• SANDERS, BERNARD
Experience: Senator, United States Senate, 2006-present
Home State: Vermont
Person Website: https://berniesanders.com/
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Running: President, United States, 2016
Total Raised: $229,115,600Coverage End: Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Winning: Won with 0.00%
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Personal

    Full Name: Bernard 'Bernie' Sanders
    Gender: Male
    Family: Wife: Jane; 4 Children: Levi, Heather, Carina, David
    Birth Date: 09/08/1941
    Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY
    Home City: Burlington, VT
    Religion: Jewish

Education

    Attended, Brooklyn College
    BS, University of Chicago, 1964

Political Experience

    Senator, United States Senate, 2006-present
    Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1990-2006
    Mayor, City of Burlington, 1981-1989
    Candidate, United States House of Representatives, 1988
    Candidate, Governor of Vermont, 1972, 1976, 1986
    Candidate, United States Senate, 1972, 1974

Current Legislative Committees

    Budget, Ranking Member
    Energy and Natural Resources, Member
    Environment and Public Works, Member
    Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Member
    Subcommittee on Children and Families, Member
    Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Member
    Subcommittee on Energy, Member
    Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, Member
    Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy, Member
    Subcommittee on National Parks, Member
    Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Ranking Member
    Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Member
    Subcommittee on Water and Power, Member
    Veterans' Affairs, Member

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees

    Co-Chair, Prescription Drug Task Force
    Former Chair, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, United States Senate
    Co-Chair, Congressional Child Care Caucus, 2003-2004
    Officer, Congressional Progressive Caucus, 1991-1998
    Co-Founder, Congressional Progressive Caucus, 1991

Professional Experience

    Author
    Former Documentary Filmmaker
    Former Carpenter
    Journalist
    Lecturer, Hamilton College, 1989-1990
    Lecturer, Harvard University, 1989
    Director, American People's Historical Society, 1977

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

    Member, Coalition on Population and Development
    Member, Friends of Ireland
    Former Member, Liberty Union Party
    Member, National Guard and Reserve Components Organization
    Member, Northeast-Midwest Coalition

Additional Information

Priority Issues:

    Progressive Tax Reform
    Worker's Rights
    A National Energy Policy
    The Environment
    Justice and Equality For All
    National Healthcare
    Getting Our Priorities Right
    A Strong Safety Net

Publications:

    Absolutely Absurd: The Life & Times of Bernie Sanders (Sleepy Hollow Press, 2002)-Outsider in the House (Verso, 1997)

About Bernie Sanders

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bernard “Bernie” Sanders is the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. While his higher education began with the study of psychology in Brooklyn, he soon transferred to the University of Chicago, where he ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. His political activities during his academic career consisted mostly of contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, as he was a student organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. After college, he moved to Vermont and worked in several fields, including carpentry, film-making, writing, and research.

Sanders began a humble political career in 1971, experiencing frustrating results for the following ten years. It was not until 1981, after a brief break from politics, that he found major success in the field by winning election to the office of Mayor in Burlington. He held this role until 1989, when he opted not to seek reelection and began teaching political science at Harvard University. Sanders returned to politics again in 1991 and won the seat for Vermont's at-large congressional district, becoming the first Independent in congress in over 40 years.

Although Sanders traditionally runs as an Independent and describes himself as a “Democratic Socialist”, he caucuses with the Democratic Party and generally enjoys their support. In 2005, Sanders declared himself a candidate for Senate representing Vermont, following the retirement of Jim Jeffords. Critically, his campaign won the endorsement of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Schumer's support meant that, although Sanders was as usual running as an Independent, any Democrat attempting to run against him would receive no financial help from the party. He also received endorsements from such notable Democrats as Harry Reid, Howard Dean, and even Barack Obama. Sanders would go on to win this Senate seat, and was reelected in 2012 with an impressive 71% of the vote.

Total: 121
Dejected Bernie Sanders Supporters Are Still Not Ready For Hillary

A sizable number of them just aren’t with her.

07/28/2016
By Eliot Nelson | The Huffington Post
Sanders Delegate Protests Clinton Nomination With Middle Finger On Live TV

Despite backlash, the Hawaii delegate says she has no regrets.

07/27/2016
By Chris D’Angelo | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders Will Endorse Hillary Clinton Next Week: Report

The announcement will be an important step toward uniting Democrats ahead of this month’s convention.

07/07/2016
By Marina Fang | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders Booed By House Democrats For Refusal To Endorse Hillary Clinton

Members want a timeline for when he will endorse Clinton. Sanders isn’t ready to give them one.

07/06/2016
By Sam Stein & Amanda Terkel | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders has won some big concessions. But he still won’t endorse Hillary Clinton.

His window may be closing.

06/27/2016
By Greg Sargent | The Washington Post
Bernie Sanders Mounts Democratic Convention Platform Fight

He successfully got some of his policy proposals into the initial draft of the Democratic platform but is determined to press further.

06/26/2016
By Marina Fang | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders: ‘It Doesn’t Appear That I’m Going To Be The Nominee’

He pledged to continue his work to transform the Democratic party.

06/22/2016
By Sam Levine | The Huffington Post
Sanders' anti-superdelegate push gains steam in Senate

A growing number of senators back changes to a system critics say gives party bosses undue sway to decide the nominee.

06/21/2016
By Burgess Everett and Seung Min Kim | POLITICO
Yes, Bernie Has Leverage. Deal With It.

Sanders received a mandate in “defeat” that most politicians never achieve in victory.

06/20/2016
By Richard (RJ) Eskow | ALTERNET
Sanders refuses to concede in speech to supporters

Bernie Sanders refused to formally concede the race for the Democratic presidential nomination to Hillary Clinton on Thursday night in a lengthy address to his supporters.

06/16/2016
By Ben Kamisar and Jonathan Easley | The Hill
Sanders demands Democratic Party reforms

Bernie Sanders delivered a simple message Tuesday at a press conference outside his campaign's Capitol Hill office: The Democratic Party needs to be transformed, and he plans to push for that all the way through the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

06/14/2016
By Daniel Strauss and Seung Min Kim | POLITICO
Sanders: Don’t blame Islam for Orlando shooting

Bernie Sanders on Tuesday lashed out at those who blame Islam for the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

06/14/2016
By Jonathan Easley | The Hill
Bernie Sanders Calls For ‘Fundamental Transformation’ Of The Democratic Party

He demanded reforms as he prepared for a meeting with Hillary Clinton.

06/14/2016
By Samantha Lachman | The Huffington Post
Bernie's legacy: One of the most valuable donor lists ever

ActBlue has more than 3 million credit cards on file, a serious technological advantage for Democrats raising money.

06/06/2016
By Shane Goldmacher | POLITICO
Obama flips to Sanders’ side, calls for expansion of Social Security benefits

The last time President Obama signed on to a plan to save Social Security, nearly five years ago, he agreed to a proposal that would have reduced the growth of benefits.

06/05/2016
Dave Boyer | The Washington Times
Bernie Sanders Steps Up Feud With Democratic Establishment

Sanders has ignored growing Democratic calls to step aside and repeated his vow to stay in the race until the party convention.

05/22/2016
By John Whitesides | REUTERS
Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Is Feeling The Money Burn

Sanders’ campaign entered May with a cash balance that was dwarfed by Hillary Clinton’s.

05/20/2016
By Paul Blumenthal | The Huffington Post
Clinton and Sanders must make peace

The success of Bernie Sanders’s insurgency is a marvel and an achievement.

05/18/2016
By E.J. Dionne Jr. | Washingtonpost
Total: 3
Sunday, March 6, 2016 9:00 PM CNN Democratic Debate
Location: The Whiting Auditorium in Flint, Michigan
Sponsors: CNN, MLive, The Flint Journal
Moderators: Anderson Cooper
Saturday, November 14, 2015 6:00 PM CBS News Democratic Debate
Location: Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa
Sponsors: CBS News, KCCI, the Des Moines Register
Moderators: John Dickerson
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 8:30 PM CNN Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Wynn Las Vegas
Sponsors: CNN, Nevada Democratic Party
Moderators: Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and Dana Bash
General Survey
Issue Title Candidate's Answers
1. Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right

Strongly Support
2. Stricter punishment reduces crime

Strongly Oppose
3. Marijuana is a gateway drug

Strongly Oppose
4. Higher taxes on the wealthy

Strongly Support
5. Stimulus better than market-led recovery

Strongly Support
6. Vouchers for school choice

Strongly Oppose
7. Make voter registration easier

Strongly Support
8. Prioritize green energy

Strongly Support
9. Avoid foreign entanglements

Strongly Support
10. Expand the military

Strongly Oppose
11. Support & expand free trade

Strongly Oppose
12. Support American Exceptionalism

Strongly Oppose
13. Absolute right to gun ownership

No Opinion
14. Expand ObamaCare

Strongly Support
15. Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens

Support
16. EPA regulations are too restrictive

Strongly Oppose
17. Keep God in the public sphere

Strongly Oppose
18. Legally require hiring more women & minorities

Strongly Support
19. Comfortable with same-sex marriage

Strongly Support
20. Privatize Social Security

Strongly Oppose
Total: 372
Introduced Date Bill Number Bill Title Last Action
05/10/2017 S.1082 United States Employee Ownership Bank Act 05/10/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.  (All Actions)
05/10/2017 S.1081 WORK Act 05/10/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
05/09/2017 S.1076 Keep Our Pension Promises Act 05/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
04/03/2017 S.806 College for All Act of 2017 04/03/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
04/03/2017 S.805 Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2017 04/03/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
03/09/2017 S.586 Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act 03/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
03/02/2017 S.495 Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act 03/02/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
02/28/2017 S.469 Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act 02/28/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
02/16/2017 S.427 Social Security Expansion Act 02/16/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
11/05/2015 S.2242 Save Oak Flat Act 11/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.  (All Actions)
11/04/2015 S.2237 Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015 11/04/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
06/09/2016 S.3044 Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Act 06/09/2016 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2399 Climate Protection and Justice Act of 2015 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2398 Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2391 American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
10/06/2015 S.2142 Workplace Democracy Act 10/06/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
09/17/2015 S.2054 Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2015 09/17/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
09/10/2015 S.2023 Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015 09/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
08/05/2015 S.1970 Raising Enrollment with a Government Initiated System for Timely Electoral Registration (REGISTER) Act of 2015 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.  (All Actions)
08/05/2015 S.1969 Democracy Day Act of 2015 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
Total: 5295
Date Bill Number Bill Title Result Vote
05/10/1991 H.R.1669 Urban Schools of America (USA) Act of 1991
05/10/1991 H.R.765 To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow for coverage under the health benefits program of unmarried dependent children between ages 22 and 23 if they are full-time students.
05/07/1991 H.R.2242 Working Family Tax Relief Act of 1991
05/07/1991 H.J.Res.239 Morris K. Udall Wilderness Act of 1991
05/06/1991 H.R.1820 Federal Employees Retirement Incentive Act
05/06/1991 H.R.1774 Federal Employees Health Benefits Reform Act of 1991
05/06/1991 H.R.1752 World War II Cadet Nurse Civil Service Fairness Act
05/06/1991 H.J.Res.120 To designate May 1991 as "National Physical Fitness and Sports Month".
05/06/1991 H.R.786 Prevailing Wage Rate Adjustment Reform Act of 1991
05/02/1991 H.R.793 To amend chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to extend the civil service retirement provisions of such chapter which are applicable to law enforcement officers to inspectors of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, inspectors and canine enforcement officers of the United States Customs Service, and revenue officers of the Internal Revenue Service.
04/30/1991 H.R.2149 Open Space Preservation Act of 1991
04/26/1991 H.J.Res.218 To designate the week beginning April 21, 1991, and the week beginning April 19, 1992, each as "National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week".
04/26/1991 H.J.Res.66 To authorize the President to proclaim the last Friday of April 1991 as "National Arbor Day".
04/25/1991 H.R.446 Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Act of 1991
04/24/1991 H.J.Res.171 To designate the week beginning April 21, 1991, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week".
04/22/1991 H.R.1882 National Commemorative Events Advisory Act
04/18/1991 H.J.Res.197 To designate the week of April 15 through 21, 1991, as "National Education First Week".
04/17/1991 H.R.1771 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and title II of the Social Security Act to expand the social security exemption for election officials and election workers employed by State and local governments.
04/16/1991 H.R.1691 To amend title II of the Social Security Act to exclude from coverage any service performed by election officials or election workers only on election days.
04/16/1991 H.R.1430 Civil Rights Amendments Act of 1991
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