Bernie Sanders in 11th Democratic Primary Debate

On Budget & Economy: Voted against bailout, because wealthiest didn't pay for it

Sanders: Yes.

Q: Many believe those spending bills were a crucial part of stabilizing the economy back then. Would you support bailouts for industries that are being crushed by the Coronavirus outbreak now?

Sanders: I voted against the bailout because I believed that the illegal behavior being done by the people on Wall Street should not be rewarded by a bailout. And today, by the way, those banks are more prosperous and own more assets, by and large, than they did back then. They're bigger now than they were then. I thought at the time that in the midst of massive income and wealth inequality, the people on top [should pay for the] bail out. Joe [Biden] voted for that. I voted against it. But to answer your question where we are right now, we need to stabilize the economy, but we can't repeat what we did in 2008. Our job right now is to tell every working person in this country, "you are not going to suffer."

On Energy & Oil: Transform our energy system, as quickly as we humanly can

This is not building a few more solar panels or a few more wind turbines. What this is about is transforming our energy system, as quickly as we humanly can, away from fossil fuel. It is insane that we continue to have fracking in America. It is absurd that we give tens of billions of dollars a year in tax breaks and subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. This has got the end and end now if we love our kids and future generations.

I'm talking about speaking to China, to Russia, to countries all over the world and in this moment--to pool our resources and fight our common enemy, which is climate change. We've got to take on the fossil fuel industry.

On Families & Children: Half of Americans are women; and half my Cabinet will be

Bernie Sanders: My Cabinet will look like America. Over half of the people in America are women and that will be the representation in my Cabinet and my administration. And in terms of policies, I have consistently believed that it is a women's right to control her own body, not the government's. I have believed that we have got to deal with domestic violence in this country. I have made the case that we cannot have women in America earning 80 cents on the dollar compared to men. We need to have universal, affordable, high-quality childcare, so women who are single or married can go off to work and know that their kids are going to be well taken care of. So I think my agenda is very strong agenda in fighting for the rights of women.

Joe Biden: I commit it that if I'm elected President, my Cabinet will look like the country. And I commit that I'll pick a woman to be Vice President.

On Foreign Policy: China is authoritarian but eliminated extreme poverty

Sanders: I don't think this is the time for recrimination, to be punishing people. Now is the time to be working with China. They are learning a lot about this crisis and we have got to work with them. We've got to work with the World Health Organization. We've got to work with countries around the world. If there was ever a moment when the entire world is in this together, got to support each other, this is that moment.

Q: So you'd work with authoritarian regimes, such as China and Cuba?

Sanders: I believe in democracy, not authoritarianism in Cuba or any place else. China is undoubtedly an authoritarian society. But would anybody deny that extreme poverty in China today is much less than what it was 40 or 50 years ago? That's a fact. So, I think we condemn authoritarianism--but to simply say that nothing ever done by any of those administrations had a positive impact on their people, would I think be incorrect.

On Government Reform: Political contributors control policy

On Health Care: Cover all costs for coronavirus testing and treatment

Bernie Sanders: Well, first thing we have got to do, is to shut this president up right now, because he is undermining the doctors and the scientists who are trying to help the American people. It is unacceptable for him to be blabbering with unfactual information which is confusing the general public. Second of all, make sure that every person in this country finally understands that when they get sick with the coronavirus that all payments will be made, that they don't have to worry about coming up with money for testing. They don't have to worry about coming up with money for treatment. We have to make sure that our hospitals have the ventilators that they need, have the IC units that they need. Right now, we have a lack of medical personnel. Bottom line from an economic point of view, say to the American people, if you lose your job, you will be made whole. You're not going to lose income.

On Health Care: We don't have a healthcare system; only thousands of plans

One of the reasons that we are unprepared and have been unprepared is we don't have a system. We got thousands of private insurance plans. That is not a system that is prepared to provide healthcare to all people. In a good year without the epidemic, we're losing up to 60,000 people who die every year because they don't get to a doctor on time. It's clearly this crisis is only making a bad situation worse.

On Health Care: We need a simple system, which exists in Canada

Bernie Sanders: Last year at least 30,000 people died in America because they didn't get healthcare when they should, because we don't have universal coverage. I think that's a crisis. One out of five people in America cannot afford the prescription drugs they need. They suffer. Some die. I consider that a crisis. Bottom line is we need a simple system, which exists in Canada, exists in countries all over the world, and that is if you are an American, you get the healthcare you need, end of discussion.

On Homeland Security: Use National Guard for coronavirus; but focus on funding

A: I think we use all of the tools that make sense. If using the National Guard--that is something that has to be done. What I worry about is not only how we respond aggressively to the virus, but also how we respond aggressively to the economic fallout of a global recession. What we've got to say to every worker in America, you know what? Don't panic. You'll be able to pay your mortgage, because you're going to get a check.

On Immigration: End ICE raids; they terrify kids of immigrants

Joe Biden: No.

Q: Senator Sanders?

Bernie Sanders: Of course not. When you have that process, [there's] psychological terror, and I've talked to these kids, kids are scared to death in America when they come home from school that their mom or dad may not be there, may be deported. What we need to do is to end, and I will end this on day one, the ICE raids that have been so harmful to so many people. I'm the son of an immigrant. This is a country significantly built by immigrant labor, built by slave labor and what we have got to do is appreciate each other and end this demonization and the divisiveness this coming from the Trump administration.

On Immigration: Day one: legalize millions of DACA

I would end this notion for the first time in history that people seeking asylum have to be in squalor on the other side of the river, in a desperate situation. They should be able to come to the United States and have a judgment made is whether or not they qualify. I would also surge to the border immigration judges to make decisions immediately and no one would be put in jail while waiting for their hearing.

On Social Security: Incremental adjustments ok, but no Social Security cuts

Sanders: Yeah.

Q: Why are your past comments any less relevant than the vice president's?

Sanders: Incremental adjustments are what I advocated. Adjustments that I advocated and have advocated for years, is among other things, increasing the cost of living assistance. No, you're not going to find me ever calling for cuts to Social Security. Right now, we determine COLAs by looking at inflation for the general population rather than segregating the higher costs that seniors are paying for prescription drugs and for healthcare. That's what I was talking about. Joe and others were enamored with the so-called Bowles-Simpson effort, which included cuts to Social Security or raising the retirement age. I said no.