Senators Bernie Sanders and Representative Ro Khanna have introduced legislation, the “Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act,” proposing a 5% annual wealth tax on individuals with fortunes exceeding $1 billion. This bill aims to generate an estimated $4.4 trillion over ten years, a sum intended to address significant economic disparities. The revenue generated would fund initiatives such as direct payments to lower-income households, reversing healthcare cuts, expanding Medicare benefits, and increasing affordable housing and teacher salaries. Proponents argue this measure is crucial to curb extreme wealth concentration and ensure a more equitable economy.
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Senator Bernie Sanders will introduce legislation targeting the nation’s wealthiest individuals, proposing a tax hike designed to reduce the fortunes of approximately 1,000 billionaires by nearly half, generating an estimated $4.4 trillion. While unlikely to pass the current Republican-controlled Congress, this initiative is anticipated to serve as a significant benchmark for contenders in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, mirroring the impact of Sanders’s previous Medicare-for-all proposal on the 2020 cycle. The legislation’s introduction signals a renewed focus on wealth inequality and its potential role in future electoral politics.
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Senator Bernie Sanders will rally in Los Angeles to support a proposed one-time 5% tax on the wealth of California’s approximately 200 billionaires, aiming to raise funds to address a looming healthcare crisis. This initiative, championed by Sanders due to widespread wealth inequality, seeks to gather the necessary signatures to appear on the November ballot. The measure, which could generate an estimated $100 billion, faces opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom and a newly formed campaign committee funded by tech industry figures. Proponents, including frontline healthcare workers, argue the tax is essential to prevent devastating cuts to healthcare services and ensure patient access to care.
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As Democratic leaders began to coalesce behind reforms for the Department of Homeland Security without demanding funding cuts, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to slash the entirety of the GOP’s massive ICE budget increase. This measure, which would have reallocated $75 billion from ICE to Medicaid, aimed to prevent 700,000 people from losing health care. The amendment ultimately failed, though it garnered support from the entire Democratic caucus and two Republicans, signaling a growing opposition to the administration’s immigration policies even within the GOP. This vote highlighted a divergence between Democratic leaders’ negotiation strategies and the broader desires of their caucus.
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Senator Bernie Sanders’ amendment, which proposed redirecting $75 billion from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Medicaid, failed to pass the Senate by a slim margin of 49-51. The amendment was brought forth in response to the growing concern over ICE’s actions, particularly in cities like Minneapolis. Sanders argued that the funding would be better utilized to provide healthcare for Americans, especially since ICE’s actions are reflective of a “domestic army” terrorizing communities, and therefore should not be funded further. Despite the amendment’s failure, Sanders voted against the broader appropriations bill, citing his opposition to continued funding for ICE without fundamental reforms.
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Senator Bernie Sanders has demanded the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and proposed significant reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before any new funding is approved. Sanders views ICE as a “domestic military force” that terrorizes communities and has proposed repealing a $75 billion ICE funding boost while demanding an end to warrantless arrests and greater transparency. The senator’s demands come as the Senate debates a DHS funding package that includes $10 billion for ICE, with Democrats pushing for reforms to the agency as a condition for passage. Despite a growing number of Democrats calling for her ouster, Trump has yet to remove Noem from her position.
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At a City Hall event, Senator Bernie Sanders swore in newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who campaigned on working-class priorities. Mamdani, echoing Sanders’ call, emphasized the need to tax the wealthy to fund initiatives like universal childcare and rent freezes, aiming to improve the lives of all New Yorkers. The mayor’s agenda included increasing corporate tax rates and taxes on high-income earners. The inauguration followed the backdrop of growing wealth disparities, with the world’s richest individuals accumulating trillions, prompting fresh demands for wealth taxes.
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Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is slated to deliver the opening remarks at Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration, with Senator Bernie Sanders administering the oath of office. The inauguration will be a public block party on Broadway, unlike past ceremonies, and is meant to include all New Yorkers. Mamdani, who campaigned on a platform of affordability, also faced criticism during his campaign.
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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will be sworn into office by two prominent figures: State Attorney General Letitia James and Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders will oversee a ceremonial swearing-in at a New Year’s Day block party, while James will officially swear in Mamdani at midnight. The transition team emphasized that Sanders’ progressive values inspired Mamdani’s campaign. James, a key supporter, endorsed Mamdani despite a primary election system that allowed voters to rank candidates.
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Senate Democrats and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders have voiced their concerns to the Trump administration regarding reports that the Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to drastically cut field office visits. The senators expressed worries that these efforts, which aim to reduce in-person visits by 15 million annually, might hinder Americans’ access to necessary services. They are particularly concerned about the impact on beneficiaries already facing long wait times, potentially pushing them towards unreliable online resources or customer service “doom-loops.” The senators are requesting further details from the SSA about the plan’s implementation, alternative service provisions, and its anticipated effects on current service delays.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Senate GOP Rejects Sanders’ Medicaid Funding Amendment, Prioritizes ICE
Senator Bernie Sanders’ amendment, which proposed redirecting $75 billion from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Medicaid, failed to pass the Senate by a slim margin of 49-51. The amendment was brought forth in response to the growing concern over ICE’s actions, particularly in cities like Minneapolis. Sanders argued that the funding would be better utilized to provide healthcare for Americans, especially since ICE’s actions are reflective of a “domestic army” terrorizing communities, and therefore should not be funded further. Despite the amendment’s failure, Sanders voted against the broader appropriations bill, citing his opposition to continued funding for ICE without fundamental reforms.
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