Supporters of Elizabeth Warren weighed in on the consumer advocate's behalf as the White House pondered who should head a new consumer agency created by the Wall Street reform law. The House on Tuesday returned to Washington for one day to send President Obama a bill to save the jobs of thousands of school teachers. Sen. Bernie Sanders voted for the bill when it passed the Senate. And the country marked an important milestone for Social Security. 

Consumer Protection Bureau Sanders pressed for President Obama to name Professor Warren to head a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Elizabeth has played a great role in standing up to Wall Street," Sanders said. "I for one will be very disappointed if the president doesn't make her the head of that agency." If Obama doesn't choose her, according to The Washington Post, he risks infuriating his already-agitated liberal supporters who see Warren as the only logical candidate. To read the article, click here.

Jobs Bill Congress on Tuesday gave final approval to a new $26-billion aid package for cash-strapped states that will keep 161,000 teachers and other local government workers from being laid off. Sanders voted for the bill when it cleared the Senate the week before. It will send $19 million to Vermont schools and provide an estimated $37 million more to help the state pay for Medicaid.

Economic Stimulus The economic recovery bill that Congress passed last year has brought more than $1.3 billion to Vermont and created or saved 7,000 jobs. A just-announced $116 million package of grants and loans for broadband service in Vermont will help create hundreds more jobs, but Sanders wants assurances that Internet access also will be affordable. "When we are talking about this much federal money we want to make sure the public interest is served," he said. "There is a great deal of difference between access and affordability."

Social Security at 75 Before President Franklin Roosevelt signed the law on August 14, 1935, about half of the senior citizens in American lived in poverty.  That began to change on January 31, 1940, when the first monthly retirement check, for $22.54, was issued to Ida May Fuller, a legal secretary who lived in Ludlow, Vt.  Today, more than 52 million Americans, including more than 124,000 Vermonters, receive benefits.  For three quarters of a century, Social Security has been a great success. Sen. Bernie Sanders has a plan to keep Social Security thriving for another 75 years. To read more, click here.

Senior Centers Bernie visited with seniors in Randolph and White River Junction this week.  He announced federal grants he secured to help senior centers throughout that region of the state to allow the centers to make much-needed improvements to their facilities and services.  “I am a strong supporter of Vermont senior centers,” Sanders said.  “These centers, and the thousands of volunteers who work with them, do an extraordinary job in bringing seniors together - making sure they get good nutrition, health care and social activities. In these very difficult economic times, I’m proud to be working with them.”  To read more, click here.