Bernie Sanders says his viral comments about the GOP tax plan were taken 'completely out of context'
Lisa Lake/Getty Images for MoveOn.org
- Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont responded to conservatives who highlighted his recent comments on the GOP tax plan.
- The senator said his comments were taken "completely out of context."
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont hit back at conservatives in a Wednesday statement for taking recent comments he made about their massive tax overhaul "completely out of context."
"The Republicans are so desperate to spin their disastrous tax plan that they have resorted to taking comments I recently made completely out of context," the progressive senator said. "Let me set the record straight."
He called the bill "one of the worst pieces of legislation in the modern history of our country" that will be a massive transfer of wealth to the wealthiest Americans, negatively impact the healthcare market, and lay the groundwork for congressional Republicans to slash spending for Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.
"Instead of this grossly obscene piece of legislation, let's pass tax reform that permanently benefits all middle-income and working-class families without giving tax breaks to the top 1%," he said. "Instead of providing huge tax breaks to the rich and large corporations that explode the deficit, which this bill does, millionaires, billionaires and large, profitable corporations must begin paying their fair share of taxes."
Sanders was responding to conservatives who highlighted comments he made to CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday.
During that interview, Sanders said the middle class tax cuts provided in the bill are "a very good thing" that shouldn't expire.
"That's why we should've made the tax breaks for the middle class permanent," he said.
"But what the Republicans did is made the tax breaks for corporations permanent, the tax breaks for the middle class temporary," he continued. "Meanwhile, at the end of 10 years, well over 80 billion Americans are paying more in taxes. Thirteen million Americans, as a result of this legislation, lose their health insurance. Health premiums are going up. You've got a $1.4 trillion deficit as a result of this bill."
A longtime supporter of massive tax increases on EVERYONE, Bernie turned into Sanders Claus on Christmas Eve when asked about middle class tax cuts. It appears even this Grinch's heart has grown. https://t.co/Ijtvldra1r pic.twitter.com/yuzEjVPaHA
- Mississippi GOP (@MSGOP) December 26, 2017
Bernie Sanders wants the tax cuts permanent? Jeeze man why didn't you speak up? Looking forward to him campaigning on this and working with Ryan/McConnell to make that happen. https://t.co/wvORSoDokR
- Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) December 24, 2017
They will be https://t.co/nfGj68BO0q
- John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) December 24, 2017
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- Election Commission issues notification for sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls
- 6 Coffee recipes you should try this summer
- "To sit and talk in the box...!" Kohli's message to critics as RCB wrecks GT in IPL Match 45
- 7 Nutritious and flavourful tiffin ideas to pack for school
- India's e-commerce market set to skyrocket as the country's digital economy surges to USD 1 Trillion by 2030
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market