Sanders voted against Flint water crisis funding in 2016

[showblue22]

During a critical junction in the Flint water crisis four years ago, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a top Democratic presidential contender, voted against a measure that provided funding to help state and city officials to address the matter.

In December 2016, Sanders voted against a continuing resolution that would have provided up to $170 million funding for Flint. It would have provided funding for the lead-contaminated drinking water system. The resolution included $100 million in capitalization grants to the Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund that the city could use to replace its water pipes.

https://www.michiganadvance.com/2020/03/06/new-sanders-voted-against-flint-water-crisis-funding-in-2016/

[Meadowoak]

1. The bill must have had a poison pill or Bernie wouldn't have been a no.

[AlexSFCA]

2. you gotta be kidding

it was a no brainer, just like Russia sanctions.
my way or the highway, that’s real poison.

[Cha]

9. I was expecting that.

[cstanleytech]

19. Well the article does say

"The 2016 Sanders vote was against an omnibus bill that included what critics say was a “poison pill” amendment that was bad for jobs and the environment. Sanders, however, did support funding for Flint in an earlier bill in March (S 2848), the campaign said. "
I am not saying I believe the article, Sanders or his campaign but nor am I claiming they are lying either rather I am simply pointing out what's in the article.

[fleabiscuit]

3. I think the poison was lead. nt

[RandySF]

4. If it did, you'd point it out.

[Meadowoak]

5. If it did, it needs to be pointed out.

[RandySF]

7. So what's the poison pill?

Should be a matter of record so where.

[thesquanderer]

31. Some info is in the linked article

The 2016 Sanders vote was against an omnibus bill that included what critics say was a “poison pill” amendment that was bad for jobs and the environment. Sanders, however, did support funding for Flint in an earlier bill in March (S 2848), the campaign said.

Here's the list of how people voted, also linked from that same article:

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=2&vote=00161

Sanders' "nay" was joined by Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Harry Reid, Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken, Chuck Schumer, and many others, so I think it's pretty clear this was not a simple case of "hey, let's screw the residents of Flint."

If you want to see what was covered in the bill, it's at

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2028

[Politicub]

34. Yeah, that's it. Every good bill he votes against has a "poison pill" that is unacceptable to him

It doesn't matter if the legislation will help people being affected by poisoned water. Perhaps there was something in the bill that didn't meet the amorphous purity standard that Bernie has for his votes.

[RazBerryBeret]

6. Poison Pill

"The 2016 Sanders vote was against an omnibus bill that included what critics say was a “poison pill” amendment that was bad for jobs and the environment. Sanders, however, did support funding for Flint in an earlier bill in March (S 2848), the campaign said. "

[showblue22]

11. Tell that to the people in Flint.

This is why purity stuff is bad. Sometimes you have to accept poison to get help for people who are getting sick.

[Meadowoak]

14. The people of Flint then went on and voted for Sanders in 2016, they must have

Understood why he voted no.

[alp227]

27. This no vote was months after the 2016 primary nt

[cstanleytech]

20. Would you be saying that if the bill had included a cut to social security? I mean there are

some things that will cause someone to oppose almost any bill really.
As for Sanders vote I honestly have no opinion as I simply do not know enough based on the article to tell if he did the right or wrong thing.

[DanieRains]

23. That's How They Get Horrible Crap Passed Shoving It In Must Vote Yes Bills

Welcome to the giveaway government.

[RazBerryBeret]

32. Barbara Boxer on the Bill in question:

“You take a beautiful bill like WRDA ... and then you put a pile of dirt on top of it, which I call the McCarthy rider, and then you stick a little Maraschino cherry on top, which is Flint and a couple of other good things,” Boxer said on the floor. “And then you say, OK, eat the dirt.”

Senators from Washington state and Oregon also opposed the amendment, which in part would boost water deliveries to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. They said it would cost fishery jobs and ease environmental restrictions.

“Our colleagues over here were frustrated that the other side would never live up to a Flint agreement,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington.

“And the consequence is they’re cynical enough to put Flint in this bill as a way to get votes for something they know they should not be bringing to the floor of the United States Senate.”

[Meadowoak]

13. Thanks

[Cha]

8. WtHeck?

[Bucky]

24. It was a process vote. Sanders was in favor of rescuing Flint

He opposed one version of it that had onerous amendments attached to it.

This OP is just more divisive BS trying to split up our party and make us hate each other.

[fleabiscuit]

10. BS does have a history of voting against bills on principle.

Especially bills that he knows will be passed without needing him. A real profile in courage thing.

[Eric J in MN]

12. It was a giant bill Warren, Booker, and Schumer voted against

It would have made the roads less safe by requiring truckers to get less sleep.

Nays

Booker (D-NJ)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Corker (R-TN)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Durbin (D-IL)
Flake (R-AZ)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Graham (R-SC)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hirono (D-HI)
Lankford (R-OK)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Reid (D-NV)
Risch (R-ID)
Sanders (I-VT)
Sasse (R-NE)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Wyden (D-OR)

[jg10003]

28. sanders, Cruz, Franken, & flake. that's what I call bipartisanship

It must have been quite a bill to have so many against it.

[redqueen]

29. Crickets from the Bernie haters.

Of course.

[RazBerryBeret]

30. But ...

we will see this same issue on post after post......for the next 48 hours

[fallout87]

15. Joe voted for the Iraq war, if you're

keeping count...

[LongtimeAZDem]

18. And Bernie voted to invade Afghanistan, wich has nothing to do with Flint either

[Bucky]

25. Everyone voted to invade Afghanistan

This tit-for-tat silliness should stop.

[ehrnst]

33. Keeping count? How about two votes for military action in Iraq?

In 1998 Sanders voted in favor of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, which said: "It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Later that same year, Sanders also backed a resolution that stated: "Congress reaffirms that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Sanders also voted for the 2001 Authorization Unilateral Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF), which pretty much allowed Bush to wage war wherever he wanted.

Authorization for Use of Military Force - Authorizes the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons.

States that this Act is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution.

[betsuni]

16. Inaccuracy in that article. Sanders didn't visit Flint in January, 2016.

Hillary Clinton was the first candidate to go there. She went in early February and Bernie went in late February.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/25/politics/bernie-sanders-flint-michigan-water/index.html

[ucrdem]

17. Remember it well. Hill went there first.

Seems like yesterday doesn't it!

[betsuni]

21. Yup. "Secretary Clinton has been in touch with the mayor personally and the two staffs

have been in consistent contact. As far as I know, Clinton is the only presidential candidate -- Republican or Democrat -- who has reached out." -- Mayor Weaver's communication director. She gets things done, doesn't just talk about them.

[Meadowoak]

22. President Obama even went there and drank the water.