free Press, Vermont Press Bureau, The Associated Press and Politico.

Voter Fury Stopped Bailout The defeat in Congress...followed an intense outpouring of voter anger, fanned by politicians, interest groups and media on the left and right, that overwhelmed calls from the president and top lawmakers to pass the deal. Voters opposed to the deal deluged Capitol Hill with letters, e-mails, phone calls and faxes over the past week. Some 23,000 signatures were collected over two days by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, calling for a five-year, 10 percent surtax on the wealthiest Americans to help fund the bailout...The Wall Street Journal reported.

Vermont Reaction Vermont Congressman Peter Welch voted against the bailout package, saying $700 billion was too much without enough protections for the public. Jane Knodell, a UVM economics professor, said, "Everyone who voted no better have a better idea in their back pocket." Earlier Monday, WCAX reported that "Senator Bernie Sanders is reportedly leaning against voting in favor of the...bailout."]]> <![CDATA[9.29.08 - Welch votes against Wall Street bailout]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:09:29 CDT Washington, D.C. - Rep. Peter Welch issued the following statement in opposition to the Wall Street bailout. Welch voted no on H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008:

"The economic crisis we face is real. However, I voted against the bailout because it isn't paid for and because I don't believe it will work.




]]> <![CDATA[9.29.08 - Welch votes against Wall Street bailout]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:09:29 CDT Washington, D.C. - Rep. Peter Welch issued the following statement in opposition to the Wall Street bailout. Welch voted no on H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008:

"The economic crisis we face is real. However, I voted against the bailout because it isn't paid for and because I don't believe it will work.

]]> <![CDATA[Today's News]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Sanders' Petition Thousands of Vermonters are opposed to the $700 billion Wall Street bailout. More than 45,000 people have signed a letter on Sen. Bernie Sanders' web site opposing the bailout. Of those, about 8,000 are from Vermont, The Associated Press reported.

House Braces for Tough Vote After a weekend of tense negotiations, the House voted 220 to 198 Monday morning to move the bailout bill forward. They approved ground rules for its consideration in the chamber, including three hours of general debate and a final vote, likely by midday, AP reported. The 110-page bill, intended to ease a growing credit crisis, came after a frenzied week of political twists and turns that culminated in an agreement between the Bush administration and Congress early Sunday morning, reported The New York Times.

Citigroup Buys Wachovia Citigroup will acquire the banking operations of the Wachovia Corporation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said Monday morning, making Wachovia the latest bank to fall victim to the mortgage market. The F.D.I.C. said that the agency would absorb losses from Wachovia above $42 billion and that it would receive $12 billion in preferred stock and warrants from Citigroup. "Wachovia did not fail," the F.D.I.C. said, "rather it is to be acquired by Citigroup on an open bank basis with assistance from the F.D.I.C, according to The New York Times.

Rescue May Not Revive Economy The plan to bail out the U.S. financial system Congress hammered out over the weekend...is unlikely to prevent the economy from sliding into recession. Recent news on the economy has been bleak. In a sign that the housing market continues to deteriorate, sales of new homes dropped sharply last month, the Commerce Department reported last week. Another report showed sales of big-ticket items also fell in August, pointing to deterioration in the factory sector and a drop in business spending, according to The Wall Street Journal.]]> <![CDATA[Bailout Blocked]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT

]]> <![CDATA[News Sept. 29]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Sanders' Petition Thousands of Vermonters are opposed to the $700 billion Wall Street bailout. More than 45,000 people have signed a letter on Sen. Bernie Sanders' web site opposing the bailout. Of those, about 8,000 are from Vermont, The Associated Press reported.

House Braces for Tough Vote After a weekend of tense negotiations, the House voted 220 to 198 Monday morning to move the bailout bill forward. They approved ground rules for its consideration in the chamber, including three hours of general debate and a final vote, likely by midday, AP reported. The 110-page bill, intended to ease a growing credit crisis, came after a frenzied week of political twists and turns that culminated in an agreement between the Bush administration and Congress early Sunday morning, reported The New York Times.

Citigroup Buys Wachovia Citigroup will acquire the banking operations of the Wachovia Corporation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said Monday morning, making Wachovia the latest bank to fall victim to the mortgage market. The F.D.I.C. said that the agency would absorb losses from Wachovia above $42 billion and that it would receive $12 billion in preferred stock and warrants from Citigroup. "Wachovia did not fail," the F.D.I.C. said, "rather it is to be acquired by Citigroup on an open bank basis with assistance from the F.D.I.C, according to The New York Times.

Rescue May Not Revive Economy The plan to bail out the U.S. financial system Congress hammered out over the weekend...is unlikely to prevent the economy from sliding into recession. Recent news on the economy has been bleak. In a sign that the housing market continues to deteriorate, sales of new homes dropped sharply last month, the Commerce Department reported last week. Another report showed sales of big-ticket items also fell in August, pointing to deterioration in the factory sector and a drop in business spending, according to The Wall Street Journal.]]> <![CDATA[Bailout Blocked]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[Today's News]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Bailout Breakthrough Congressional leaders and the Bush administration reached a tentative agreement early Sunday on what may become the largest financial bailout in American history, Thousands of Vermonters have expressed outrage at the proposed $700 billion bailout, More than 42,000 people have electronically signed a letter from Sen. Bernard Sanders to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. opposing the bailout. "What people are saying is that excessive greed should not be rewarded," Sanders told the Rutland Herald on Saturday. WCAX News on Saturday night showed Sanders reading e-mails from Vermonters on the Senate floor.

Home Heating Legislation doubling the amount of heat aid Vermont will receive this winter was approved by the Senate today and sent to President Bush for signing. Under the $5.1-billion nationwide home-energy-assistance provision approved 78-12 by the Senate, The Burlington Free Press reported, Vermont could receive about $35 million this winter, up from $17 million last winter, according to a joint statement issued by Vermont's congressional delegation. The provision is patterned after the "Warm in Winter Cool in Summer Act" introduced in June by Sen. Bernie Sanders..."This has been a major Vermont delegation effort working with people from New England and around the country," Sanders said.

Fox Guarding Chicken Coop President Bush intends to nominate F. Chase Hutto III, a senior aide to Vice President Cheney, as an assistant secretary in the Energy Department. A leading opponent of environmental regulations, Hutto would be in charge of policies on climate change. Sens. Menendez and Sanders, both members of the energy committee, had urged Bush not to nominate Hutto and issued a statement condemning the selection, Grist reported.


]]> <![CDATA[Major Victory on Home Energy Assistance]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[News Sept. 28]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Bailout Breakthrough Congressional leaders and the Bush administration reached a tentative agreement early Sunday on what may become the largest financial bailout in American history, Thousands of Vermonters have expressed outrage at the proposed $700 billion bailout, More than 42,000 people have electronically signed a letter from Sen. Bernard Sanders to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. opposing the bailout. "What people are saying is that excessive greed should not be rewarded," Sanders told the Rutland Herald on Saturday. WCAX News on Saturday night showed Sanders reading e-mails from Vermonters on the Senate floor.

Home Heating Legislation doubling the amount of heat aid Vermont will receive this winter was approved by the Senate today and sent to President Bush for signing. Under the $5.1-billion nationwide home-energy-assistance provision approved 78-12 by the Senate, The Burlington Free Press reported, Vermont could receive about $35 million this winter, up from $17 million last winter, according to a joint statement issued by Vermont's congressional delegation. The provision is patterned after the "Warm in Winter Cool in Summer Act" introduced in June by Sen. Bernie Sanders..."This has been a major Vermont delegation effort working with people from New England and around the country," Sanders said.

Fox Guarding Chicken Coop President Bush intends to nominate F. Chase Hutto III, a senior aide to Vice President Cheney, as an assistant secretary in the Energy Department. A leading opponent of environmental regulations, Hutto would be in charge of policies on climate change. Sens. Menendez and Sanders, both members of the energy committee, had urged Bush not to nominate Hutto and issued a statement condemning the selection, Grist reported.]]> <![CDATA[9.26.08 - Welch supports, House passes economic stimulus]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:38:41 CDT Washington, DC - Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) supported and the U.S. House passed an economic stimulus package that will boosts funding for state and community needs, including funding infrastructure improvements, extending unemployment benefits, and increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rate to the states.




]]> <![CDATA[Today's News]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Vermont Voices Vermont's delegation in Congress has been swamped with phone calls and letters expressing outrage over a proposed bailout of some of America's largest financial institutions. Sen. Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor to read some of the letters pouring in to his office. 'Hold fast, Bernie. It took a long time to get into this banking mess, so don't be pressured to capitulate to some half-baked solution, WCAX and WPTZ reported.

Angry E-Mails Frustrated citizens are inundating the Senate office of Bernie Sanders with angry emails. One writes "we are absolutely sickened by the prospect that honest, hard-working fiscally responsible middle-class Americans will have to foot the bill for the Wall Street bailout." Another says "I work two jobs and I'm angered that the money I pay in taxes is going to basically reward bad behavior," the syndicated television news program Inside Edition reported.

40,000 Sign Letter to Paulson Nearly 40,000 Americans have electronically signed a letter Sen. Bernie Sanders, wrote to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that calls for a surtax on top-tier earners to help pay for a $700 billion Wall Street bailout. About 7,000 Vermonters are among those who added their name in support, The Burlington Free Press reported.]]> <![CDATA[Home Heating Help Doubled]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[News Sept. 27]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Vermont Voices Vermont's delegation in Congress has been swamped with phone calls and letters expressing outrage over a proposed bailout of some of America's largest financial institutions. Sen. Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor to read some of the letters pouring in to his office. 'Hold fast, Bernie. It took a long time to get into this banking mess, so don't be pressured to capitulate to some half-baked solution, WCAX and WPTZ reported.

Angry E-Mails Frustrated citizens are inundating the Senate office of Bernie Sanders with angry emails. One writes "we are absolutely sickened by the prospect that honest, hard-working fiscally responsible middle-class Americans will have to foot the bill for the Wall Street bailout." Another says "I work two jobs and I'm angered that the money I pay in taxes is going to basically reward bad behavior," the syndicated television news program Inside Edition reported.

40,000 Sign Letter to Paulson Nearly 40,000 Americans have electronically signed a letter Sen. Bernie Sanders, wrote to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that calls for a surtax on top-tier earners to help pay for a $700 billion Wall Street bailout. About 7,000 Vermonters are among those who added their name in support, The Burlington Free Press reported.


]]> <![CDATA[9.26.08 - Welch votes to expand tax incentives for renewable energy]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:52:46 CDT Washington, DC - Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) supported and the U.S. House passed legislation expanding tax incentives to foster the development of new renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The Senate is expected to take up the bill in the coming days.

]]> <![CDATA[Wall Street Bailout]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT survey, and those results are even more remarkable. Are you confident that taxpayers would be treated fairly if Congress and the Bush administration agree on a bailout? You aren't. Do you think a bailout would help the economy? No. Do you favor a surtax on individuals who make more than $500,000 a year and couples earning more than $1 million to pay for a Wall Street bailout?  More than 91 percent agree with the proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders. What's more, as of late Friday, more than 40,000 (as of late Friday)of you co-signed Bernie's letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson suggesting a tax on the very wealthy. ]]> <![CDATA[News Sept. 26]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Vermonter Views Vermont's congressional delegation is no happier about the impending Wall Street bailout than many of the Vermonters who have been flooding their offices with messages and telephone calls...If the bailout proposal goes forward, it should be supported with a tax of 10 percent on incomes over $1 million a year for couples and over $500,000 for single taxpayers, Sanders said. He is not alone. By late yesterday, more than 30,000 people had signed an online petition at his Web site supporting the idea, the Vermont Press Bureau reported.

Fat Cats An angry U.S. public and Congress pushed to snip the rip cord on golden parachutes used by fat cat CEOs to escape Wall Street's mayhem. "The wealthiest people, those... in the best position to pay, are being asked for no sacrifice at all," read a petition to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, which Thursday, after three days, had 32,600 signatures. The petition, organized by independent Senator Bernie Sanders, attacked what it described as the Treasury's attempt to let bungling executives "continue to make exorbitant salaries and bonuses." AFP reported.

Home Heating Help The Senate is poised to pass legislation that would double home heating aid for low-income Vermonters to about $35 million, The Burlington Free Press reported. The bill would boost the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program by more than $5 billion nationwide. "If this had not gone through, it would have been a profound disaster for the state," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, who introduced the legislation this year. The House voted Wednesday for the stopgap spending bill that included a provision introduced by Sanders, the Brattleboro Reformer reported.


]]> <![CDATA[Today's News]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Sanders Support Surges More than 27,000 people have cosigned a letter Sanders has written to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson proposing an alternative to the $700 billion bailout for U.S. financial institutions, The Associated Press reported. When Sanders posted a petition on his Web site asking Mr. Paulson to require that taxpayers receive an equity stake in the bailed-out companies, more than 20,000 people signed. ''We certainly have never brought in 20,000 names in a day and a half,'' Mr. Sanders told The New York Times, sounding astonished. ''For us, that's off the wall." In less than 24 hours after posting his letter to Paulson, Sanders gathered more than 8,000 citizen cosigners, the Christian Science Monitor reported. (You can sign here)

Frankly Speaking Sanders said on National Public Radio's "On Point", "If there is a bailout, I will not vote for one if it's based on the backs of the middle class, if it's simply dumped into the national debt, taking the national debt over $11 trillion. If there is to be a bailout, it ought to be paid for by those who benefited from Bush's policies not by people who have been hurt by Bush's policies." Host Tom Ashbrook asked House Banking Committee Chairman Barney Frank if he supported Sanders' plan to impose a 10 percent surtax on incomes over $1 million for couples. "Oh I agree with that," Franks said. "In fact I said that myself on Face the Nation on Sunday."

Strange Bedfellows Large national crises often push Congress to put aside partisan differences and quickly pass broad legislation. Yet, a loose coalition of free market conservatives and liberal skeptics has challenged the plan. Sanders logged 40 calls over the weekend about the bailout, far more than the senator normally receives, Politico reported. "This proposal, as presented, is an unacceptable attempt to force middle-income families (and our children) to pick up the cost of fixing the horrendous economic mess that is the product of the Bush administration's deregulatory fever and Wall Street's insatiable greed," he said.]]> <![CDATA[Vermont Voices]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT here to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson insisting that "any plan to clean up the mess on Wall Street must ensure that middle income and working families are not the ones who are paying for this bailout." The senator's offices in Vermont and Washington have fielded hundreds of calls and received thousands of e-mails like these:  "We are absolutely sickened by the prospect that honest, hardworking, fiscally responsible middle class Americans will have to foot the bill for the Wall Street bailout," wrote a couple from Rupert.. "I'm among the Americans outraged at the undisciplined, arrogant, reckless nature of the markets," a constituent from Springfield, Vt. said. "After pulling down six-, seven- and eight-figure bonuses for flying their respective companies into the ground, these Wall Street geniuses then pull their golden parachutes and leave it up to the taxpayers to clean up the mess and pay their bills. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable," an exasperated person from Fairfield told Bernie.]]> <![CDATA[News Sept. 25]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Sanders Support Surges More than 27,000 people have cosigned a letter Sanders has written to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson proposing an alternative to the $700 billion bailout for U.S. financial institutions, The Associated Press reported. When Sanders posted a petition on his Web site asking Mr. Paulson to require that taxpayers receive an equity stake in the bailed-out companies, more than 20,000 people signed. ''We certainly have never brought in 20,000 names in a day and a half,'' Mr. Sanders told The New York Times, sounding astonished. ''For us, that's off the wall." In less than 24 hours after posting his letter to Paulson, Sanders gathered more than 8,000 citizen cosigners, the Christian Science Monitor reported. (You can sign here)

Frankly Speaking Sanders said on National Public Radio's "On Point", "If there is a bailout, I will not vote for one if it's based on the backs of the middle class, if it's simply dumped into the national debt, taking the national debt over $11 trillion. If there is to be a bailout, it ought to be paid for by those who benefited from Bush's policies not by people who have been hurt by Bush's policies." Host Tom Ashbrook asked House Banking Committee Chairman Barney Frank if he supported Sanders' plan to impose a 10 percent surtax on incomes over $1 million for couples. "Oh I agree with that," Franks said. "In fact I said that myself on Face the Nation on Sunday."

Strange Bedfellows Large national crises often push Congress to put aside partisan differences and quickly pass broad legislation. Yet, a loose coalition of free market conservatives and liberal skeptics has challenged the plan. Sanders logged 40 calls over the weekend about the bailout, far more than the senator normally receives, Politico reported. "This proposal, as presented, is an unacceptable attempt to force middle-income families (and our children) to pick up the cost of fixing the horrendous economic mess that is the product of the Bush administration's deregulatory fever and Wall Street's insatiable greed," he said.


]]> <![CDATA[Bush Makes Controversial Nomination of Cheney Aide to Energy Post]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[Senate Judiciary Committee Looks At New Strategies To Combat Violent Crime]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:17:01 CDT <![CDATA[Major Victory on Home Energy Assistance Clears House]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT

]]> <![CDATA[Today's News]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Petition Takes Off Sen. Bernie Sanders says he posted a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson about the proposal on his Web site, and that it drew more than 8,000 citizen co-signers in the first 24 hours. The Vermont independent says the bailout should be paid for with a surcharge on taxes paid by individuals making more than $500,000 a year or couples earning more than $1 million a year. The senator says he doesn't want the costs of the bailout to be borne by the middle class, according to The Associated Press, Fox 44 and Vermont Public Radio. OpEd News and Huffington Post steered readers to the petition.

Sanders Says "These are the last days of the Bush administration, the most dishonest and incompetent in modern American history. It is imperative that, at this important moment, Congress stand up for the middle class and for fiscal integrity. The future of our country is at stake," Sanders concluded in a My Turn column in The Burlington Free Press. The op-ed also was published today in the Times Argus and posted on AlterNet.

Too Big to Fail Discussing the financial meltdown on CNN's Larry King Live, blogger Arianna Huffington told King, "what are we doing now when Secretary Paulson is proposing that Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs become banks as well, which means that we are back again in this era of creating huge institutions. And then if something goes wrong, we are going to say, we have to bail them out because if we don't bail them out, they're too big to fail. Now Senator Sanders said if they're too big to fail, they're too big to exist. And that what is so troubling about the current bailout plan by the administration, that it basically asks for no oversight."]]> <![CDATA[Support Mounts for Sanders Plan]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT <![CDATA[More Say No to Wall Street Bailout by Middle Class]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson calling for a surtax on the very wealthy to bankroll any bailout of Wall Street. "Any plan to clean up the mess on Wall Street must ensure that middle income and working families are not the ones who are paying for this bailout," the letter says.  The phenomenal outpouring of support came in the two days since the letter was posted on Sanders' Senate Web page.


]]> <![CDATA[More Say No to Wall Street Bailout by Middle Class]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT 23,000 27,200 citizens in a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson calling for a surtax on the very wealthy to bankroll any bailout of Wall Street. "Any plan to clean up the mess on Wall Street must ensure that middle income and working families are not the ones who are paying for this bailout," the letter says.  The phenomenal outpouring of support came in the two days since the letter was posted on Sanders' Senate Web page.]]> <![CDATA[News Sept. 24]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Petition Takes Off Sen. Bernie Sanders says he posted a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson about the proposal on his Web site, and that it drew more than 8,000 citizen co-signers in the first 24 hours. The Vermont independent says the bailout should be paid for with a surcharge on taxes paid by individuals making more than $500,000 a year or couples earning more than $1 million a year. The senator says he doesn't want the costs of the bailout to be borne by the middle class, according to The Associated Press, Fox 44 and Vermont Public Radio. OpEd News and Huffington Post steered readers to the petition.

Sanders Says "These are the last days of the Bush administration, the most dishonest and incompetent in modern American history. It is imperative that, at this important moment, Congress stand up for the middle class and for fiscal integrity. The future of our country is at stake," Sanders concluded in a My Turn column in The Burlington Free Press. The op-ed also was published today in the Times Argus and posted on AlterNet.

Too Big to Fail Discussing the financial meltdown on CNN's Larry King Live, blogger Arianna Huffington told King, "what are we doing now when Secretary Paulson is proposing that Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs become banks as well, which means that we are back again in this era of creating huge institutions. And then if something goes wrong, we are going to say, we have to bail them out because if we don't bail them out, they're too big to fail. Now Senator Sanders said if they're too big to fail, they're too big to exist. And that what is so troubling about the current bailout plan by the administration, that it basically asks for no oversight."]]> <![CDATA[9.24.08 - JOINT STATEMENT - Major Victory on Home Energy Assistance Clears House]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 CDT Doubled Funding Passes House, Senate Expected to Act Soon

WASHINGTON, September 24 - Legislation including a key provision to double federal funding for low income home energy was sent to the Senate today after it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 370-58. 

The stopgap spending bill included a provision modeled on the "Warm in Winter Cool in Summer Act" introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Senate and cosponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) sponsored companion legislation in the House.




]]> <![CDATA[9.23.08 – Watch Congressman Welch address the financial crisis]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:10:21 CDT Click here to watch Congressman Welch respond to instability in the financial markets.

]]> <![CDATA[Leahy Panel Hears Testimony On Equal Pay For Equal Work]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:48:01 CDT <![CDATA[Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy At Hearing On Oversight Of The Federal Bureau Of Investigation]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:43:01 CDT

]]> <![CDATA[Leahy Amendment To Address Wartime Fraud Adopted By Senate]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:32:01 CDT <![CDATA[9.23.08 - Welch-supported bill to protect consumers from predatory credit card practices passes ...]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:03:25 CDT

"Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" will halt industry abuses

Washington, D.C. - Legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Peter Welch to protect Vermonters from abusive credit card practices passed the U.S. House today.

This morning, Welch managed the Rule governing House floor consideration for the bill.

"At a time when Vermonters are feeling a financial pinch, it's time to require fair play and put an end to unfair predatory tactics of credit card companies. H.R. 5244, The Cardholders' Bill of Rights, levels the playing field by requiring credit companies to treat cardholders fairly," said Welch.

]]> <![CDATA[Speak Out on the Bailout]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT 6,300 6,600 8,000 of you co-signed Bernie Sanders' letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on the Bush administration's $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill.  "We are appalled that your proposal puts the cost of this bailout on average Americans; that it contains no provisions reversing failed deregulatory policies; that it allows executives at these failed institutions to continue to make exorbitant salaries and bonuses, and that your proposal contains no help for average Americans who themselves are facing severe economic hardships," the letter says.


]]> <![CDATA[News Sept. 23]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:00:00 CDT Wall Street Bailout After years of financial mismanagement, it took less than two weeks for the markets to come unglued. Now, Congress and the Bush Administration are trying to pass a fix within the week. But big questions remain. A few, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have threatened to vote against a bill that lacks aid for homeowners. "If the economy is on the edge of collapse, we need to act," Sanders said. "But rescuing the economy does not mean we have to just give away $700 billion of taxpayer money to the banks," BusinessWeek reported.

'Sanders is Correct' "A Republican free market philosophy has produced the present crisis, and the moral obligation now belongs to the Bush administration to allow Congress to take part in the remedy. Sen. Bernard Sanders does not sound like such a radical anymore. Instead, the staggering irresponsibility of the financial sector and the failure of Washington to rein in its excesses have borne out the direst warnings from Vermont's senator....Sanders is correct in insisting that the bailout must hold accountable those responsible for this crisis while bringing greater fairness to the economy," the Rutland Herald said in an editorial published along with a Sanders column.

Digital TV Conversion With the coming nationwide switch of over-the-air TV signals to digital from analog, Senator Bernard Sanders asked the Federal Communications Commission to begin an education campaign alerting over-the-air households of the possible need for a sensitive rooftop antenna. He also said the federal government should consider subsidies for antenna replacement. He cited a study that said the F.C.C. had underestimated the homes that would need antennas to receive over-the-air signals, The New York Times and the trade publication Broadcasting & Cable reported.]]>