Senator Sanders

Greece Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis resigned Monday after Greek citizens voted to reject further austerity measures. "I applaud the people of Greece for saying 'no' to more austerity for the poor, the children, the sick and the elderly,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said in a statement issued from his home in Vermont. "In a world of massive wealth and income inequality, Europe must support Greece's efforts to build an economy which creates more jobs and income, not more unemployment and suffering," he added, according to Politico, The Guardian and The (Gladstone, Australia) Observer. LINK, LINK, LINK

Gays and God Sen. Sanders strongly supports the Supreme Court's recent ruling that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Sanders' vocal support of gay rights dates back more than two decades, The Associated Press, Politico, the Times Argus and Rutland Herald reported. Asked on CNN's "State of the Union" program Sunday about taking tax exemptions from religious organizations that do not recognize same-sex marriage, Sanders said he respects religious freedom and "people who have different points of view." LINK, LINK, LINK

Guns America has not found a solution on gun control that balances safety with respect for gun-owners, Sanders said on Sunday. “We have been yelling and screaming at each other about guns for decades with very little success,” Sanders said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We need a sensible debate about gun control that overcomes the cultural divide in this country,” he added in reports by The Hill and WCAX-TV. LINK, LINK

World

Greeks Vote Resounding ‘No’ to Bailout Terms Greeks overwhelmingly voted against their international creditors’ conditions for further bailout aid, in a result that could deepen the rift between Greece and the rest of Europe and push the country closer to bankruptcy and an exit from the euro. More than 61 percent of Greeks voted “no” in Sunday’s referendum on austerity measures and other overhauls that European and International Monetary Fund officials had demanded in recent talks—an outcome that spurred popular celebrations into the night across downtown Athens and other Greek cities, The Wall Street Journal reported. LINK

National

Congress Returns Members of Congress return Tuesday from July Fourth fireworks and parades facing a daunting summer workload and an impending deadline to fund the government or risk a shutdown in the fall. The funding fight is shaping up as a major partisan brawl against the backdrop of an intensifying campaign season, with Republicans eager to avoid another Capitol Hill mess as they struggle to hang onto control of The funding deadline does not even arrive until Sept. 30, but lawmakers face more immediate tests, too. Near the top of the list is renewing highway funding before the government loses authority July 31 to send much-needed transportation money to the states right in the middle of summer driving season, AP reported. LINK

Highway Funding Fresh off their victory on trade legislation, President Barack Obama and the Republican Congress in the coming weeks will face another test of their ability to work together on an issue important to business: highway funding. Early indications are that the fight will prove at least as difficult as just-completed trade legislation tussle, where Republicans joined forces with Obama to overcome Democrats’ objections, according to The Wall Street Journal. LINK

Vermont

Substance Abuse Officials say a major federal grant will allow Vermont to expand statewide a program aimed at reducing substance abuse among 12- to 25-year-olds. Sen. Patrick Leahy, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Vermont Department of Health officials will announce the funding on Monday at the Statehouse, AP reported.