Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., used a Fox News Opinion column to lay out a sweeping legislative agenda he says the incoming Democratic majority must enact immediately or face a political reckoning.
Sanders noted that when the new Congress convenes, Democrats will hold more than 250 seats in the House and at least 55 in the Senate. “Democrats now have the votes to pass legislation that will greatly improve the lives of millions of working families,” he wrote. “And that’s exactly what they must do. No more empty rhetoric and poll-driven messaging.”
He cited an AP poll finding that 80% of registered voters want either “complete and total upheaval” or “substantial change” in how the country is run, including 97% of Democrats, 90% of independents and 58% of Republicans.
Health Care
Sanders called for passage of Medicare for All, which he says is backed by 66% of Americans. As a first step, he wants Medicare eligibility lowered to 55, dental, vision and hearing coverage added, and guaranteed health care for every child from birth through age 19. He cited figures showing more than 90 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, over half a million go bankrupt annually from medical debt, and more than 60,000 die each year because they cannot afford care.
Wealth Tax
Sanders wants a 5% wealth tax on billionaires, which he says 61% of Americans support. He said the revenue would fund $12,000 direct payments to working-class families of four, 7 million new affordable housing units, tuition-free public colleges, free child care for 13 million children and increased public education spending. He noted the top 1% now owns more wealth than the bottom 93%, and that Elon Musk alone owns more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households.
Minimum Wage and Social Security
Sanders called for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to at least $20 an hour and passing the PRO Act to ease union organizing. On Social Security, he proposed applying the payroll tax to all income above $250,000, including capital gains and dividends, which he said would raise benefits by $2,400 a year and extend the program’s solvency without raising taxes on the bottom 91% of earners. He pointed out that billionaires currently pay the same amount into Social Security as someone earning $184,600.
Artificial Intelligence
Sanders called for a national moratorium on AI data centers, which he says 63% of Americans support, along with a pause on advanced AI development and a ban on superintelligence. He warned that unchecked AI could destroy tens of millions of jobs, damage children’s mental health, erode privacy, raise electricity rates and strain water supplies.
Military Spending, Immigration and Campaign Finance
Sanders said the U.S. spends more on its military than the next six countries combined while the Pentagon “repeatedly fails independent audits.” He called for ending what he described as Trump’s “illegal war in Iran,” cutting funding to Israel’s government, and substantially reducing military spending.
On immigration, Sanders said Democrats should rescind the $75 billion Congress gave ICE, calling for comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. He also cited Elon Musk and other billionaires spending a record $2 billion on recent elections, and called for overturning Citizens United and abolishing super PACs.
Sanders closed by arguing none of his proposals are “radical,” describing them instead as “mainstream ideas supported by strong majorities of the American people,” and said Democrats now have “an extraordinary opportunity” they should not waste.
