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Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, has publicly criticized eight Senate Democrats who collaborated with Republicans to advance a continuing resolution during a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate. This vote took place on Sunday, and Sanders did not hold back in expressing his disapproval.
In a video shared on his X account, Sanders described the vote as “a very, very bad vote.” He specifically addressed the eight Democrats, stating, “Tonight, 8 Democrats voted with the Republicans to allow them to go forward on this continuing resolution. And to my mind, this was a very, very bad vote.”
The continuing resolution presented in the Senate was intended to temporarily fund the federal government and prevent a government shutdown. However, Sanders raised concerns about specific provisions within the measure. He claimed that it included elements that would raise healthcare premiums, pave the way for Medicaid cuts, and provide tax benefits for high-income earners.
Sanders asserted that the resolution could significantly increase healthcare premiums for over 20 million Americans, potentially doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling these costs. He emphasized the burden this would place on citizens, remarking, “People can’t afford that when we are already paying the highest prices in the world for healthcare.”
The Senator further argued that this legislation could lead to approximately 15 million individuals being removed from Medicaid. Studies indicate that such cuts could result in an estimated 50,000 American deaths annually. Sanders made it clear that these repercussions were geared toward benefiting a wealthier few at the expense of the broader population, stating, “And all of that was done to give a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the 1%.”
Furthermore, he commented on the recent elections held across the country just days prior. Sanders remarked, “As everybody knows, just on Tuesday, we had an election all over this country. And what the election showed is that the American people wanted us to stand up to Trumpism — to his war against working-class people, to his authoritarianism. That is what the American people wanted. But tonight, that is not what happened.”
In his video, Sanders framed the vote as not merely about funding the government but also as a reflection of a broader policy direction. He expressed the necessity of safeguarding healthcare protections and working-class interests. He stated, “So we’ve got to go forward, do the best that we can to ensure and protect working-class people, to make sure that the United States not only does not throw people off of healthcare but ends the absurdity of being the only major country on earth that doesn’t guarantee healthcare to all people. We have a lot of work to do, but to be honest with you, tonight was not a good night.”
According to a nonpartisan analysis conducted by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of the American Rescue Plan could lead to higher premiums for millions of Americans. The CBO’s 2023 evaluation of health coverage provisions underscored that allowing these expanded subsidies to lapse would significantly increase out-of-pocket expenses for individuals enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), chaired by Sanders, has also reported on estimates suggesting that large-scale cuts to Medicaid could lead to tens of thousands of preventable deaths each year. In a 2023 HELP Committee report published on Sanders’ official website, the committee cited peer-reviewed research from reputable sources such as Health Affairs and The Lancet Public Health. These studies confirmed that losing Medicaid coverage correlates with higher mortality rates due to diminished access to preventive and emergency care.
Additionally, the HELP Committee report referenced a June 2025 letter from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. The letter warned that proposed federal healthcare cuts could cause over 51,000 preventable deaths annually.
Sanders’ comments and the concerns surrounding the continuing resolution reflect his long-standing opposition to various Republican budget proposals. The Vermont senator has consistently argued that these proposals favor the wealthy while neglecting the needs of working Americans. His press releases on this topic date back to March of this year, illustrating his ongoing commitment to advocate for healthcare changes that prioritize the well-being of all citizens.
In summary, Sanders’ critique of the eight Senate Democrats highlights a significant divide within the party regarding healthcare policy and government funding. As the debate continues, it will be crucial for policymakers to consider the implications of their decisions on the health and welfare of millions of Americans.
