Sens. Sanders, Brown and Landrieu Conduct Mock Filibuster to Voice Criticism of Tax Deal (Video)

Friday 10 December 2010

by: Zaid Jilani | ThinkProgress | Report

Sens. Sanders, Brown and Landrieu Conduct Mock Filibuster to Voice Criticism of Tax Deal (Video)
(Photo: Troy Page / t r u t h o u t)

Editor's note: This story was originally published on Friday at 3:30 pm Eastern time, while Sen. Bernie Sanders speech was still in progress.

This morning at approximately 10:30 am, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) began what he referred to on his Twitter account as a "filibuster" or "very long speech" making his case against President Obama's tax deal, which would prolong the Bush tax cuts for all Americans for two years, extend unemployment benefits for 13 months, and instate a temporary 2 percent reduction in the payroll tax.

While Sanders’ stand is not technically a “filibuster” — there are no votes scheduled for today that he is delaying, so it does not meet the procedural requirement for being one — the senator has stayed on the Senate floor all day today, using his time to educate the public about why he feels the tax deal should be defeated. The senator has not been alone in his efforts. Progressive Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and, surprisingly, conservative Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) joined Sanders’ effort, using their time on the floor to attack the tax deal and make the case to the public about why it should be defeated.

“What this agreement says is, we’re going to provide huge tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. That is insane,” argued Sanders. “It blows a hole in our budget deficit,” said Brown. “I cannot remember a time when we were asked to vote on an appropriations deal of this magnitude or a tax bill of this magnitude that we’ve been asked to vote on something this reckless, this in-your-face to the poor, in-your-face to the middle class,” roared Landrieu.

ThinkProgress has assembled a compilation of the senators’ remarks criticizing the proposed tax deal and urging their colleagues to vote it down. Watch it:

As of the time of this publishing, Sanders is still on the floor. He has been engaging in his “long speech” for more than four hours and is currently the fifth trending topic on Twitter worldwide.

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Comments

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MOCK, Indeed! Where is these

Sat, 12/11/2010 - 11:57 — Vic Anderson (not verified)

MOCK, Indeed! Where is these legislative lawbreakers' Senate SECRET ("Ted Stevens") HOLD on the BushCObamanible Clintonental Congress' tax cut perpetuations?

A fake filibuster??? Why

Sat, 12/11/2010 - 17:50 — Jack E Lohman (not verified)

A fake filibuster??? Why didn't they just put a hold on the bill??? What good does it do to give the R's a good talkin' to?

Thumbs up for Senator Bernie

Sat, 12/11/2010 - 18:09 — Anonymous (not verified)

Thumbs up for Senator Bernie Sanders. Why don't the rest of the Democratic senators stand up to the Republican rip off. Does anyone think that Republicans would have wanted the cut off of unemployment benefits on their tally sheet if Obama had demanded the tax cut for the richest 1% to expire as promised? But now with Obama's proposal it will be blamed on the Democrats if this bill is delayed and the unemployment benefits are delayed. Sunny

Give 'em hell, Bernie. The

Sat, 12/11/2010 - 19:12 — Cap'n Canard! (not verified)

Give 'em hell, Bernie. The wealthy class does not care all about the working poor. That is the way that it is, the wealthy are not compassionate and never have been, because the wealthy believe that compassion doesn't create profit. How long before the anger spills into the streets? Will the unemployed and angry youth start throwing bricks through car windows? Does the GOP seriously believe that if they keep cutting the tax burden on the wealthy that all will remain safe and calm?

Bernie Sanders is no better

Sat, 12/11/2010 - 19:51 — Anonymous (not verified)

Bernie Sanders is no better than Obama.
If Bernie wants to do something, then let him really filibuster. He won't because he's bought and paid for just like Obama.

Bernie Sanders has been an

Sat, 12/11/2010 - 20:05 — Adoregon (not verified)

Bernie Sanders has been an advocate of the people's interests since becoming involved in Vermont politics.

Vermont should be very proud of Bernie.

He's a real mensch.

Let's draft Bernie Sanders

Sat, 12/11/2010 - 23:36 — roland semper (not verified)

Let's draft Bernie Sanders for president to replace this Homeric disaster Oboma. He promised so much and has achieved almost nothing even when he had the chance for example, to replace Geitner, vote the health bill through, get out of Afghanisan, and on and on. Do we all agree? Sanders for President. He tells it straight and he cares about this country. None of the republicans, and only a handful of the democrats care a damn about America and its people. we sure as hell don't need a republican - any republican. Neither do we need Obama. He is a COLOSSAL disappointment.

3 courageous Senators.

Sun, 12/12/2010 - 18:10 — Anonymous (not verified)

3 courageous Senators. Let's support them in holding a Real Filibuster if that is what it comes down to. We don't need anything passed. The expiration is in place and will proceed without further action.

The bargaining power was with the Democrats until Obama threw the baby out with the bath water. If he had made it clear that the tax cuts will expire if there is no cooperation, then he would most likely have gotten cooperation. Even the most callous of republicans do not want middle class taxes increasing at this time. It should further have been made clear to the republicans that unemployment insurance is to be extended or the tax cuts expire across the board.

Obama through the bargaining chip out the window and under-minded the efforts of House and the Senate in their fight to let these tax cuts expire. The House, the Senate, and We the Progressive people did not turn on Obama, he turned on us.

Some say Obama brings a knife to a gun fight while the republicans bring a canon. It would have been somewhat encouraging if he had just shown up to the fight. All I saw was him saying. "Here's the baby and I'll throw in the bath water as well. What else can I get for you?"