{"id":12384,"date":"2019-07-18T13:31:45","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T20:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=12384"},"modified":"2019-07-18T13:32:37","modified_gmt":"2019-07-18T20:32:37","slug":"cant-change-a-corrupt-system-by-taking-its-money-sanders-urges-all-2020-democrats-to-reject-insurance-big-pharma-cash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2019\/07\/18\/cant-change-a-corrupt-system-by-taking-its-money-sanders-urges-all-2020-democrats-to-reject-insurance-big-pharma-cash\/","title":{"rendered":"“Can’t Change a Corrupt System by Taking Its Money”: Sanders Urges All 2020 Democrats to Reject Insurance, Big Pharma Cash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 17, 2019 by Common Dreams<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If we are going to break the stranglehold of corporate interests over the healthcare needs of the American people,” Sanders plans to say in Medicare for All speech, “we have got to confront a Washington culture that has let this go on for far too long.”<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Jake Johnson, staff writer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 presidential candidate, joins hospital workers, union members, and local politicians in protest against the imminent closure of Hahnemann University Hospital at a rally in Philadelphia on July 15, 2019. (Photo: Bastiaan Slabbers\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arguing that fundamental changes to America’s profit-driven and deadly<\/a> healthcare system will be impossible to enact as long as political leaders continue to accept industry cash, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday will deliver a Medicare for All speech calling on 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to join him in rejecting campaign donations from insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists, executives, and PACs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What the real debate is about is: do we have the courage to take on these incredibly powerful special interests, who make huge profits?” 
\u2014Sen. Bernie Sanders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You can’t change a corrupt system by taking its money,” Sanders will say in the address, according to an excerpt released by his campaign. “If we are going to break the stranglehold of corporate interests over the healthcare needs of the American people, we have got to confront a Washington culture that has let this go on for far too long.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his speech, Sanders will introduce and take the “No Health Insurance and Pharma Money Pledge,” which states<\/a>: “I pledge to not take contributions from the health insurance or pharmaceutical industry and instead prioritize the health of the American people over health industry profits.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Taking the pledge means that a politician or candidate’s campaign will adopt a policy to not knowingly accept any contributions over $200 from the PACs, lobbyists, or executives of health insurance or pharmaceutical companies,” according to<\/a> Sanders’s website. “The pledge does not apply to rank-and-file workers employed by pharmaceutical giants and health insurance companies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch Sanders’s speech, which is expected to begin at 4pm ET:<\/p>\n\n\n\n