Reid Introduces Senate Bill Friday, but Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont Filibusters

The Senate has begun debate on the tax cuts and unemployment benefits deal Friday morning after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spent eight hours on the Senate floor railing against the compromise and vowed to filibuster the bill.

“I am simply here today to take as long as I can to explain to the American people the fact that we have got to do a lot better than this agreement provides,” Sanders said at the start of his speech.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has filed a motion to limit debate and scheduled a Monday afternoon vote to move forward on the measure.

Several senators have announced their support for the deal reached by the White House and Republican leaders, while the House Democratic Caucus voted against taking up the proposed legislation unless changes are made in bill. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) voiced his thoughts in a statement saying, “The truth is, the president got a lot of things here we’ve been fighting for that we haven’t yet been able to win any other way.’’

Watch the filibuster live on C-SPAN II

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