Bernie Sanders scorches Trump tax plan in Akron

Published: December 2, 2017 - 10:13 PM

Excerpts:

Sanders arrived in Akron 17 hours after voting against the latest version of the GOP’s plan to rewrite the federal tax code. It passed narrowly along party lines and now heads to conference committee. President Donald Trump wants it on his desk before January.

The Akron event, coordinated by the progressive political activists of MoveOn.org and the Not One Penny campaign, coalesced around egalitarian ideals like Medicare for all, free public college and equal pay for women. Sanders chided influential American “oligarchs” who he said are taking control of the world’s wealthiest democracy.

“As we saw last night, that big money can dictate a major, major piece of legislation,” he said. “Democracy has got to be something that we fight for. That’s why we need you to come out in an unprecedented way to knock on doors and talk to neighbors.”

Sanders also schooled the crowd on why their neighbors supported Trump, who took Ohio last year by 8 percentage points. It’s not that they are racist, sexist or bigots, Sanders said. It’s that “in Ohio, there are millions of people hurting. There are people in this room working three jobs. There are people in this room older than 55 who are scared of what happens when they retire because they have nothing in the bank. There are people in this room who can’t afford prescription drugs … There are single moms here who can’t afford quality affordable childcare. There are young people here who dream of going to college but don’t know how they will pay for that college.”

https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/nation/bernie-sanders-scorches-trump-tax-plan-in-akron