Full Interview: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THREATENING
TO WITHHOLD IN RETALIATION.
JOINING ME NOW, SENATOR BERNIE
SANDERS OF THE GREAT STATE OF
VERMONT.
LET'S JUST PLUNGE INTO HEALTH
CARE.
THREATENING ON TWITTER BOTH
LAWMAKERS AND INSURANCE
COMPANIES ON SATURDAY, SAYING
HE'S PREPARED TO CUT OFF THE
QUOTE, BAILOUT THAT YOU AND THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES RECEIVE.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE
THREATS?
>> YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK IT'S
INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT WE HAVE A
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
THAT WANTS TO SABOTAGE HEALTH
CARE IN AMERICA, MAKE LIFE MORE
DIFFICULT FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
STRUGGLING NOW TO GET THE HEALTH
INSURANCE THEY NEED AND TO PAY
FOR THAT HEALTH INSURANCE.
MAYBE THE PRESIDENT SHOULD PUT
DOWN HIS -- STOP HIS
TWITTERING -- TWEETING FOR A
WHILE AND UNDERSTAND THAT
AMERICA TODAY IS THE ONLY
COUNTRY, ONLY MAJOR COUNTRY ON
EARTH NOT TO GUARANTEE HEALTH
CARE TO ALL PEOPLE AND THE
SOLUTION IS NOT TO THROW TENS OF
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OFF OF HEALTH
INSURANCE THAT THEY CURRENTLY
HAVE.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
THREATS DIRECTLY AT MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH
INSURANCE, MICK MULVANEY WAS ON
THE SHOW EARLIER, TRYING TO
EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THE THREAT
MEANT.
>> I WOULD TURN THAT AROUND A
LITTLE BIT AND SAY TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
THAT, YES, EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN
IN EVERY STATE IN THIS COUNTRY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE HEALTH
CARE THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
HAVE.
AND THAT IS WHY IF WE ARE ABLE
TO RETURN TO REGULAR ORDER, IF
WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A SERIOUS
DEBATE ON THE HEALTH CARE
CRISIS, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE
A PUBLIC OPTION AVAILABLE AT
EVERY STATE IN THIS COUNTRY.
IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE PRIVATE
INSURANCE THEY'RE GETTING, IF
IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.
THEY SHOULD HAVE A MEDICARE TYPE
PUBLIC OPTION AVAILABLE IN EVERY
STATE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS
FORWARD.
>> WHEN YOU WERE ON THE PROGRAM
JULY 2nd YOU TOLD ME YOU WOULD
INTRODUCE A SINGER PAYER HEALTH
CARE PLAN LITERALLY AS SOON AS
WE WERE THROUGH WITH THE HEALTH
CARE DEBATE.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE'RE THROUGH
AND THE EFFORT HAS COLLAPSED.
ARE YOU GOING TO INTRODUCE
SIS
SINGLE PAYER?
>> OF COURSE WE ARE.
WE'RE TWEAKING THE FINAL POINTS
OF THE BILL AND WE'RE FIGURING
OUT HOW WE CAN MOUNT A NATIONAL
CAMPAIGN TO BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
HERE IS WHERE WE ARE, JAKE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR AMERICANS TO
UNDERSTAND THIS.
WE ARE THE ONLY MAJOR COUNTRY
NOT TO GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE TO
ALL PEOPLE.
28 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE
UNINSURED, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
PAYING DEDUCTIBLES AND
CO-PAYMENTS THAT ARE FAR TOO
HIGH.
HAD REPUBLICANS GOTTEN THEIR
WAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
ANOTHER 30, 32 MILLION PEOPLE
THROWN OFF HEALTH INSURANCE.
THAT IS CRAZY.
WHAT WE SHOULD TO IS MOVE IN THE
DIRECTION OF EVERY OTHER MAJOR
COUNTRY, GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE
AS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE.
SECOND THING IS TO ASK OURSELVES
A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION, WHICH MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS AND THE
PRESIDENT DOES NOT.
WHY IS IT THAT IN AMERICA, PER
CAPITA, WE ARE SPENDING FAR MORE
ON HEALTH CARE THAN THE PEOPLE
OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
WHY ARE WE PAYING, BY FAR, THE
HIGHEST PRICES IN THE WORLD FOR
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COMPARED TO
PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD?
THOSE ARE THE ISSUES WE'VE GOT
TO TACKLE.
THE ANSWER IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.
WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM NOT DESIGNED TO
GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE TO ALL OF
OUR PEOPLE IN A COST-EFFECTIVE
WAY.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A DYSFUNCTIONAL,
COMPLICATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
DESIGNED TO MAKE AS MUCH PROFIT
AS POSSIBLE FOR INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND DRUG COMPANIES.
AND YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE -- GO
AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO GET INTO SINGLE
PAYER JUST A QUICK NOTE, 32
MILLION FIGURE THAT THE SENATOR
IS REFERRING TO IS FROM A
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
STUDY IS WHAT HAPPENS IF
OBAMACARE IS REPEALED WITH NO
REPLACEMENT.
IT WAS ATTEMPTED IN YOUR HOME
STATE OF VERMONT AND IT DIDN'T
WORK BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET
THE FUNDING BECAUSE IT WOULD BE
TOO EXPENSIVE, THE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR SAID.
RECENTLY IT FAILED IN CALIFORNIA
AS WELL.
DEMOCRATS AGAIN NOT ABLE TO COME
UP WITH A WAY TO PAY FOR IT.
THESE ARE COBALT BLUE STATES,
VERMONT AND CALIFORNIA, WHERE
PEOPLE WANTED SINGLE PAYER AND
THERE WERE PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT
WOULD COST TOO MUCH.
HOW DO YOU MAKE IT NATIONAL IF
YOU CAN'T EVEN GET IT IN VERMONT
OR CALIFORNIA?
>> NO, NO, NO, NO.
JAKE, LET'S BE CAREFUL ABOUT
THIS.
A SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE, IN
MY VIEW AND FROM WHAT STUDIES
I'VE SEEN, WOULD SAVE MONEY.
SOMETIMES REPUBLICANS CONFUSE
THE ISSUE SAYING YOU'LL PAY MORE
IN TAXES.
WHAT THEY FORGET TO TELL YOU, IF
YOU ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR PAYING
$15,000, $20,000 A YEAR IN
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO BE PAYING THAT AT
ALL.
ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT
CANADA SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM PER CAPITA, THEIR COSTS
ARE FAR, FAR LESS THAN THE
UNITED STATES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE UK, COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD, ALL OF WHICH
HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHE TO A
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN
EVERY INSTANCE, THEY ARE
SPENDING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS PER
CAPITA THAN WE SPEND IN THE
UNITED STATES, SUBSTANTIALLY
LESS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
THE PROBLEM WITH OUR SYSTEM IS
IT IS SO COMPLICATED FOR THE
CONSUMER, FOR THE DOCTORS.
A HOSPITAL, FOR EXAMPLE, MIGHT
BE DEALING WITH 15, 20, 30
DIFFERENT INSURANCE POLICIES.
IT TAKES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
TIME, ENERGY AND EXPENSE TO
FIGURE OUT THAT YOU HAVE A
$5,000 DEDUCTIBLE, YOU HAVE A
$10,000 DEDUCTIBLE.
THE GOAL SIMPLY IS TO SAY THAT
EVERY PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY
THROUGH A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM IS
ENTITLED TO A COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTH CARE APPROACH AND THAT
WILL SAVE SUBSTANTIAL SUMS OF
MONEY IN LOWER PRESCRIPTION
COSTS, PROFITEERING OF THE DRUG
COMPANIES.
BY THE WAY, THE FIVE TOP DRUG
COMPANIES IN 2015 MADE $50
BILLION IN PROFIT.
THE CEOs IN THE HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRY MAKE ENORMOUS SALARIES.
WE SHOULD JOIN THE REST OF THE
WORLD, BEGIN THAT DISCUSSION
IMMEDIATELY.
AND I WILL BE INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION TO DO JUST THAT.
>> WHY COULDN'T THIS HAPPEN IN
VERMONT THEN?
WHAT'S THE ISSUE IN VERMONT?
VERMONT WOULD SEEM TO BE A
PERFECT TEST CASE.
>> WELL, THIS IS -- POLITICALLY,
THIS IS DIFFICULT.
BY THE WAY, IN CALIFORNIA, THE
DEBATE IS NOT OVER.
IT PASSED, I THINK, THE SENATE.
IT'S NOW GONE TO THE HOUSE.
AND THAT DEBATE WILL CONTINUE.
LOOK, TAKING ON THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND THE DRUG
COMPANIES, TAKING ON WALL STREET
AND VERY POWERFUL FORCES THAT
MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR
FROM THE CURRENT HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE PLACE
UNTIL MILLIONS OF PEOPLE GET
INVOLVED IN THIS STRUGGLE AND
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WHETHER
YOU'RE RICH OR WHETHER YOU ARE
POOR, HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT --
THE IDEA THAT THE REPUBLICANS
WANTED TO THROW 32 MILLION
PEOPLE OFF OF HEALTH INSURANCE,
CUT MEDICAID BY $800 BILLION,
RAISE PREMIUMS FOR OLDER
WORKERS, DEFUND PLANNED
PARENTHOOD, MAKE IT ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS GET THE
HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.
THAT IS ABOMINABLE, MOVING IN
EXACTLY THE WRONG DIRECTION.
WE NEED A SERIOUS DISCUSSION
ABOUT A SERIOUS ISSUE.
AND I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL
CONCLUDE THAT MEDICARE IS
WORKING NOW FOR PEOPLE 65 OR
OLDER.
LET'S EXPAND IT TO EVERYONE.
>> YOU WERE ASKED RECENTLY ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT AGAIN IN 2020.
YOU SAID, QUOTE, I'M NOT TAKING
IT OFF THE TABLE.
AUGUST 31st YOU'LL BE BACK IN
IOWA CITY, TO PROMOTE YOUR BOOK.
ARE YOU TESTING THE WATERS FOR
2020?
IS THIS STILL POSSIBLE YOU'LL
RUN FOR PRESIDENT?
>> HARD TO BELIEVE, JAKE -- ONE
OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS GET A
KICK OUT OF IS THAT IN CANADA
THEY HAVE ELECTIONS, I THINK IT
IS, TWO MONTHS.
IN THE UK IT'S SHORTER THAN
THAT.
I'M DEALING WITH ENORMOUS ISSUES
IN THE STATE OF VERMONT.
IT'S NOT JUST HEALTH CARE.
IT'S TRYING TO CREATE AN ECONOMY
THAT WORKS FOR ALL AMERICANS NOT
JUST THE 1%.
IT'S DEVELOPING A TAX SYSTEM
THAT DOES NOT GIVE HUGE TAX
BREAKS TO THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE
IN THIS COUNTRY, DEALING WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE, TRANSFORMING OUR
ENERGY SYSTEM.
THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT I AND
OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SHOULD
BE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
THREE YEARS BEFORE THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME FOR
CANDIDATES OR POTENTIAL
CANDIDATES TO MAKE DECISIONS.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A
YES, IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE.
SE

Full Interview: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders

Latest Posts