Sen. Bernie Sanders launched his national tour in Omaha on Friday night, drawing a packed crowd at the downtown Marriott Hotel. The Vermont senator used the event to rally against what he called an economic system rigged in favor of the wealthy.
Criticism of Proposed Legislation
Sanders spoke out against a bill in Congress that he said would be harmful to working Americans.
“What this legislation would do, if Trump and the Republican leadership get their way, is give over $1 trillion in tax breaks to billionaires and the top 1 percent and make massive cuts in Medicaid, education, and the needs of our elderly and our veterans and our kids,” Sanders said.
He emphasized that the bill could be blocked if just two House Republicans vote against it, something he hopes to see happen.
Campaign Finance and Billionaire Influence
Sanders also took aim at the influence of billionaires in politics, arguing that campaign contributions from wealthy donors corrupt elections.
“We need real campaign finance reform and the absolute ending of Citizens United, which was a disastrous Supreme Court decision,” he said.
Some attendees voiced frustration with the Democratic Party’s approach, saying Sanders’ message resonated more with working-class Americans.
“He seems like he understands the need to unite people,” said supporter Pamela Andersen. “The Democrats say, ‘Oh, we’ll work across the aisle,’ but they haven’t done much to stand up against Trump.”
Another attendee, Jeff Lee, criticized Democratic leadership, saying they had not done enough to counter conservative policies.
Response from Nebraska Republicans
Not everyone welcomed Sanders’ visit. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon issued a statement criticizing his economic approach.
“We have a job to get our economy growing faster than inflation, securing our border, growing our energy production, and restoring deterrence. Bernie isn’t helping to get these done,” Bacon said.
The Douglas County GOP was also contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
Will Sanders Run in 2028?
Sanders declined to comment on whether he would run for president again in 2028.
Nebraska News will continue to follow updates on Sanders’ tour and its impact on national politics.
