 Hello everybody. What a wonderful tonight to be here with all these wonderful people. We have our own Bernie senator Leahy Mr. Donovan and Sue and Dave and all of you wonderful folks. My name is Doddie Ricks I am one that answered the call to the revolution and I am running for the Vermont house in Berry town Which is a strong strong Republican district, and I'm shaking my fist in their face and going for it I am very fortunate to have been endorsed by Bernie Sanders, and I thank him for that I've spent over a thousand I've done over a thousand calls down at the Democratic office for Sue and Dave and other state candidates and I walk very town which is Republican and what's so encouraging is there are so many people that are undecided So they are not Definitely Republican and there's where we get our foot in the door. I want to give a quick Call out to rights and democracy. They were the first group that endorsed me. I couldn't have run this campaign I I wouldn't have had a campaign without them. They've been there supporting me gave me my Magnificent campaign manager, and it helped me every which way they are grassroots group for economic and Social justice, and I hope you'll check them it out. So just very quickly I want to tell you why I'm here tonight I am here tonight because I want to see the kind of world that I believe in and that is one where children are Cared for and are safe are supported by their communities That's one where adults have Meaningful fulfilling jobs and make enough money. So they only have to have one job They don't have to work two and three and can spend quality time with their families I want a world like Dr. Martin Luther King said where a person is not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character and that is so whether they're in front of a building in In in Chicago or at a stop sign in Vermont I want an environment that is safe and nurturing Where the water we drink is pure and we know that the air is clean and our food is wholesome All of these people here and there are many more out in the audience that I will introduce So support that and I think you support that dream of a life. We've begun it here in Vermont We cannot backslide. We cannot let people get an office that will revoke what we've worked so hard to get So right now I want to Have folks that are Candidates for office that are in the audience to stand up I will call out their name you stand and wave Please hold your your applause until after everyone stood up So first I'm doing senators. We have senator. We have candidate Anthony Polina Mark McDonald George gay And I think that's all of my senators we have Folks from the house. We have Janet Ansel We have Avram Pat Kim Kimberly Jessup They're in the wood Tom Stevens Dottie Rex Warren Kitzmiller and Chip Triano so What I want to remind you about all of these people is that that without all of these local people our State people will not be able to get their work done. So we need to go out We need to support all of these local people and our state people so that we'll be able to keep That kind of world that we want So now I have the incredible honor of Introducing a man here that does not need to be introduced Our local homegrown hero senator Bernie Sanders Thank you. Thanks everybody For thank you Thank you all for coming out To do something fairly radical and that is to practice democracy and as you know nationally democracy is in fact being threatened by Citizens United and by billionaires all over this country who intend to do everything they can to buy Elections and in Vermont. We are saying you are not gonna buy this election Democracy will prevail Now before I introduce This wonderful slate of candidates. I just want to pick up on a point that Dottie made and That is as Americans living in the wealthiest country in the history of the world We have the right To fight to create the kind of state and nation that we know we can become Our job is to think big not small and to work together in a democratic way To transform this country and to have the courage to take on a billionaire class Whose greed is doing so much harm are we prepared to do that? There is no rational economic reason Why so few have so much and yet working people in Montpelio or Barrie cannot find high quality affordable child care Young people cannot afford to go to the college of their dreams People in this state are working two or three jobs in many cases To cobble together the income and the health care that they require our job is To bring that day closer where health care is a right of all people Where public colleges and universities are tuition free where we create Nationally millions of good-paying jobs rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and Where we lead the world and this state can lead this country in Transforming our energy system and combating climate change our job in the next several weeks is to get this very very strong slate of candidates elected and The day after the election continue our efforts To make sure that the needs of working families and the elderly and the children are in fact heard Let me begin the evening by Introducing to you a gentleman who has done in my view a very important work in an area that is not necessarily sexy and that is work to invigorate our Democracy to do everything that we can to make it easier for people to participate as Opposed to states around the country where we have governors making it harder for people to participate Please welcome our Secretary of State Jim Contos And I couldn't echo those comments any more than what Bernie already said But I do want to say that we my office and myself have been dealing with national press for the last week week and a half About rigged elections and voter fraud So I thought I'd talk to you folks about that tonight as Vermont's chief election officer. I and my team have been working to improve and Maintain the integrity of our elections Vermont's elections will not be rigged There is no voter fraud And it will go on into a little bit of that We take very seriously any discussion about rigged elections I'm confident in the work that our team has done our town clerks Who are on the front lines and their election local election officials to protect that integrity of our electoral process? And I can tell you that we've taken many precautions We've worked hard to secure our systems and our data Via cyber risk assessment Penetration tests and firewalls. We are on high alert and we're in constant communication With both the FBI and Homeland Security And we will respond to any threats that we see Our system of elections of most of the country is decentralized and when people talk about the boat tabulators They keep I've had to try to explain this to the press and they've really had a tough time Understanding it, but our vote tabulators are Self-contained units that are not connected to the internet by hard wire by Wi-Fi They are separate units operating on their own the information is taken The information is taken from that by a tape That tape and the ballots which we in Vermont have a mandate that we must have a ballot at the end of the day Both of those are sealed in a bag and kept for 22 months We also do a random audit of several towns top to bottom Of their entire election within 30 days of the election in case no one noticed I am mindful that we have an election coming up and The suppression of that voter participation across the country that is occurring That is all in the name of one thing It's called voter fraud Well, I'm here to tell you that the true voter fraud in this country is denying Any American or any Vermont or who is eligible to vote from being able to vote? That's the true voter fraud Vermont and the legislature has done an awful lot in the last ten years to expand our Ability to vote make it easier to vote. We have things called well the same day voter registration has been approved But it won't go into effect until next January. We have automatic voter registration, which will take effect next July We are the fourth state in the country that has passed automatic voter registration Where people who go to DMV will automatically be registered and I'm reminded of one thing when people talk about voter fraud folks We have a tough enough time getting people to vote once nevermind twice So to wrap up I'm just going to state that I'm really confident in our Democratic process. I'm a confident in our elections process here in the state of Vermont I'm excited about the work that my team has done that the town clerks are doing at their level And we're going to have a great election. Thank you Everybody whether you're conservative or progressive wants to make sure that our tax dollars are spent cost effectively and wisely Doug Hoffer is our auditor of accounts. He is doing a great job Doug. Come on up. Thank you, Bernie I'm not going to talk about the work of my office. That's not what you want to hear I'm not audited Doug. I'm citizen Doug tonight I came to Vermont almost 30 years ago to work for Bernie and Peter Clavel in City Hall in Burlington How lucky is that and you know in addition to the truly groundbreaking work Which continues on affordable housing and the reclamation of the waterfront so many other things I think really the hallmark of his tenure was the refreshing expansion of the discourse new ideas Everything was on the table and to me that is really a litmus test of leadership and if we If we look at that measure and contrast the two candidates for governor this year that the difference couldn't be more stark Phil Scott seems to care primarily about the size of state government and doesn't talk very much about what government actually Does for the people of this state and that's troubling to me He does in fact sometimes you hear echoes in his remarks of Ronald Reagan who told us that government is the problem And that troubles me also He does talk about finding efficiencies in government and that's okay, but that's not a vision In contrast Sue Minter has a very positive vision for this state and she talks often about the importance of using and Investing public resources and leveraging them to solve problems That's what you want in a governor somebody who's passionate about identifying and solving problems and that's what she wants to do And that's what we need So there's a whole bunch of good people here to speak tonight. You don't need to hear from me We got a work card to get her elected all of us, but especially so thank you Thank You Doug stay treasurer in enormously important position investing many many millions of dollars among other Jobs, please welcome treasurer Beth Pierce Put this down a little lower Okay, so first I just want to say that I am honored to be with all of you tonight and with the best candidate You can possibly find all across the country, right? Let's start over here with the best congressional delegation in the country. They're fantastic all of them And tonight I really want to say thank you to senator Sanders for all the work that you've done and and although the Dialogue that you've had across the country. I will tell you that he is our senator. He's my senator He's been great for Vermont. He's been great for veterans. He's been great in getting that message out I will tell you his his speech his ability to talk straight and get the issues out there and be an Advocate for the people has made me a better treasurer, and I'm very proud of you and very proud of the work that you've done Thank you for helping me would be a better treasurer as I talk about the treasurer's office And I'm not going to go into you know I spent the day talking to actuaries and you probably don't want to hear about that, okay But our bottom line is important and how we manage the state's finances are very important And I spent our awful lot of time on that and my job is to make it as efficient as possible To make it good and have economic prosperity and do all the right things in terms of smart investments That is extraordinarily important But it also has to have a bottom line that is fair and equitable for every single Vermonter and we need to have a goal of financial prosperity of Dignity and retirement and a goal of having a lifetime of financial security and financial well-being for every single Vermonter to that end we've talked about a couple of things in the last year We do a lot of good work, and I want to talk about three things one is dignity and retirement Every person who has worked so hard in their careers has a right to adequate and reliable Income in retirement, that's good for the economy because when they have adequate and reliable income They buy goods and services and they're part of the economic generator. They have a right to dignity and retirement I managed the pension funds for 50,000 Vermonters the municipal system the state system and the teacher system every single one of those individuals who've been public Service has a right to that dignity and retirement Folks talk about what about the other folks? There are a hundred and four thousand according to ARP a hundred and four thousand Vermonters who do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, and we need to fix that We're working on that I'm chairing a committee on that We will be bringing a proposal to a legislature that will be responsive to that if we do the right thing on election day We're also involved in local investments taking more of our dollars, and thank you Senator Sanders for talking to me about that Again and again. We've got 33 million. We call it 10% in Vermont We've got 33 million invested locally take it out of Wall Street bring it here invest in farms invest in child care invest in housing and energy Investing in all of the important pieces of our of our legacy our state the fabric of our state And I want to thank you very much for all you've done there and bringing that issue across the country I also want to say thank you to all the legislators because it's a partnership We get this done in partnership. I know that senator senator Polina was very involved in that represented a box on Bennington We all work together to get these things done and to work together to help every single Vermont to find that prosperity To do that to do that. We got to get the legislators that are stood up tonight elected and we've got to elect these two people Let's get that done. We got to elect sue mentor, and we've got to elect the three back there. I can count okay, all right Okay, David Zuckerman and TJ Donovan we got to get them elected now When we talk about shared prosperity We all have the same message when I talk about it from a financial side Doug talks about it from an accountability side Jim condos talks about it from its side of Involving every citizen engaging every citizen in transparency and letting them take power to the process our candidates here TJ talks about it from restorative justice and doing the right things in the justice system our leaders here Dave Zuckerman and ensue mentor. They embody all of those ideals. We've got to get this team elected We need your help vote on November 8th vote Democrat and get out there and get your friends out there, too Thank you one of the great crises that our country is wrestling with right now is Is a broken criminal justice system? It is a system which today has more people in jail than any other country on earth by far and It's a system which is locking up 2.2 million Americans at a cost of 80 billion dollars a year at the local state and federal level the role of Attorney general is enormously important in terms of law enforcement but also in terms of Making sure that we are not just sending people to jail But in fact, we are doing everything that we can to keep from sending people to jail and I think our next speaker T. Terry Donovan understands that very well Let's elect him attorney general TJ Thank You senator Sanders I want to thank you as a candidate for your endorsement, but as a Burlington boy who grew up in the Queen City during the time of your term as mayor's Mayor that city it is an honor to have your support and to watch your career not only in this state But how you have changed this nation? Thank you senator Sanders And I want to thank you for speaking out about inequality Inequality in the criminal justice system senator Lee is a former prosecutor knows this I know this a stage attorney that the best form of anti-poverty work We can do in this state is to reform our criminal justice system Or and the people of color and people of color do not have a monopoly on committing crime But those are the folks who are in our jails and in our courthouses every single day When we the state of Vermont spends more money in our department of corrections than we do on higher education We have misplaced priorities in this state and it needs to change And let me tell you another thing that needs to change We need to ban private prisons in this state the state of Vermont should not be contracting with a corporation To incarcerate from honors and we can do it We can do it as Beth Pierce said By investing in restorative justice and not just punitive justice as attorney general I'll lead the effort to make sure that we have one system of justice not 14 different systems of justice in this state And here's how we're going to do it We're going to redefine what public safety means in the 21st century and it starts with access to health care Universal prenatal care for every woman and child is in the interest of public safety Early childhood education is in the interest of public safety Robust mental health services in our public schools is in the interest of public safety not just for children, but their entire families Affordable housing is in the interest of public safety affordable higher education is in the interest of public safety and Good jobs with decent wages is in the interest of public safety When we talk about leveling the playing field Let's leave nobody behind. Let's start by reforming our criminal justice system and giving everybody an Opportunity for success in this state. This is why I'm running for Attorney General. Thank you for your support Thank You TJ I must confess that I have known David Zuckerman for a very very long time And when I first met him in Burlington, he was busy registering thousands of young people to vote He was working like a dynamo then he hasn't stopped Let's elect David Zuckerman our next lieutenant governor David Thank You Bernie It's true. I was a an activist student at the University of Vermont I was pretty cynical about the corporate influence in politics back in 1992 So I think it's pretty understandable that a lot of young people today Are even more cynical about politics than I was then But I was inspired by this incredible individual who then was a one-term congressman running for reelection and he gave to me What he has given to millions and millions of people across this country The idea of what democracy can stand for of what politicians And I prefer to call us publicly elected officials What publicly elected officials can do when you stand up for what's right? You don't go negative You don't accept corporate contributions and you lead the way on issues of economic justice Social justice and environmental justice. Thank you Bernie for being such an amazing leader for all of us now I also have to give a shout out to the gentleman to his right to the left from your perspective What's right and left anyway, right? I? Remember around the kitchen table growing up my mom talking about a senator from Vermont Who was always one of the most civil and? dignified people in all of the 535 people in Washington and It's been a real honor and pleasure to be a constituent of his Since I came here for college in 1989 and to watch his dignified leadership on So many issues of justice in the judicial system justice for our farmers and agriculture affordable housing Justice just simply justice itself Let's give it up for senator lehi an incredible leader in this country and And if I could say a couple words about our lone congressman in the house Probably one of the most difficult jobs in the country today outside of being someone who works to clean buildings at night as janitors or Serving us food People who do the day-to-day grind to just make a living this guy's got to go down and work with Let's say he's working down in the sewers. I guess in Washington trying to clean up the mess That the US House of Representatives Continues to put upon us How he has the patience to do what he does is quite remarkable But what's even more remarkable is his ability to find issues where he can still reach across that aisle and Be successful for Vermonters and folks across this country. Thank you. Peter. Well, it's for your incredible service Now I had the pleasure of the other night to be down in Windsor County and really listen to our three folks who are running for reelection and it was just so refreshing when you look at the national level of sort of what's not happening and and Look at these three individuals who are probably the most suited for their job of just about anybody I know in terms of their skill sets and their values and actually the role of the job Which is frankly? Not partisan jobs at all what they're doing and They get elected and they go down there and do that job so well expanding voters rights Keeping track of your hard-earned dollars and how they're spent in our government and making sure those dollars that we have Invested for our future and our retirement as well as just general operating cashflow and debt and bonds They do it bar none better than any other three in the country. Let's thank them. I just want to say that What is the future that we all believe in? What is the revolution that we are all a part of here in Vermont? That Bernie has inspired the rest of the country for Does that revolution include? dignity and a livable wage of $15 an hour does it Yes, it does Does it include the basic rights of individuals to have affordable housing? How radical is that? Does it include? both This one's kind of personal paying farmers for their work But also making sure healthy food is available for all families and children because we know when children are fed well They do better in school and they then thrive to be our future as parts of this grand System we have in our economy Why and what we've done here in Vermont to improve the quality of school at Food between farm to school which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and also making free Meals available to all children that need them so that they have full bellies in the classroom because sometimes Those are the only two meals they get is that free breakfast and lunch? How can we as Bernie pointed out in the wealthiest country in the history of the world? Not have an economy that makes it so that our children can have three meals a day That's what we all believe in here in this room That's that common value that brings everybody here together and so many people around the country together with Bernie's message around that economic justice fundamentals of food Shelter education and health care Is that really too much to ask? I don't think so so what we have in this next two weeks The people in this room You have to recognize that The election is going to be won or lost on the energy that everybody here puts in in these next couple of weeks and I just want you to reflect on the amount of energy that our Senator here has spent for the last year Every day waking up Somewhere who knows where probably doesn't even know what Betty woke up in some days saying where am I today? Traveling this country fighting for you and me and if we can't dig deep for just the next 20 odd days 18 days. I don't even know anymore. I can't keep track not many more to make those phone calls To go out on the street and hand out a little bit of literature for the next governor of our state sue mentor To get everybody out there and say why aren't you voting? What do you need? Are you registered? No Here's how you can go right on your smartphone and go to the Secretary of State website and register to vote if everybody in this room Gets five people more That will turn the tide that will make the tide that we just learned about which is tremendously Amazing into a victory and that's what these rallies are about That's the work that rad is doing organizing people all over the state for this weekend and for the last many months to get more People registered. I want to ask you are you going to commit right now? To find five people to register to vote or to get off the cynicism bandwagon and vote so that we can win in Vermont and send a message to Washington and everywhere else that coke money is not going to win elections and that we're going to stand up for Basic dignity for all Vermonters. Thank you very much Last I counted 50 states in the United States and we are proud to live in the best of those states and What we know is That what happens today in one state the good ideas that are developed in one state Whether it is higher education or the environment or child care and health care spreads like wildfire all over this country ever since I have been in politics elected Position since 1981 my dream has always been that this small state Will lead the nation in a very different direction with a very different set of priorities Our job is to create a state as David just said Where all of our people have health care have educational opportunity have decent jobs Where our farmers are well-paid producing good quality food where people know each other are Concerned about each other and where we treat each other civilly. We can be the model for America But to create that vision to become that model. We need high quality leadership and Let me introduce to you the next governor of the state who will give us that leadership Sue mentor so much for being here. Wow exciting You know to be on this stage with incredible people to realize the Breath of engagement we have in this state and in this community and in this room. Thank you I have to recognize how much I look forward and appreciate the incredible fiscal management of our State treasurer Beth Pierce. I don't just want to be another tall personnel on the stage I want to have another woman in the house I am so glad that it's citizen Doug Hoffer today because when it's auditor Doug Hoffer, and I'm the governor I know we're gonna have some tough conversations And he's gonna keep me on a straight and even line and the importance of free and fair elections We can be so proud of the work we do leading in many ways. Thank you for making sure our elections are clean Thank You Jim condos TJ you are an incredible Inspiration you are a great leader not just now but into the future because we know that the goal is going to be Education not incarceration and David Zuckerman. I just have to say I can't wait to have your organizational skills Your drive your energy and your pony tail in my cabinet it is such an honor to be here on the stage with our Congressional delegation they are so extraordinary and you know this but I never understood until I was Sort of thrust into the eye of tropical storm Irene What a team they are of advocates for us and the things that they do you have no idea We are so fortunate and I am so honored and I'm so looking forward to working with all three of you to continue to move Our state forward You know I especially am honored of course and so excited to be here with Bernie You know For me and for so many Bernie. It's your vision and your tenacity That has inspired me throughout my public service and for all of us engaged in this great state and our democracy Thank You Bernie for changing the course of our national conversation For making social and economic justice the center of our political agenda For fighting for Main Street and not Wall Street for making it a priority to rebuild our middle class as Governor I am going to work hard to Carry on Bernie's fight to bring livable wage jobs and economic opportunity and hope For Vermont's struggling middle class and that's why I am so proud to have Bernie Sanders Endorsement to be the next governor of this great state of Vermont I am so glad that all of you are here Tonight because this is a very important election Vermonters have a lot at stake and Right now we all know and we are all here because we know that too many Vermont children are in poverty Too many of our families are in shelters too many of our students are saddled with debt Many of our communities reeling from an opiate epidemic We know that our beautiful Lake Champlain is dying and that there are 200 families in Bennington with poisoned well water it is 80 degrees in October and I think it's fair to say that climate change is not just here it Not just real it is here and it is now and it is why we are here together because we know we can And we must change this story Are also here because we believe in Vermont as Bernie said What a model we can be and already are and have been throughout our history And it is because of what is capable when we are all in And you know what? We cannot afford a governor who wants to put the pause button on progress We need a governor who is ready to create an economy that is for all of Vermonters Well, I'm in all in are you all because we have a choice in this election. You have a choice in this election For your governor Do you want someone whose economic development strategy is about giving tax breaks to wealthy and corporations or a leader who wants to invest in our communities and create livable wage jobs For your governor Do you want someone who opposed paid sick leave or a leader who wants to have paid family leave? A governor who cocks all the time About affordability But has no plans for affordable childcare or affordable college Or do you want a leader who is ready to give two years to wish and free to community or technical college And give our students a chance for economic security in their future And let me just say this at a time when there is a national war on women being waged in this country with 400 bills Introduced in legislatures to restrict a woman's right to choose at this time in history Do you want a governor of vermont who is recommended by vermont's? Right to life committee or do you want a leader who will stand strong and firm for a woman's right to choose without exception? Outside in the winter of last year The one that wasn't the one that so many people struggled with the economy that didn't happen At this time Do you want for your governor Someone who has actually questioned whether climate change is really man-made? Or do you want a leader who understands the climate change is here and has plans and ready and energy to address them? And i just want to ask at this time when we have seen over the last year An epidemic of gun violence throughout our state And when over 85 of vermont's believe in background checks Do you want For your governor a leader who says our gun laws are just fine Or do you want a leader who will stand up to the gun lobby and pass common sense background checks to keep our community safe? Thank you so There are just two weeks left And this election the stakes are incredibly high And it is neck and neck And you and i both know that vermont is great vermont has never stopped being great and together we can continue to move our state forward together We can create great downtown's livable wage jobs while protecting our environment and investing in our green economy Together we can create affordable health care affordable housing and best in the nation education for all vermonters Together we will create an economy that allows young people the opportunity to live work And stay in the state that they love But here's the thing here's the thing the national republican party and The coke brothers are pouring millions of dollars into this election to stop us Over two million dollars already spent And you know what? We have a message for them Vermont is not for sale So I think you all know The polls are neck and neck And we absolutely cannot let up now We have been going this direction far too long to let ourselves subside The greatest resource in this election is you And we need your help now more than ever. We need your contributions We need you to sign up tonight to volunteer to make phone calls to door knock We're doing it all over the state every single night And it is the issue that the way that we're going to win this election We need you to have conversations with your colleagues with your neighbors Yes, and we need you to vote And remember every day is election day because of Jim condos I'm just going to end by saying because I can't help it That I am here because in 225 years of vermont history We've only ever elected one woman governor I'm ready to be the second and I hope you are ready for me Thank you very much Thank you, supe once the time Not so long ago When the republican party was saying and in our own state We had leaders like george achin bob staffer jim jeffords Dean davis Dick mallory And others people who were conservative But were concerned about education were concerned about the environment were concerned about justice Peter welch has the misfortune Of living in a world in the u.s. House where those values no longer hold He works in a chamber Where the leadership wants to cut social security Medicare medicaid and education and health care and give enormous tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations That is where the u.s. House of representatives is And in the midst of all of that year after year Year after year after year Peter has been tamed vermont values and vermont dignity and has done an extraordinary job in representing the state Please welcome congressman peter welch Thank you And it's great to be here on a friday night with all vermoners getting ready for election That's less than almost two weeks away a little more Bernie sanders i want to say a couple of things and then i want to address this concern That david thokerman expressed and bernie expressed about my life Working with some of the best minds of the 17th century, you know bernie said at the beginning That the radical proposition That we're here to embody Is that we're here to practice democracy? And think about you know the spectacle of this campaign You don't need me. You don't need anyone else To tell you that it's astonishing how much Political deviance is dumbed down with donald trump But when you look at this campaign i want to remind you of some extraordinarily hopeful things You know this country in 2007 As a result of wall street excess The economy went off the cliff And main street Was drowning We were losing 800,000 jobs a year A month we were losing 800,000 jobs a month And this was the biggest Recession if you want to call it that since the depression And we elected president obama And we did things that started turning it around And we did things like obama care when i was in the house. We did dod frank We did the auto bailout which was every single one of these things was criticized And we wished folks like bernie and me and patrick that we could have had fewer tax breaks in the recovery act more infrastructure We wish we could have had the the equivalent of a modern glass steagle and dod frank But the fact is the things we did made a difference and it started to stabilize the economy I was in the majority. I was part of that we passed in the house The waxman marky climate change bill We didn't quite make it through the senate as you guys know But 40 percent of the emission reductions were going to come from the efficiency provisions that were really inspired But what vermoners had done here And I Literally just took what we did here and gave it to mr. Waxman and we put it in there. That was vermoners So it was there Now we paid a price because it was a huge Reaction in 2010 In the house majority that I was part of for four years got wiped out And in that same year we had something happen that in my view is as bad as citizens united It's the radical gerrymandering of our districts Where there is no prospect for somebody to be elected in many of these districts Whether they're conservative or they're liberal or progressive where they also have in them a gene that says If you're in the legislature, you're there to govern. You're there to act. You're there to listen. You're there to make progress Fight your fight. So we've got a situation right now And we were unsuccessful in getting us back to some of the things that happened after the great depression Where there were institutions created and strengthened that even the hand of labor and working people so that when profits went up wages went up with them And we had in the last four or five years Moments where the stock market was never higher In wages as a percentage of profits were never lower So the pain that bernie talked about That to account the two tier economy. It wasn't a tale of two economies It was a tale of the one percent and everybody else that did not happen by accident That was policies trade deals that were bad In terms of what it did to wages even as it increased profits It was bad in terms of environmental safeguards where you could cut you cut corners at the expense of what you did to people's health It was bad in the sense of weakening labor So they didn't have a seat at the table to fight for legitimate wages and working conditions for their people That's the situation we're in now and it was a philosophy that's been adopted in this new republican party where you're on your own You're on your own Pharmaceutical companies that don't invest, but they just buy up a product. They can raise the price 500 percent They make billions of dollars in profits. Their executives make tens of million dollars in salary. And what do they do? They take that company From the united states and move it to the netherland So they don't even have to pay taxes for their share of the roads and the bridges and the education That made it possible for them to do what they did So when I think about this that's the circumstances we're in But when I think about this presidential election and I think about 18 months ago and I remember The democrats had a candidate It was hillary clinton who was so dominant That it looked like she was going to clear the field There wasn't going to be a primary But there was a man in vermont No, listen, it's interesting. There's a man in vermont Who had this stirring in his soul And that stirring was He was going to practice democracy And practicing democracy was he was going to talk to one person at a time He was going to tell him the truth as he saw it. He was going to ask them to join with him In that movement He was calling it of a revolution because he was indicting the status quo And that person Who was seen at the outset of this campaign Is being on less than a quixotic campaign Became the individual In the united states of america Who has had more impact On politics in this country in this election than any other Individual in the united states and that man is bernie sanders You know It's true, you know everyone before bernie had that secret service deal going with him I used to talk with him on the plane and I remember he was like You know, he was thinking he might have to raise 50 million dollars Little light It was well over 200 million all those votes all that inspiration all the people here and around Who got involved in bernie? I think vermont or showed their pride in you when 86 percent I don't know how you lost a few 86 percent at the primary voted for bernie sanders I want to say two more things about that You know, we have a better democratic platform and a lot of times people say platforms don't matter they matter Okay, and hillary clinton did a wise thing. She didn't repudiate bernie. She embraced bernie's agenda She embraced it now. We've got work to do When we get back down to washington to stay true to that agenda that was so powerfully advocated by bernie But that mattered your support for bernie mattered bernie's campaign Mattered that was practicing democracy and we have an election but after that election we have work to do That's what it's all about So let's hang in there on that The second thing I want to say You know, the house is a mess right now And it's so bad that you know, look I've got it's a pretty good job. You know what I mean Uh But people sort of feel bad for me But you know, I don't feel bad for myself and I'll tell you why I'm a vermoner You know Some people are teachers and have tough classes Uh, some teachers some folks are mechanics and car comes in and it's a wreck and you don't know how you're gonna fix it And the person's not going to be able to pay you what you're gonna have to put into it Some people are farmers and the weather never cooperates But you know what a vermoner does they just deal with it. They just wake up Put the shoes on Let's roll. Let's do what needs to be done And I like being in the majority Much better because we're acting on health care undod frank On economic development on climate change. We need that and my job now is to defend against the rollback But you know what the decision each of us makes when it comes to practicing democracy Is we're going to face the world as it is and change it for the better Not complain about the situation we're in and pull the covers over our head So i'm enjoying my job because I have an opportunity to make a difference that you want made every single day So thank you for letting me do this job And now We've got a chance to elect this woman governor and we're going to do it And sue You're up to the challenge, but I want to remind you why it's a big challenge All of us is for monitors whether we're running for governor serving as a united states senator or not We have big shoes to fill in this state You know, you do know Our constitution for the 14th state We banned slavery We were the first state Where women voted We had our young men coming off the farms In greater percentages joining the union cause than any other northern state and we lost more lives than any other northern state When it came to marriage equality this state Was the first legislature that voted That who you loved is who you could marry that's But you know It's what we do It's what we do So all of us are filling shoes of giants who went before us When all of those were contentious and difficult and challenging issues Do you face them or do you flee from them? We verminers face them and it's our job and sue mentor is going to be our leader to do it And what she knows and understands and this is again It's like an emotional orientation in life. All right climate change is a problem And I hear a lot of people say look the world's going to end But I hear a lot of other people say we're going to fight this We're going to find a way to make it better and in the doing of that effort and making it better We're actually going to create jobs We're going to improve incomes and incidentally we're going to save the planet from carbon emissions That's what for monitors do. They just deal with it And we've got a woman who's ready to deal with it. So let us elect Sue mentor our next governor. Thank you all very much I've known the next guy. I'm going to introduce Oh for 30 or 40 years We've worked together when I was mayor burlington and the house And we see each other every day in the senate Pat Lee has been a leader in this country and certainly in our state In the struggle for civil liberties and the struggle for privacy In the fight for organic Agriculture as chairman of the senate Judiciary committee he has done his very best To make sure that we have the best supreme court that we can have And on all of the major social issues the issues of women's rights and gay rights Pat Leahy has been a leader. Let's welcome senator pat le Thanks, birdie. You know, it is fascinating Being there in the senate With birdie and I'm going to speak a little bit more about that in a moment I'm not going to speak long because you've heard many speeches, but I would point out that Some congressional delegations have 40 or 50 or More members between their senate. They're two senators and all their house members Vermont delegation To meet anytime we want We can meet in birdie's office or my office or peter's office Sometimes we meet in the elevator And it works Because we come out We have a pretty powerful united voice I'm glad to be here tonight My sister mary who's in the back Ro she and I Born raised here along with our brother in mont pair We lived in a house that is now the arts council Vermont our council of the arts on 136 state tree I lived there for the time I was born until I met a beautiful young woman from Burlington, Vermont My wife myself was here. We got married And We have lived in this area ever since Home is now in middle sex But anybody here for middle sex? I'm sure you get out and vote. I want a good strong vote in middle sex I told birdie in private Came back to the senate to rousing cheer from the democratic caucus And then again at a special Event we had for the retiring leader of the democrats in the senate I'm glad I was to have him back Because we need him We need his voice We need his conscience We need the fact that he'll speak up when others have been afraid to Let me tell you just one area In which we need this The supreme court Never in the history of this country Has anybody done the unconstitutional thing That the republican leader is done And not allowing a vote On a supreme court justice something he announced two hours after the death I'm Antonin Scalia. He said there will be no vote Bologna That's not the constitution The constitution says the president shall nominate He says the president shall nominate while president obama dead He nominated A man who by all Counts eminently qualified merit garland to be on the u.s supreme court But it's one other thing that each one of the hundred u.s senators Has taken oath say That they shall uphold the constitution so help me god Where are these god bearing people when they won't follow the oath they made And that's why the republican leader has said he wants more republican senators So that he can keep that position. We had one Member of his republican caucus announced the other day publicly If Hillary clinton is elected and we republicans are the majority we won't allow any supreme court Justices that is outrageous. I want you to know And I obviously have a stake in this When you vote Vote for me because let's show them we don't send a republican so they can stop the supreme court We won't do it On january 3rd. I want bernie sanders and I standing there and he newly led Senate I will bow to him as chairman sanders and he'll say something nice to me and But then we can set the agenda and one agenda is going to be To bring the courts back to straight to bring courts that will represent all of us to bring courts To bring the honor and dignity to the courts that we expect That will allow everybody who goes before the court to think they will have a fair hearing not a hearing dictated By the republican leader in the u.s. Senate. We cannot do that We'll keep the organic farm bill going They So the stakes are high The bernie spoke throughout his campaign and continues to about what is best in america Look at donald trump He believes in america only if he accepts your religion Or your race Or your country of origin For shame For shame We judge people on their race their country of origin their religion He does We don't Why because we are americans and we know we have a great country and our And we are a great country because of our diversity Because of it not in spite of it, but because of it And they talk about it along some of the People including this child we saw in the ambulance covered with blood Coming in here from syria What is steve job's father When he wanted to come in here from syria had been sought where we have apple today We didn't think of what's happened Or marry our grandparents When they came from italy And began a stone carving business in south rye gate vermont Or our other grandfather who was a stone carving berry vermont our Irish grandfather You know, we believe in that diversity as does bernie so It's not just at the national level I will fight for your values as I always have And I will honor your trust if you'll read like me But I'm also lifelong vermont her and I care about who we have here I want you to let sue mentor as governor and I'll tell you why She knows how to get things done. She knows how to create green jobs We worked with her all of us After the devastation of Irene I knew I could call I fell members of the appropriations committee and asked for money But I knew that sue would make sure it was spent in a way That we could trust to get more money Anyone impacted by that tropical storm Irene will tell you Sue delivers She gets things done this morning myself and I invited sue to join us well With one of my old colleagues from the senate joe biden for breakfast in burlington We had a wonderful discussion The vice president was here The vice president was here to speak about his cancer moonshot To him it's very personal, but he also knows that we can do far better He lost his son bow. We knew very well to cancer My sister and I lost Our brother Just a few months ago To cancer. Marcel's the cancer survivor. This means a lot I also wanted to see how we Run vermont And he had such a great conversation with sue mentor And she was telling him what her views were of what she wanted to do for the state And soon after you had to leave And Marcel and I were In the car with the vice president He turned to me. He said you two really like sue mentor. Don't you I said I said joe we're vermonters We live here We want the best He says I think you got the best So make sure we elect her send Send me down send me back please So that bernie and I Can try to bring some sense Into some in the united states said And knowing that we're always going to be The tough backup With peter welts in the other body. So thank you all very very Thank you pat sue mentioned bit earlier About the role that big money And dock money and cobra this money is playing In undermining our democracy And if you ask me the most serious issue facing this country It is the fact that in my view we are moving toward an oligarchic form of society where a handful of billionaires Not only control the economy. They now want to buy the government And the antidote to that The only antidote I know Is grassroots democracy Where people are prepared to stand up to the Koch brothers And sheldon adelson and the other billionaires And tell them no they're not going to buy the united states government And they're not going to buy the government of the state of vermont to do that We will have the opportunity with peter and pat and myself to go down Again to washington and overturn this disastrous citizens united supreme court decision All over this country There are a lot of people Who are giving up on democracy. They're in trouble. They're hurting. They don't see government Representing their needs. They see government representing wealthy campaign contributors Our job in this state Is not only to stand up and protect working families and the elderly and the children and the sick and the poor It is to show the entire country what a vibrant democracy is about one person one vote So while it is true the Koch brothers and the other billionaires have unlimited sums of money We have something that they don't have And that's something is in this room today It is Thousands of people in the state of vermont who in the next two and a half weeks are going to work as As they possibly can to to elect and re-elect this wonderful slate of candidates. We have right here So thank you all Thank you all very much For being out tonight. Let's go forward. Thank you