Democrats

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Comments

  • Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 8,587


    Insane...here is a perfect example of how the GOP works. They create this false outrage over an issue that isn't an issue and they waste everyone's time trying to pass local legislation to address the non-existent problem.


    And if dems don’t go along with supporting the legislation for the non-problem, they’re complicit. “Why do the dems support pedophiles?”  “Why do the dems want your child to become a Marxist?”  
  • VitalogensiaVitalogensia Posts: 1,900


    Insane...here is a perfect example of how the GOP works. They create this false outrage over an issue that isn't an issue and they waste everyone's time trying to pass local legislation to address the non-existent problem.


    And if dems don’t go along with supporting the legislation for the non-problem, they’re complicit. “Why do the dems support pedophiles?”  “Why do the dems want your child to become a Marxist?”  
    Exactly, and you can add this to the list: Proposed Texas laws: Label food containing aborted fetuses (beaumontenterprise.com).
    Virginia Beach 2000; Pittsburgh 2000; Columbus 2003; D.C. 2003; Pittsburgh 2006; Virginia Beach 2008; Cleveland 2010; PJ20 2011; Pittsburgh 2013; Baltimore 2013; Charlottesville 2013; Charlotte 2013; Lincoln 2014; Moline 2014; St. Paul 2014; Greenville 2016; Hampton 2016; Lexington 2016; Wrigley 2016; Prague 2018; Krakow 2018; Berlin 2018; Fenway 2018; Camden 2022; St. Paul 2023
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937


    Insane...here is a perfect example of how the GOP works. They create this false outrage over an issue that isn't an issue and they waste everyone's time trying to pass local legislation to address the non-existent problem.


    And if dems don’t go along with supporting the legislation for the non-problem, they’re complicit. “Why do the dems support pedophiles?”  “Why do the dems want your child to become a Marxist?”  
    Exactly, and you can add this to the list: Proposed Texas laws: Label food containing aborted fetuses (beaumontenterprise.com).
    Crazy shit
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
  • mickeyratmickeyrat up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,421


    Insane...here is a perfect example of how the GOP works. They create this false outrage over an issue that isn't an issue and they waste everyone's time trying to pass local legislation to address the non-existent problem.


    And if dems don’t go along with supporting the legislation for the non-problem, they’re complicit. “Why do the dems support pedophiles?”  “Why do the dems want your child to become a Marxist?”  
    Exactly, and you can add this to the list: Proposed Texas laws: Label food containing aborted fetuses (beaumontenterprise.com).
    Crazy shit


    I am so fucking glad they are on this.


    little fuckers are fattening


    TRUTH IN LABELING!!!
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    another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
  • So much winning.

    Biden-Harris Administration Announces Record-Breaking 16.3 Million People Signed Up for Health Care Coverage in ACA Marketplaces During 2022-2023 Open Enrollment Season

    Nearly 50% increase in HealthCare.gov signups since President Biden took office, and 3.6 million people signed up for health care coverage on the Marketplaces for the first time this year

    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that a record-breaking more than 16.3 million people have selected an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace health plan nationwide during the 2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP) that ran from November 1, 2022-January 15, 2023 for most Marketplaces. President Biden promised to strengthen and build on the Affordable Care Act, and this year, the 10th year of ACA Open Enrollment, more Americans signed up for high-quality, affordable health insurance through the ACA Marketplaces than ever before. Since President Biden took office, the number of people who have signed up for an affordable health care plan through HealthCare.gov has increased by nearly 50%. Because of the President’s plan, millions of working families saved an average of $800 on their health insurance premiums last year.

    Total plan selections include 3.6 million people (22% of total) who are new to the Marketplaces for 2023, and 12.7 million people (78% of total) who had active 2022 coverage and made a plan selection for 2023 coverage or were automatically re-enrolled. Over 1.8 million more people have signed up for health insurance, or a 13% increase, from this time last year. The 3.6 million plan selections from people who are new to the Marketplaces represent a 21% increase in new-to-Marketplace plan selections over last year.

    “Unprecedented investments lead to unprecedented results,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, more than 16 million Americans have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces – an all-time high. The Biden-Harris Administration has made lowering health care costs and expanding access to health insurance a top priority – and these record-breaking numbers show we are delivering results for the American people. We will keep doing everything we can to ensure more people have the peace of mind that comes with high-quality, affordable health care.”

    “President Biden promised to build on the success of the Affordable Care Act and make it easier for people to enroll and find affordable, quality coverage – and that promise has been kept,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “On the tenth anniversary of the ACA Marketplaces, the numbers speak for themselves: more people signed up for plans this year than ever before, and the uninsured rate is at an all-time low.”

    The Biden-Harris Administration has made expanding access to health insurance and lowering health care costs for America’s families a top priority, and under their leadership, the national uninsured rate reached an all-time low earlier this year, and the 2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period saw the highest number of  plan selections of any year since the launch of the ACA Marketplaces ten years ago.

    This year, individuals benefited from a highly competitive Marketplace. Ninety-two percent of HealthCare.gov enrollees had access to options from three or more insurance companies when they shopped for plans. Also, new standardized plan options were available in 2023 through HealthCare.gov, which helped consumers compare and select plans. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, more people this year continued to qualify for help purchasing quality health coverage with expanded financial assistance, resulting in four out of five people returning to HealthCare.gov being able to find a plan for $10 or less after tax credits.

    Today’s snapshot represents activity through January 15, 2023 for the 33 Marketplaces using HealthCare.gov and through January 14 or 15, 2023 for the 18 State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) in 17 states and the District of Columbia that are using their own eligibility and enrollment platforms.


    https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/01/25/biden-harris-administration-announces-record-breaking-16-3-million-people-signed-up-health-care-coverage-aca-marketplaces-during-2022-2023-open-enrollment-season.html

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    Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.

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  • mrussel1mrussel1 Posts: 28,602
    Good article about the strength of the D bench going into next election season.  There are a bunch of democratic govs born after 1970, with great resumes.  All of them with law enforcement or military backgrounds.  Worth the read. 

    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/26/democratic-bench-josh-shapiro-wes-moore-00079538
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937
    https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-pelosi-video-footage-released-of-alleged-attack-by-david-depape

    Here's the Pelosi attack video. Holy shit the police probably got there just in time. Brutal.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 22,130
    https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-pelosi-video-footage-released-of-alleged-attack-by-david-depape

    Here's the Pelosi attack video. Holy shit the police probably got there just in time. Brutal.
    i don't wanna watch it, but i kinda want to watch it. 
    There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.- Hemingway

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937
    Hopefully it destroys some of those stupid narratives but probably not.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
  • The JugglerThe Juggler Behind that bush over there. Posts: 47,141
    mrussel1 said:
    Good article about the strength of the D bench going into next election season.  There are a bunch of democratic govs born after 1970, with great resumes.  All of them with law enforcement or military backgrounds.  Worth the read. 

    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/26/democratic-bench-josh-shapiro-wes-moore-00079538
    I wish Shapiro or Moore were not brand new to their governorships....

    This is the guy I think could come out of nowhere and surprise people:
    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/06/jason-kander-democrat-invisible-storm-book/661314/
    chinese-happy.jpg
  • mrussel1mrussel1 Posts: 28,602
    mrussel1 said:
    Good article about the strength of the D bench going into next election season.  There are a bunch of democratic govs born after 1970, with great resumes.  All of them with law enforcement or military backgrounds.  Worth the read. 

    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/26/democratic-bench-josh-shapiro-wes-moore-00079538
    I wish Shapiro or Moore were not brand new to their governorships....

    This is the guy I think could come out of nowhere and surprise people:
    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/06/jason-kander-democrat-invisible-storm-book/661314/
    His PTSD will be used against him.  They'll say he isn't stable,  etc. If Teump can hit McCain for being captured,  nothing is off limits for them. 
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937
    mrussel1 said:
    mrussel1 said:
    Good article about the strength of the D bench going into next election season.  There are a bunch of democratic govs born after 1970, with great resumes.  All of them with law enforcement or military backgrounds.  Worth the read. 

    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/26/democratic-bench-josh-shapiro-wes-moore-00079538
    I wish Shapiro or Moore were not brand new to their governorships....

    This is the guy I think could come out of nowhere and surprise people:
    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/06/jason-kander-democrat-invisible-storm-book/661314/
    His PTSD will be used against him.  They'll say he isn't stable,  etc. If Teump can hit McCain for being captured,  nothing is off limits for them. 
    I agree...it's unfortunate. I was really surprised when he left the spotlight a few years back. The explanation makes sense it just didn't seem like it affected him but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
  • The JugglerThe Juggler Behind that bush over there. Posts: 47,141
    mrussel1 said:
    mrussel1 said:
    Good article about the strength of the D bench going into next election season.  There are a bunch of democratic govs born after 1970, with great resumes.  All of them with law enforcement or military backgrounds.  Worth the read. 

    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/26/democratic-bench-josh-shapiro-wes-moore-00079538
    I wish Shapiro or Moore were not brand new to their governorships....

    This is the guy I think could come out of nowhere and surprise people:
    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/06/jason-kander-democrat-invisible-storm-book/661314/
    His PTSD will be used against him.  They'll say he isn't stable,  etc. If Teump can hit McCain for being captured,  nothing is off limits for them. 
    I agree...it's unfortunate. I was really surprised when he left the spotlight a few years back. The explanation makes sense it just didn't seem like it affected him but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes.
    Yeah....but the only way he could fend it off is by leaning directly into it which he seems to be doing with full force. Planning on reading his book soon. It's an interesting story for sure. 
    chinese-happy.jpg
  • edited February 2023
    Ahh today was priceless! I could watch libs cry all day for entertainment. AOC was an absolute joke. 

  • Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 8,587
    Ahh today was priceless! I could watch libs cry all day for entertainment. AOC was an absolute joke. 

    That’s the republican platform. 
  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 28,258

    At least that read wave you predicted is working no? Tell us what legislative plans GOP have in place that will help the American middle class family? 
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • I didn't know of Gary Varvel until today.  Looked through some of his comics, read some of his newsletter, and he's as funny as you'd expect from a Christian conservative cartoonist.  Another way of stating "dumb as fuck".
    Virginia Beach 2000; Pittsburgh 2000; Columbus 2003; D.C. 2003; Pittsburgh 2006; Virginia Beach 2008; Cleveland 2010; PJ20 2011; Pittsburgh 2013; Baltimore 2013; Charlottesville 2013; Charlotte 2013; Lincoln 2014; Moline 2014; St. Paul 2014; Greenville 2016; Hampton 2016; Lexington 2016; Wrigley 2016; Prague 2018; Krakow 2018; Berlin 2018; Fenway 2018; Camden 2022; St. Paul 2023
  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 28,258
    Talk about who’s in who’s head 🤣🤣 Out of your Mind 
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937
    Ahh today was priceless! I could watch libs cry all day for entertainment. AOC was an absolute joke. 

    That's funny because she destroyed those fuckers.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937
    I didn't know of Gary Varvel until today.  Looked through some of his comics, read some of his newsletter, and he's as funny as you'd expect from a Christian conservative cartoonist.  Another way of stating "dumb as fuck".
    I'm not religious and I try not to insult those who are. But Varvel wears his religion on his sleeve. He is constantly posting about appearances at churches, how his son is "starring" in a religious film, drawing cartoons about christianity, etc. Yet he outright lies in some of his cartoons. Stretching the truth for humor is fine...I get it. But how does this supposedly "christian" man constantly poke fun of Biden's dementia, stuttering, etc., and reconcile that with god?
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
  • mrussel1mrussel1 Posts: 28,602
    Ahh today was priceless! I could watch libs cry all day for entertainment. AOC was an absolute joke. 

    That’s the republican platform. 
    That's it exactly. 
  • mrussel1mrussel1 Posts: 28,602
    Ahh today was priceless! I could watch libs cry all day for entertainment. AOC was an absolute joke. 

    Yes all of us Dems are absolutely crushed.  How can we go on without Omar on a subcommittee.  Devastating.
  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 28,258
    I didn't know of Gary Varvel until today.  Looked through some of his comics, read some of his newsletter, and he's as funny as you'd expect from a Christian conservative cartoonist.  Another way of stating "dumb as fuck".
    I'm not religious and I try not to insult those who are. But Varvel wears his religion on his sleeve. He is constantly posting about appearances at churches, how his son is "starring" in a religious film, drawing cartoons about christianity, etc. Yet he outright lies in some of his cartoons. Stretching the truth for humor is fine...I get it. But how does this supposedly "christian" man constantly poke fun of Biden's dementia, stuttering, etc., and reconcile that with god?
    As long as you repent on your death bed he’s good to enter into the kingdom of their God not mine but theirs! They can be as vile putrid humans while living on earth! Which all Republicans and evangelical Christian are! 
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • The JugglerThe Juggler Behind that bush over there. Posts: 47,141
    Ahh today was priceless! I could watch libs cry all day for entertainment. AOC was an absolute joke. 


    chinese-happy.jpg
  • I didn't know of Gary Varvel until today.  Looked through some of his comics, read some of his newsletter, and he's as funny as you'd expect from a Christian conservative cartoonist.  Another way of stating "dumb as fuck".
    I'm not religious and I try not to insult those who are. But Varvel wears his religion on his sleeve. He is constantly posting about appearances at churches, how his son is "starring" in a religious film, drawing cartoons about christianity, etc. Yet he outright lies in some of his cartoons. Stretching the truth for humor is fine...I get it. But how does this supposedly "christian" man constantly poke fun of Biden's dementia, stuttering, etc., and reconcile that with god?
    Exactly.  To me there's a huge difference between the appearance of a godly person and an actual godly person.  Seems that conservatives care much more about the appearance, as long as it gets them what they want, like the broken vessel St. Trump. 
    Virginia Beach 2000; Pittsburgh 2000; Columbus 2003; D.C. 2003; Pittsburgh 2006; Virginia Beach 2008; Cleveland 2010; PJ20 2011; Pittsburgh 2013; Baltimore 2013; Charlottesville 2013; Charlotte 2013; Lincoln 2014; Moline 2014; St. Paul 2014; Greenville 2016; Hampton 2016; Lexington 2016; Wrigley 2016; Prague 2018; Krakow 2018; Berlin 2018; Fenway 2018; Camden 2022; St. Paul 2023
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937
    I do remember Varvel posting some cartoons that were slightly insulting to tRump before....back when tRump was POTUS.

    He would get some flack from his followers on FB for that. 

    When he was with IndyStar he was a bit more middle of the road. That's why I have such a hard time with him now. He went total magat.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,072
    Ahh today was priceless! I could watch libs cry all day for entertainment. AOC was an absolute joke. 

    That's funny because she destroyed those fuckers.

    I gotta say she obviously has a terrific point.  Her transitioning into preacher mode and jumping on her trampoline was distracting though.  But its a passionate topic and issue.  
    hippiemom = goodness
  • mickeyratmickeyrat up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,421

     
    In new role, Sanders demands answers from Starbucks' Schultz
    By MARY CLARE JALONICK
    28 mins ago

    WASHINGTON (AP) — As Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders settles into his new role as chairman of a committee that oversees health and labor issues, he says some corporations “should be nervous.” And the longtime liberal crusader’s first target is Howard Schultz, the interim CEO of Starbucks who has aggressively fought his workers’ efforts to unionize.

    Sanders and the 10 other Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee sent a letter to Schultz on Tuesday demanding he testify at a March 9 hearing on his company’s compliance with federal labor laws. If Schultz ignores or refuses the request, Sanders said, he’s willing to use the committee’s subpoena power to force him to appear.

    “This is corporate greed,” said Sanders, 81, who has run for president twice and spent a political lifetime fighting corporations and monied interests over policies that he says hurt the working class. “Workers have a constitutional right to organize. And even if you are a large, multinational corporation owned by a billionaire you don’t have the right to violate the law. And we intend to be asking Mr. Schultz some very hard questions.”

    Sanders’ demand for testimony from Schultz is an opening act in his new role as chairman of the HELP panel, which has expansive jurisdiction over issues that have been central to his more than four decades in public service. And thanks to Democrats adding a seat to their majority in last year's election, Sanders can fully exercise the oversight powers of the gavel and potentially issue subpoenas without Republican support.

    Sanders said he’s not done challenging individual corporations, mentioning Amazon as another company he believes has acted illegally against unions. And “if you are a multinational pharmaceutical company that’s been ripping off the American people and charging us outrageously high prices, you should be nervous, because I’m going to hold you accountable,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. “I’m going to do something about it.”

    It's unclear how much he can accomplish in a divided Congress. While the committee will serve as a bully pulpit for the Senate’s most famous progressive, passing significant legislation through the Senate — not to mention the Republican-led House – will be a heavy-to-impossible lift over the next two years. And finding areas of consensus will be a new test for the cantankerous far-left senator as he is watched uneasily by the industries he regulates and members of his own committee from both parties.

    Sanders said he has “two roles”— one as chairman, with a more realistic focus on results, and another promoting his signature issues like “Medicare for All,” tuition-free college and paid child care, among others. He says he plans to take his “show on the road,” doing a series of town halls, roundtables and field hearings around the country. Next week, he’ll hold a town hall inside the Capitol, bringing teachers unions together to discuss teacher pay.

    “I am chairman of the committee and I want to accomplish as much as I can … that’s what I’m paid to do and I intend to do it,” he said. “On the other hand, there are issues out there that I do not expect will be passed in this Congress, but are very important and they have to be talked about.”

    Republicans are skeptical Sanders can make the kinds of deals necessary to push significant legislation through the committee.

    Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican on the panel, said Sanders’ style is “a lot of storm and fury” and light on real accomplishments, meaning “little will be done to get through the committee, and very little will reach the floor.”

    Sanders and his Democratic allies point to bipartisan deals he has made in the past, along with some of his unexpected relationships he's made with Republicans who share slices of his interests. While he spends most of his time talking about his progressive goals, they said, he is also an 16-year veteran of the Senate with an ability to compromise.

    For his part, Sanders noted his deal with the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to improve veterans’ benefits almost 10 years ago and his work with former rival President Joe Biden, who beat him in the 2020 Democratic primary, to pass COVID relief policy in 2021 and negotiate a massive package of social spending programs that next year. That legislation ultimately stalled.

    On the bipartisan veterans’ legislation, which aimed to improve access to health care after a series of controversies, “he put his heart and soul in it,” said Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the previous chairwoman of the HELP committee and a member of the Veterans panel while Sanders and McCain were negotiating. “He learned, he listened, he compromised.”

    Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Sanders often has a differing view than those in the caucus, “but he usually ends up where the team is.”

    Sanders ticked off Republicans he has worked with — moderate Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, for example, both of whom sit on the committee and have deep interest in rural health issues. He said he’s holding regular meetings with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the panel who is known for compromise.

    And this week, Sanders is holding a news conference with Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican who is on the panel, to demand that railroads provide workers with more sick days.

    Braun said he's met with Sanders to discuss health care, and while they come at it from opposite angles — Sanders wants it to be government-run, Braun wants to reform the industry to lower costs — they fundamentally agree that there are problems. “When you take everything else away, people are still worried about the high cost of health care,” Braun said.

    Outside of the Capitol, health insurance industry experts are watching what moves Sanders might make around Medicare Advantage, an increasingly popular program where private companies offer plans that are reimbursed by the government for care. Others like health care worker unions are eager to work with Sanders as hospitals around the country grapple with staff shortages and health care worker burnout.

    With his new perch, Sanders seems inclined to stay in the Senate. He said he’s not interested in replacing the departing Labor Secretary, Marty Walsh, and refuses to talk about his own political future at all.

    “I intend to use this committee to address the real issues are facing working class people,” he said.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Seung Min Kim in Washington and Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this report.


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  • HobbesHobbes Pacific Northwest Posts: 6,377
    I admire Fetterman for not only seeking help to address his mental health, but also for being so transparent about it. Takes courage.

    Not sure if his depression is chronic, but I do know it is common for folks who have had strokes.
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