President Obama called on Congress to pass a $447 billion package to spur job growth and cut taxes in order to jumpstart the lagging economy.  Sen. Bernie Sanders praised some of the president's proposals and questioned others.  The Vermont congressional delegation, meanwhile, pressed for disaster relief funding after one of the worst natural disasters in Vermont history. On Friday's Brunch with Bernie program with Thom Hartmann, Sanders spoke about both the natural disaster and the economic disaster. Also, as the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approached, Sanders, like most Americans, remembered where he was 10 years ago.

Jobs 

Sanders had a mixed reaction to President Obama's address on Thursday to a joint session of Congress. He agreed with the president on rebuilding roads and bridges and railroads, modernizing schools and rehiring teachers and emergency responders, helping veterans find jobs, and extending unemployment benefits.  "All of those things are right," Sanders said. "The question is - is this program enough?" He also worried about diverting money from the Social Security Trust Fund in order to give tax breaks to businesses. Moreover, he voiced concern that the package was tilted too much in favor of tax breaks. "I'm not quite sure that the tax breaks route is as effective as direct investment in terms of creating jobs. You get a lot better bang for your buck - you create a lot more jobs - when you invest in roads, bridges, rail, when you are investing in education. I think that's how you create new jobs." Read Sanders' statement.

Disaster Relief 

The White House estimated on Monday that Hurricane Irene will cost federal taxpayers $1.5 billion in disaster relief. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed action on an emergency disaster relief bill. He told reporters on Wednesday that Sens. Sanders and Patrick Leahy gave other senators an overview of the situation in Vermont, where flooding has driven hundreds of people from their homes, "The state of Vermont has been hit with one of the worst natural disasters in our history," Sanders wrote in a column published Friday by the Burlington Free Press . "As Vermonters, our communities will come together to support those in need. We should have every reason to expect that our national community, the United States of America, will be there as well." Read the column. Watch Sanders' Senate floor speech.

September 11, 2001 

"Where were you on 9/11?" USA Today asked Sen. Sanders, Rudy Giuliani, Regis Philbin and dozens of other Americans. As hijacked planes crashed into theWorld Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a farm field in Pennsylvania, Sanders recalled, "I was in my office in the Rayburn House Office Building in the House of Representatives.  I remember police officers racing through the hallways telling people to get out of the office and that there was an attack." Watch the video.