At 10:24 a.m. on Friday, Sen. Bernie Sanders walked onto the floor of the U.S. Senate and asked to speak.  More than eight and a half hours later, after speaking almost non-stop and never once leaving the floor or even sitting, the senator concluded his remarks in which he laid out why exactly he opposes the tax cut agreement between the White House and congressional Republicans.

"In my view, the agreement they reached is a bad deal for the American people. I think we can do better," Sanders said. The senator discussed the greatness of the nation: "I know my father came to this country at the age of 17 without a penny in his pocket. He became the proudest American one could ever see. He didn't have much of an education, but he knew this country gave him a great opportunity. That is the American story. That is what it is all about."  

He clarified why this country can't afford this policy: "I think the American people are saying, with a $13.8 trillion national debt, let's not give tax breaks to billionaires and drive up that national debt, forcing our kids to pay more in taxes, and at the same time have Republicans coming forward to start slashing Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security because of this large debt that we are making larger." The senator noted that it is morally wrong to give "tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires who don't need it, and in a number of cases they don't even want it." 

To watch the full speech, click here. 

To read the full 124 page transcript, click here.