BURLINGTON, Vt., March 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Wednesday evening held a statewide telephone town meeting to hear directly from Vermonters about the challenges they are facing and how the federal government can address the issues that matter most to them. Dr. Tim Lahey, an infectious disease physician at the UVM Medical Center, also joined the discussion to answer questions about the current state of COVID-19 in Vermont.

More than 30,000 Vermont households tuned into the town meeting, and over 700 Vermonters submitted questions before and throughout the call. During the town meeting, many Vermonters from across the state asked Sanders their questions live, including from Canaan, Windham, Moretown, East Fairfield, Colchester, Springfield, Pawlet, Weathersfield, Shelburne, South Burlington, Montpelier, and Bondville.

“Thank you to the more than 30,000 Vermont households who joined this week’s Telephone Town Meeting,” said Sanders. “One of the things that sticks with me each time I hold one of these town meetings is that, from issues with the postal service, the existential threat of climate change, the high costs of prescription drugs, or the need to repair our roads and bridges, Vermonters are paying attention and know the issues that need addressing. It is this level of civic engagement that our communities need right now as we fight through this difficult, difficult time.”

The discussion covered a wide range of local, community, state, national, and international issues, from the nationwide nursing workforce crisis we’re experiencing in Vermont, as well as a shortage of physician residency positions, and other staffing challenges in the health care field; to the future of the Build Back Better legislation; and the conflict in Ukraine. Vermonters also asked Sanders about the difficulties in finding affordable housing in the state, the high cost of prescription drugs, access to quality dental care for veterans, as well as issues with the postal service, broadband coverage, and infrastructure in rural areas across the state. Vermonters also shared with Sanders their thoughts on Social Security, Medicare, the Child Tax Credit, climate change, and transitioning energy systems away from fossil fuels.

The last question of the evening, which came from a Vermonter from Bondville, was on the state of democracy in the United States. He asked, “I am in my seventies. I have witnessed political shenanigans all my life, in both parties. However, this is the first time in seventy some years that I actually see the possibility of the very democracy that founded this country – I see that democracy cracking. How are Democrats to combat this when certain of the Democratic party is rotten to the core? And I don’t think that is an uncharitable characterization, I think that is absolutely true.”

Sanders responded, “I want everyone to understand, [this question] is not being overly dramatic. I think one of the many crises facing our country right now is whether or not we retain our democratic foundation.

“This is an issue we are working on as hard as we can,” said Sanders. “And it is a question of what the Democratic party is. Is it a party that represents working families? Is it a party that is concerned about the environment? Or is it a party designed to protect corporate interests? And obviously, as I’m sure you know, I am fighting very hard to make it a party of working people, a party of democracy, a party of the environment.”

Sanders continued, “The fight to maintain a strong and vigorous democracy, where we encourage and want people to vote, is a real one. And I am very proud, by the way, that in Vermont we have done a good job in opening up the election process – making it easier for people to vote, not harder. But, you’ve identified one of the problems that I worry about seven days a week, so thank you very much.”

For this telephone town meeting, Vermonters with phone numbers on file with Sanders’ Senate office received a call inviting them to participate. The event was livestreamed on Sanders’ Facebook page for members of the public who were not able to join the call. Vermonters who did not receive a call and would like to in the future can sign up, HERE.

The full audio recording from the event can be found HERE.