Senator Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign platform introduced a wide range of policy proposals designed to provide direct economic relief and expanded services to the American public. While the term "free" is often used colloquially to describe these initiatives, they generally involve government-funded programs or regulatory changes intended to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for specific populations or services. These proposals covered critical sectors including healthcare, education, nutrition, and infrastructure.

The agenda was characterized by a shift toward universal access and increased corporate accountability, aiming to reduce the financial burden on working-class families. The following analysis details these proposals based on available documentation, focusing on the mechanisms intended to provide cost-free access to essential goods and services.

Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Cost Reductions

A central pillar of the 2020 platform was the overhaul of the United States healthcare system, specifically targeting the high cost of prescription drugs and medical services.

Medicare for All The "Medicare for All" proposal was the flagship initiative regarding healthcare access. While the specific legislative text for the 2020 campaign is not fully detailed in the provided materials, the general concept involves a single-payer system. The intent is to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to all residents without out-of-pocket costs at the point of service. This would effectively eliminate premiums, deductibles, and copays for covered medical services.

Direct Intervention in Drug Pricing Senator Sanders had a documented history of investigating and legislating against high pharmaceutical prices. * Medicaid Generic Drug Price Fairness Act: In 2015, Sanders introduced legislation that became law, requiring generic drug companies to provide rebates to the Medicaid program if drug prices increased faster than the rate of inflation. This measure was designed to save taxpayers money and penalize price gouging. * Antitrust Investigations: In 2019, Sanders reopened an investigation into generic drug companies following evidence of price-fixing. He urged the Department of Justice to pursue federal charges. By August 2020, the DOJ had filed charges against seven drug companies and four executives as part of a criminal antitrust investigation. * Importation and Innovation Reform: Sanders has long advocated for allowing Americans to import prescription drugs from Canada, noting that he was the first member of Congress to take constituents across the border for cheaper medication in 1999. Additionally, he introduced bills such as the Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act, which proposed rewarding drug innovation with cash prizes rather than monopoly rights, and the Opioid Crisis Accountability and Results Act, requiring manufacturers to reimburse the country for the economic impact of their products.

Pandemic Relief Support During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanders advocated for expanded economic support. He defended the provision of an extra $600 weekly unemployment benefit, arguing for protections for American workers against economic instability caused by the crisis.

Education and Student Debt Relief

The 2020 platform proposed a significant expansion of public education funding, aiming to remove tuition barriers for a wide range of students.

Tuition-Free Public Higher Education Sanders introduced legislation to provide at least $48 billion per year to states and tribes to eliminate undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges and universities. This proposal included: * Four-Year Institutions: Public four-year colleges and universities, as well as four-year tribal colleges, would be tuition- and fee-free for students from any family income level. * Community Colleges and Trade Schools: All students would be able to attend community colleges, trade schools, or apprenticeship programs tuition- and fee-free.

Student Debt Reduction Addressing the "crisis" of student indebtedness, the platform proposed reducing student debt by cutting interest rates in half. This measure was intended to make repayment more manageable for working-class families.

Educational Support Programs Beyond tuition, Sanders supported expanding Pell Grants and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. He also advocated for "dual enrollment" programs, allowing high school students to take college courses that count toward both high school and college graduation requirements, particularly benefiting low-income and first-generation students.

Nutrition and Food Assistance

To address food insecurity, the platform focused on expanding federal nutrition assistance programs for vulnerable populations, including children and residents of U.S. territories.

Universal School Meals Sanders introduced the Universal School Meals Program Act. The intent of this legislation is to provide free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to every student in America, ensuring that no child goes hungry during the school day regardless of their family's income.

Equitable Nutrition Assistance Recognizing disparities in aid, Sanders led the Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act. This legislation aims to ensure that residents of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa receive equal access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits available to those in the 50 states.

Opposition to Cuts Sanders has taken a firm stance against reducing nutrition assistance. He has criticized federal cuts to food and nutrition assistance for states, particularly during economic downturns, describing such cuts as "unconscionable" while the nation struggles to recover from recession.

Infrastructure and Environmental Investment

The platform proposed massive federal investment in infrastructure, with a specific focus on green energy and water safety, aiming to create jobs and provide modern services at no direct cost to the user.

Green New Deal and Transportation The "Green New Deal" was proposed as an overhaul of the U.S. economy to invest in green infrastructure and jobs. Specific transportation-related proposals included: * Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Funding programs to build electric vehicle charging stations and reduce carbon emissions. * Public Transit: Expanding Vermont’s public transit systems to make transportation more accessible. * Resiliency: Improving the resilience of the transportation system to withstand future disasters like Hurricane Irene.

Water Infrastructure Sanders introduced the WATER Act, which proposed providing up to $35 billion per year for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This funding was intended to: * Create nearly a million jobs. * Expand technical assistance for rural and small municipalities and Native American governments to improve water and sewer systems. * Address contamination, such as lead, and prevent water shutoffs.

Economic Security and Labor Rights

Economic proposals focused on raising the minimum standard of living and protecting workers' income.

Minimum Wage and Unemployment * $15 Minimum Wage: A central proposal was raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. * Pandemic Unemployment: As noted earlier, Sanders fought to maintain the $600 extra weekly unemployment benefit during the pandemic relief negotiations.

Paid Family Leave Sanders co-sponsored Kirsten Gillibrand’s universal paid family leave bill, which aims to provide paid time off for family and medical reasons.

Media and Banking Regulation * Media Consolidation: Sanders worked to stop media consolidation and strengthen public interest obligations of broadcasters. He opposed attempts to lift the FCC ban on corporations owning a local newspaper, TV station, and radio station in the same market, aiming to preserve a diversity of information sources. * Wall Street: He proposed breaking up the biggest Wall Street banks and had already unveiled legislation to do so.

Marijuana Legalization and Criminal Justice

The platform included social reforms that would reduce costs and penalties associated with the criminal justice system.

Marijuana Legalization Sanders advocated for the legalization of marijuana. This policy would eliminate costs associated with criminal penalties for possession and allow for a regulated market.

Ending Private Prisons He proposed ending private prisons, a move intended to remove the profit motive from incarceration and address systemic issues within the justice system.

DACA and Immigration Sanders supported protections for DACA recipients and comprehensive immigration reform, aiming to provide legal stability and access to services for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

Conclusion

The 2020 policy platform presented by Senator Bernie Sanders offered a comprehensive vision for government-provided or government-subsidized access to essential services. Through legislative efforts such as the Universal School Meals Program Act, the WATER Act, and the Medicaid Generic Drug Price Fairness Act, the agenda sought to reduce or eliminate costs associated with healthcare, education, nutrition, and infrastructure. While the implementation of these proposals would require significant legislative action and funding, the stated goal was to shift the financial burden away from individuals and families and toward corporate accountability and progressive taxation.

Sources

1. Vice: Bernie Sanders 2020 Agenda
2. Sanders Senate: Issues Page