“We have to act and we have to act now,” said Sanders on ABC’s “This Week” program.
Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., The next chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said on Sunday that all members of Congress want bipartisanship, but the urgent need for coronavirus relief is more pressing.
“We all want bipartisanship and I think you will see more as we go downhill,” Sanders told co-anchor Martha Raddatz of ABC’s “This Week”. “We all hope to work with the Republicans. But now, this country is facing an unprecedented series of crises.”
“We have to act and we have to act now,” added Sanders.
During the campaign, Joe Biden predicted that the Republican Party would have an “epiphany” as soon as President Donald Trump left the White House. President Biden has been adamant about a bipartisan approach to lawmaking, signaling that he feels Republicans would be willing to work with him, but he seems to be moving away from these demands when it comes to coronavirus negotiations.
“I support the approval of the relief from COVID, with the support of Republicans, if we can. But the relief from COVID has to be approved. There are no ifs, ands or buts,” Biden said on Friday.
Raddatz asked Sanders about the new willingness to abandon bipartisan negotiations on coronavirus relief, noting that a team of 10 Republican Party senators sent Biden a letter on Sunday morning signaling a counter plan that meets many of Biden’s demands. .
“Martha, the question is not bipartisanship or not,” replied Sanders. “I don’t care what they say, we have to deal with this pandemic. We have to make sure that we are producing the vaccines we need and putting them in people’s arms.”
“If Republicans want to work with us, they have better ideas on how to deal with these crises, that’s great, but to be honest with you, I haven’t heard it yet,” he added.
Sanders is pushing for a Senate resolution to unlock the upper house’s reconciliation power, which would allow the coronavirus relief package to pass a simple majority. The option was launched as a potential vehicle for approving Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus aid project, the size of which some Republicans and moderate Democrats have expressed concern.
Raddatz pressured Sanders about whether the party has enough votes to approve an aid package through its reconciliation proposal.
“I believe so, because it is difficult for me to imagine any Democrat – no matter what state he comes from – who does not understand the need to move now aggressively to protect the working family in this country,” said Sanders.
Referring to comments by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin that he was firm in demanding a bipartisan approach, Raddatz asked Sanders if he was still confident.
“Yes, I am absolutely confident. I will tell you why. Joe Manchin is a president, I am a president. Democrats have a majority because we won two seats with great candidates in Georgia,” said Sanders. “But this campaign, in many ways, was a national campaign … The entire Democratic Party came together in support of the candidates and Georgia. We made promises to the American people.”
Separately, Republicans have dealt with the reaction against the rep’s comments. Marjorie Taylor Greene, freshman from Georgia.
CNN’s KFile, in a report on his online activity, said Greene allegedly “liked” a comment on his Facebook page in 2019 that threatened the life of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats. ABC News cannot confirm the “likes” because the posts have been deleted.
Greene was also recently assigned to the House Education and Work Committee, despite her support for conspiracy theories, claiming that school shootings in Sandy Hook and Parkland were staged.
Raddatz asked Sanders if she was suitable for a position and a seat on that committee.
“The idea that you’re talking about, members of the US House of Representatives are talking about violence. This is – it’s almost beyond comprehension and I think it’s something the Republican Party needs to deal with,” said Sanders. .
He also said the party could be one that believes in democracy or one that slips into authoritarianism based on lies and conspiracies.
“I’m not going to give advice to Republicans – they don’t want my advice, but ultimately they will remain a conservative party that believes in democracy or an authoritarian party based on big lies, conspiracy theories and, in fact, a movement towards and I hope that the Republicans will make the right decision and take the side of democracy, ”he added.
Sanders also commented on bipartisan outrage over Robinhood’s decision to abruptly halt GameStop’s stock transactions after the company’s Reddit-inspired move.
“I have long believed that the Wall Street business model is flawed. I think we have to look closely at the type of illegal activities and outrageous behavior on the part of hedge funds and other Wall Street participants,” Sanders said.