The independent senator’s temper can flare up occasionally. But this time it reached a whole new level.
And Bernie Sanders unleashes on a reporter during a fiery confrontation.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced a new 32-hour workweek bill last Thursday.
The bill caused quite a bit of questioning from both politicians and the press.
Hillary Vaughn of Fox News Business had the goal of trying to get more answers about Sanders’ newly proposed bill, but was met with anger from the senator.
“It seems like Democrats want businesses to be taxed more, pay their workers–” Vaughn said before Sanders interjected.
“Really? Is that what you think?” Sanders said in return.
Then both Vaughn and Sanders continued to interrupt each other before the senator eventually started to walk away.
“I didn’t get to ask you a question,” Vaughn said.
According to Fox Business, her question was going to be: “Democrats want businesses to be taxed more… pay their workers more… lower prices… and now pay their workers not to work – how are businesses going to survive all that?”
Sanders did end up telling Vaughn more about the legislation, saying, “We held a hearing on a 32-hour workweek because what we have seen is that over the last 50 years, despite a huge increase in worker productivity, almost all of the wealth has gone to the top 1%, while 60% of the people [are] living paycheck to paycheck.”
“Many of our people are exhausted. We work the longest hours of any people in the industrialized world. I think it’s time for a shortened workweek.”
Then both Sanders and Vaughn started to interrupt each other again, causing Vaughn to raise her voice to be heard. That led to Sanders telling her, “I can yell as loud as you!”
Once things calmed down some between the two, Vaughn was able to ask the senator how businesses would be able to survive the 32-hour workweek legislation, which would pay employees the same amount as a normal 40-hour, five-day work week.
“When Mr. Bezos pays an effective tax rate lower than the average worker, I think we have a real problem with our tax system,” Sanders replied.
“I think that billionaires have got to start paying their fair share of taxes. Thank you.”
Bernie Sanders loses it after Fox Business Network’s Hillary Vaughn PRESSES him over his proposal for a 32-hour work week with no pay reduction
Sanders: 'Many of our people are exhausted. We work longest hours of any people in the industrialized world… I think it is time for a… pic.twitter.com/b4WICUEyhh
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) March 14, 2024
Republicans of course are against the shortened workweek bill, as well as some business owners.
One business owner shared on X, that “Forcing business to pay for less productivity doesn’t lead to better outcomes for workers. It results in higher inflation, reliance on automation, and less jobs. Since Bernie has taken a salary from taxpayers for 40 years, he would know nothing about this.”
I'm a business owner.
Forcing businesses to pay for less productivity doesn't lead to better outcomes for workers. It results in higher inflation, reliance on automation, and less jobs.
Since Bernie has taken a salary from taxpayers for 40 years, he would know nothing about… https://t.co/fGxXs2AA6v
— Michael Seifert (@realmichaelseif) March 13, 2024
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
