Todays news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): Senate Republicans Block Minimum Wage Bill: Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a bill that would gradually increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. “It really does astound me that at a time when our Republican friends in the house are voting to give huge tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires and large corporations, they dont have it in their hearts to give us at least a $10.10 minimum wage, which would take so many people out of poverty,” Sen. Bernie Sanders told MSNBC. Phoenix VA: Department of Veterans Affairs officials told senators Wednesday that the investigation into allegations of a secret waiting list for medical appointments at the Phoenix VA so far has turned up no evidence that such a list exists. Veterans Committee Chairman Sanders vowed to “get to the bottom of what has happened in Phoenix,” while reaching conclusions “based on an objective investigation of the facts — not TV reports.” Sanders said the allegations should not be allowed to impugn excellent work done throughout this country by hundreds of thousands of doctors, nurses and administrators on all levels” at the VA, The Associated Press reported. Senate to Vote on Campaign Finance Amendment: A string of Supreme Court decisions, starting in with a 2010 ruling in Citizens United vs. the FEC, enabled the nations wealthiest donors to anonymously contribute unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. Sen. Chuck Schumer on Wednesday promised to hold a Senate vote this year on a constitutional amendment to allow restrictions on campaign spending. It is unclear if any potential presidential candidates will run on the issue in the 2016 election. So far, only Sen. Sanders has indicated that he would campaign heavily against the influence of big donors and corporate interests in politics, The Boston Globe reported. Economy Sputters: The Commerce Department said Wednesday that American gross domestic product grew at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.1% in the first quarter as weakness overseas hurt exports and frigid weather curtailed business investment, The Wall Street Journal reported. The rate matched the second-weakest quarterly reading of the nearly five-year-old economic recovery. Continue reading here: sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/050114
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 13:15:04 +0000
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