This blog is part of the series that focuses on the candidates who are running for President of the United States in 2016. This blog focuses on Bernie Sanders.
Bernie Sanders spent 16 years as Vermont’s sole congressman in the United States House of Representatives. He was first elected to the United States Senate in 2006, and then again in 2012 (with 71% of the vote). Bernie Sanders is an Independent who is part of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He is running for President of the United States in 2016 as a Democrat.
Health Care
According to his official website, Bernie Sanders has a plan to lower prescription drug prices. Some of that plan involves requiring Medicare to use its bargaining power to negotiate with the prescription drug companies for better prices. It also would allow individual Americans, and pharmacists, to import prescription drugs from licensed Canadian pharmacies.
Bernie Sanders also wants to close the Medicare Part D donut hole for brand and generic drugs by 2017. He also wants to restore Medicare prescription drug discounts for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. More about his plan can be found on his official website.
As president, Bernie Sanders will fight for a Medicare for All single-payer healthcare system to make healthcare a right for all Americans.
Women’s Health Care
According to his official website, Bernie Sanders would expand funding for Planned Parenthood, the Title X family program, and other initiatives that protect women’s health, access to contraception, and the availability of a safe and legal abortion.
In addition, Bernie Sanders, as President, will only nominate Supreme Court justices who understand that Roe v Wade is the law of the land and who recognize the rights of women to have access to family planning services.
Immigration
According to his official website, Bernie Sanders, as President, will sign the DREAM Act into law to offer the opportunity of permanent residency and eventual citizenship to young people who were brought to the United States as children.
Education
According to his official website, Bernie Sanders wants to make tuition free at public colleges and universities. He wants to cut student loan interest rates and allow Americans to refinance student loans at today’s low interest rates. His plan will be paid for by imposing a tax on Wall Street speculators.
Jobs
According to his official website, Bernie Sanders has opposed NAFTA, CAFTA, permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China, the TPP, and other free-trade agreements. He has done so because these deals kill American jobs by shifting work overseas to nations which fail to provide worker protections and who pay extremely low wages.
Image by Phil Roeder on Flickr.
Related Articles at Families.com:
* Focus on the Candidates – Mike Huckabee
* Focus on the Candidates – John Kasich
* Focus on the Candidates – Ted Cruz