November 6, 2012

Senator Sanders

Tax Cuts for Rich Sen. Sanders said Monday night that Republicans in Congress were likely to continue pushing for tax cuts after Election Day. "It is very clear that virtually all of the Republicans are going to fight not only to extend Bush's tax breaks for the wealthy, but also to lower tax rates for large corporations and wealthy individuals," Sanders said, adding that GOP lawmakers wanted to cut Medicare and Social Security. "My fear is there are some conservative Democrats who may want to go along with that effort," he said on Current TV. LINK, VIDEO

Wall Street President Obama should have been more outspoken about Wall Street, Sen. Sanders told KPCC-FM in Los Angeles in an interview broadcast on Monday.  "People are asking the question, ‘you know, these guys on Wall Street have been greedy, they've been reckless, they've engaged in illegal behavior, how come none of these guys are in jail?' If the president was stronger on Wall Street, do I think [President Obama] would be in better shape politically today? Yeah I do." LINK 

Social Security "In terms of Social Security, I think if the president says a magic six words, ‘I will not cut Social Security,' it's gonna reassure a whole lot of working people in this country. I think it's not only the right thing to do for the future of America, I think it would make him a more popular president," Sanders said in the KPCC-FM interview with Patt Morrison. LINK 

Budget Sen. Sanders said the contrast between the two parties has grown clearer in recent years. "It's clear to me that what Republicans are about is protecting the wealthiest people in this country while they balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, children, the sick and the poor," Sanders told the Valley News. Sanders' Republican opponent, John MacGovern, believes the House-passed budget is "too timid." He "wants to make even more devastating cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and education," Sanders said. "Meanwhile, like the national Republicans, he supports continuing tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires."

Citizens United There hasn't been a lot of drama in Vermont elections this year with Sen. Sanders and other progressives enjoying widespread support. Yet super PACs have noticeably changed campaigning in Vermont from "chicken suppers and knocking on doors" to heavy advertising on broadcast media, WAMC-FM reported. LINK

Citizens United Super PACs, unleashed by the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, are drowning out progressive voices on the campaign trail. Sen. Sanders said, "What the Supreme Court did in Citizens United is to say to these same billionaires and the corporations they control ... ‘Now, for a very small percentage of your wealth, we're going to give you the opportunity to own the United State government,'" Bill Knight blogged for the Galesburg (Ill.) Planet. LINK

Rail Trail The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail has won the necessary land use permit that will allow construction to begin on 44 miles of the trail across northern Vermont along the discontinued railbed. "This is exciting news," Sen. Sanders said in the Lamoille County News & Citizen. LINK

World

Syria The worst violence in months struck in Palestinian neighborhoods of southern Damascus, where at least two car-bomb explosions and strikes by government aircraft are reported to have killed over 50, The New York Times reported. LINK

National

Senate Dems Outpace Rs in Close Contests Democrats outraised Republicans in the 11 Senate races considered tossup by a combined $45 million, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal. Republican super PACs and interest groups have offset part of that disparity. But a little-noticed surge in Democratic fundraising, fueled in part by a super PAC created by allies of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.), has helped create a Democratic firewall. LINK

Nor'easter A nor'easter taking shape Monday in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to begin its march up the coast, eventually passing within 50 to 100 miles of the wounded New Jersey coastline on Wednesday. "It's going to impact many areas that were devastated by Sandy. It will not be good," said Bruce Terry, the lead forecaster for the National Weather Service, The Associated Press reported. LINK

Recession The rate of suicide in the United States rose sharply during the first few years after the start of the 2008 recession, an analysis published by The Lancent found. While suicide rates often spike during economic downturns the effect of the current recession was stronger than usual, with every 1 percent rise in unemployment accompanied by a roughly 1 percent increase in the rate of suicide, The New York Times reported. LINK