Backbencher of the Week

Cries of socialism echo through the halls of Congress a lot these days, but only one member of Congress identifies as a socialist.  Senator Bernie Sanders(I-VT) is the only self identified socialist in Congress and he is this week's Backbencher of the Week.

Health care reform is the big congressional issue for the summer.  Even though chances are good that health care bill that includes a public option will pass, the idea of a single payer health care system have been absent from the debate.  Senator Sanders is single-handedly trying to keep the possibility of a single payer system alive.  He is the only sponsor S. 703 which is the Senate's single payer bill.  Ezra Klein interviewed Senator Sanders about his efforts to achieve universal health coverage for all Americans.  Sanders talks about his efforts to get his bill a hearing to create a pilot program for single payer care.

For fighting to make health available and affordable for all Americans, we proud to award Senator Bernie Sanders this week's Backbencher of the Week.