Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images
Senator Bernie Sanders had a verbal tussle with FOX Business correspondent Hillary Vaughn after she inquired about his 32-hour workweek proposal.
According to FOX News, Vaughn stopped Sanders in a Capitol Hill hallway on March 14 and asked him how businesses would survive if the legislation were passed.
Bernie was walking down the hallway when Vaughn began to ask him a question.
“Senator Sanders, can I talk to you about the 32-hour workweek?” she asked. “It seems like Democrats want businesses to be taxed more, pay their…”
Sanders abruptly cut her off.
“Really?!” he said, with a hand gesture in her face.
He appeared to be frustrated by the question.
“Is that what you think? No, I think…” Bernie said before Vaughn began to speak over him.
The journalist began to ask her question again, and Senator Sanders interrupted, “Excuse me, excuse me.”
However, the correspondent spoke again, insisting that she was unable to finish her question.
Bernie seemed annoyed by the exchange and turned to walk off. However, he quickly reconsidered his decision and addressed the camera, stating, “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 living paycheck to paycheck,” he continued. “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.”
Vaughn attempted to ask her question once more after his response.
“Can I ask you a question about that? It seems like Democrats want businesses to be taxed more…”
But Bernie was not having it. The politician was not trying to give Vaughn any opportunity to throw salt on his proposal.
She continued to ask her question as the senator spoke over her.
“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?” Vaughn inquired. “That’s the question. How can businesses survive all of those proposals?”
As a result, Bernie composed a direct answer.
“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.”
Moreover, the senator presented the Thirty-Two-Hour Workweek Act, which would decrease workweeks from 40 hours. This would allow a greater opportunity for overtime pay for non-exempt employees, FOX News reports.
“The financial gains from the major advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, and new technology must benefit the working class, not just corporate CEOs and wealthy stockholders on Wall Street. It is time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life. It is time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay,” Sanders explained, per Fox 35 Orlando.
