Todays news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): Sanders Bill Would Repeal Military Pension Cut: Congress gave final approval Thursday to a $1.1 trillion spending bill that eases sharp budget cuts known as the sequester and guarantees that the nation will not endure another government shutdown until at least Oct. 1. The Washington Post online said the bill trims pensions for younger military retirees, but added that an omnibus Veterans Affairs bill by Sen. Bernie Sanders awaiting action in the Senate would repeal the cut. Sanders, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, said during remarks on the Senate floor Thursday that the measure “delivers on the promises that we have made to our service members.” Sanders told Politico the fix is part of a “comprehensive veterans bill” that he believes will be the “most significant veterans bill passed in several decades.” NSA Surveillance: President Barack Obamas address on government surveillance Friday will be a key step in his re-examination of post-Sept. 11 security practices. In a letter responding to questions raised by Sen. Sanders, National Security Agency head Gen. Keith Alexander said the agency does not spy on members of Congress but he did not rule out the collection of metadata from members of Congress, Vermont Public Radio and Truthout reported. In my view,” Sanders said, “the information collected by the NSA has the potential to give an unscrupulous administration enormous power over elected officials. Network News Ignores Climate Change: Sen. Bernie Sanders and other members of a new congressional task force on climate change took network television bosses to task over their lack of coverage on global warming last year, Politico, The Huffington Post and Media Matters for America reported. During 2013, influential Sunday news shows only dedicated 27 minutes to the topic -- combined. If they cover it, then The New York Times is going to cover it, Sanders told National Journal. Welfare for Wal-Mart: Do you think the wealthiest family in this country should have large numbers of employees that depend on Medicaid? Sanders asked a panel of experts testifying before the Joint Economic Committee. He was referring to the Walton family of Wal-mart, which pay so little employees must rely on Medicaid, food stamps and other government assistance, Market Watch, KFSM-TV in Fort Smith, Ark., and other CBS News affiliates reported. “That is corporate welfare of the worst kind,” said Robert Reich, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley and a former U.S. Secretary of Labor. Continue reading here: sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/011714
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 14:15:52 +0000
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