Bernie Sanders (The More Things Changed)

Bernard "Bernie" Sanders (born September 8, 1941) is an American politician, serving as a United States Representative from New York from 1993-2001 and again since 2003. Although he is currently unregistered with any political party, he has caucused with the Democratic Party since 1995, and has been an off-and-on again member of the Working Families Party since 2000.

Sanders has described himself as a "democratic socialist", although most scholars and commentators describe him as in line with American progressivism and social democracy.

Mayor of Plattsburgh
Sanders was first elected to the Mayorality of Plattsburgh, New York, in 1983, defeating incumbent Mayor John L. Ianelli in a three-way contest.

As Mayor, Sanders prioritized funding community-trust housing, making Plattsburgh one of the first cities in the country to adopt the policy.

Sanders also prioritized redevelopment of Plattsburgh's Lake Champlain waterfront, including a construction of a mixed-use district featuring housing, a public beach, and bike paths. The city of Plattsburgh also partnered with the State University of New York to construct the Center for Hydrological Studies.

During his administration, Sanders led the successful merger of the Town of Plattsburgh and the City of Plattsburgh; the resulting municipality nearly doubled in population, to over 30,000 by the time he left office in 1993.

U.S. House of Representatives
Sanders was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, becoming the first independent to serve in Congress since Frazier Reams, of Ohio, in 1950. Sanders served in the House from 1993 until he ran for the United States Senate in 2000, then again from 2001 through the present.

Tenure - 1993-2001
During his first term in the House, Sanders often alienated allies and colleagues alike by barraging political parties as tools for the wealthy and special interests. In 1995, he began developing working relationships with the Democratic Caucus in the House, co-founding the Progressive Caucus that same year. Although he refused to join the party, he caucused with the Democrats for purposes of committee assignments.

Crime and Gun Control
In 1993, Sanders voted against the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which mandated background checks at the federal level for firearm purchases, as well as a five-day waiting period. His Chief of Staff st the time, Anthony Pollina, stated:

"'[Sanders'] response is that he doesn't just represent liberals and progressives. He was sent to represent all of the 21st District. It's not inappropriate for a congressman to support a majority position, particularly on something that residents of the district have been very clear about.'"

In 1994, Sanders voted in favor of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.

In 2005, he voted for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which aimed to prevent firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable for negligence when crimes have been committed with their products.

Hydrological Issues
On March 6th, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed a bill reauthorizing the National Sea Grant Program; an amendment added by Sanders in the House version of the bill contained a line declaring Lake Champlain to be a Great Lake, qualifying New York and Vermont for additional federal research and education funds allocated to these national resources. Although the status was officially revoked later that month, the additional funds to monitor and study the lake remained intact.

Tenure - 2003-Present
In 2003, Sanders voted for the a reauthorization of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists, which provided legal justification for the antiterrorism policies of President George W. Bush following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Sanders also voted in favor of a resolution supporting though he criticized the Bush administration on the House floor.

Following the revelation of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity by Richard Armitage, a State Department official to conservative journalist Roert Novak, Sanders stated:

"'The revelation that the President authorized the release of classified information in order to discredit an Iraq war critic should tell every member of Congress that the time is now for a serious investigation of how we got into the war in Iraq and why Congress can no longer act as a rubber stamp for the President.'"

Healthcare
In his time in Congress, Sanders has advocated for a single-payer system. In a speech in favor of his Medicare for All proposal, he has said:

"'Health care must be recognized as a right, not a privilege. Every man, woman and child in our country should be able to access the health care they need regardless of their income. The only long-term solution to America's health care crisis is a single-payer national health care program.'"

Sanders has stated his opposition to the Healthcare Modernization Act of 2017, which he described as "inadequate" in providing for the neediest individuals in the healthcare system.

Higher Education
Sanders has also advocated for higher education to be debt-free and tuition-free. Under his proposed College for All Act, a tax would be placed on Wall Street speculators, and the requirement that students re-apply for financial aid each year would be eliminated. The proposed funding would be supplied on a 2:1 federal to state ratio.

Sanders has expressed support for the COLLEGE Act, introduced by Representative Chelsea Clinton (D-AR), calling it "an important first step in achieving universal education."

Veterans Health Administration Scandal
CNN reported on April 30, 2014 that at least 40 United States Armed Forces veterans died while waiting for care at the Phoenix, Arizona, Veterans Health Administration facilities. An investigation by the VA Inspector General identified another 35 veterans who died while waiting for medical care. Since 2011, Sanders has served as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The House ultimately held over 47 hearings on the scandal, in conjunction with 37 hearings held by the Senate committee. Sanders was criticized for his lines of questioning during the hearings, with MSNBC host and former Florida Congressman Joe Scarborough likening him to a lawyer representing the VA, rather than one of the officials responsible for overseeing the agency.



Along with Jeff Miller (R-FL), Sanders co-wrote and co-sponsored the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014, which allowed veterans to receive their healthcare from non-VA facilities under certain conditions. Along with Hal Rogers (R-KY), Sanders co-wrote and co-sponsored the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 (Veterans Choice Act), expanding the number of options veterans have for receiving care and grant the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs more power to fire senior executives.

Matthew Miller, chief policy officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, stated:

"'We feel that [Sanders] did not live up to his responsibilities as Ranking Member to provide oversight into this. He keeps hiding behind the mantle [of the title]. And yes, he did pass the $15 billion pice of legislation, but that's akin to closing the barn door after the chickens have escaped.'"

2000 U.S. Senate Campaign
Main Article: United States Senate Election in New York, 2000

The United States Senate election in New York in 2000 was held on November 7th of that year. Republican nominee Rudy Giuliani, Mayor of New York City, won the election, defeating Sanders, who ran as an independent, and Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

Sanders received 1.8 million votes and came in second place, losing to Giuliani, but edging out Lowey. Since Giuliani received only 45% of the vote, many commentators speculated that either Lowey or Sanders could have won the seat had the other not contested the election.

2016 Presidential Campaign
Main Article: Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign, 2016

The 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination began with a formal announcement by Sanders on May 26, 2015, in Plattsburgh, New York, which followed an informal announcement on April 30. At the time of his announcement, he had been an official member of the Democratic Party for only a week.



Unlike most other major presidential candidates, Sanders eschewed an unlimited super PAC, instead choosing to receive most of his funding from direct individual campaign donations. Nevertheless, his candidacy was financially supported by groups such as National Nurses United for Patient Protection and the American Federation of Teachers, the latter of which was led by fellow New Yorker Randi Weingarten, who would later go on to serve as United States Secretary of Education.

When he formally ended his campaign on June 9th, 2016, Sanders had won nearly 8.9 million votes, coming in second to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but finishing ahead of former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Bebee.

Personal Life
Sanders and his wife, Jane, both attend Temple Beth Israel, a Reform synagogue in Plattsburgh. They have been married since 1988.

Burgeoning Political Family
In 2017, his stepdaughter, Plattsburgh city councilor Carina Driscoll, was elected Mayor of the city - the same office that Sanders held thirty-four years previously.

In February 2018, his son, Levi Sanders, announced that he would run for the United States House of Representatives in Vermont in the Democratic primary, challenging incumbent Libertarian Martha Rainville.