Sanders Works to Improve Senate Budget

The Senate on Tuesday approved an amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders that would shield Medicaid from budget cuts. Another Sanders proposal to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges and create millions of good-paying jobs was defeated on a party-line vote.

The Medicaid amendment was adopted 94-2. Sanders said the budget approved last week by the Senate budget panel would cut Medicaid by $400 billion. The cuts would impact seniors in nursing homes, pregnant women who rely on Medicaid for prenatal care, people with disabilities and 33 million children who get health insurance through Medicaid.

Sanders also made the case for a major initiative to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges and support millions of good-paying construction jobs. On a party-line vote, however, the Senate rejected the amendment to a budget resolution being debated this week. The vote was 45-52.

Watch floor statement on jobs and infrastructure