Thread by @kgosztola

Bernie Sanders is hosting virtual coronavirus table near top of hour. Because Bernie & his team understand how to use technology and show leadership by putting forward serious proposals during crisis.

Tune in:

[*Thread for coverage.] #Covid_19

Bernie: "We are looking at global health crisis as coronavirus spreads throughout our country and around the world." #Covid_19

Bernie: "This is an unprecedented moment, and we have got to think in an unprecedented way." That means in terms of government action and how we behave. #Covid_19

Bernie: Let me begin by responding to Republican plan on coronavirus pandemic.

"The Republican plan, on its face, is totally, totally inadequate." #Covid_19

Bernie: Massive tax breaks to wealthy and large corporations while providing little assistance to people most in need

Has distorted ideas, protecting those who don't need much protection and ignoring the pain that so many people today are feeling #Covid_19

Bernie highlights this:

https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1241066469926014978

#Covid_19

Bernie: "What we have got to do is make certain that every single American receives financial assistance they need to survive this crisis with dignity." #Covid_19

Bernie: There is enormous stress that everybody in this country is experiencing. The least that we can do is make sure all of our people receive financial support that they can get. #Covid_19

Bernie: I worry there are people who do not have money to go out and buy food. They want checks to come to them immediately. Growing consensus is fastest check to send out to people is through expansion of unemployment program. #Covid_19

Bernie: As result of cutbacks, approximately only 25% of workers are eligible for unemployment.

Dozen jobs are not covered. Goal must be to expand unemployment to cover all workers in America. Cap at $75,000/yr #Covid_19

Bernie: Ongoing disgrace. We need to make sure every worker has paid family and medical guarantee.

Notes U.S. is one of only countries on Earth that does not offer this guarantee #Covid_19

Bernie: This speaks to dysfunctionality of our health care system and lack of preparedness. All over America doctors and nurses do not have masks or gowns that they need. Must use Defense Production Act to protect medical personnel. #Covid_19

Bernie: "Make certain everybody in our country who needs to go to doctor for whatever reason gets whatever health care they need regardless of their income" #Covid_19

Bernie is talking about government paying for not only treatment citizens need for coronavirus treatment. Any illness during this crisis should be covered by Medicare ensuring they have all health care they need. #Covid_19

Bernie: We are going to have to provide massive amount of money to states and cities throughout this country.

If cities and states are unable to pay employees, if we don't have workforce available, it'll make almost impossible to deal with crisis. #Covid_19

Bernie: Protect most weakest and most vulnerable.

Elderly on low fixed incomes, who are worried about if anyone will visit them. They're concerned about getting food each day. Need to expand food assistance programs. #Covid_19

Bernie: Cover all student loan payments for duration of crisis. #Covid_19

Bernie: When Republican colleagues are talking about bailing out airlines, tourism industry, or cruise industry, must make certain no bailout results in profiteering or unusual benefits going to CEOs and corporations themselves. #Covid_19

Bernie: Equivalent of war. We cannot allow corporations to be profiteering.

And if government is going to provide assistance to large corporate interests, they must protect their workers. #Covid_19

Bernie: Prescription drugs developed by taxpayer dollars must be sold to American people at reasonable price.

No price gouging by Big Pharma #Covid_19

Music from Nahko Bear (Puerto Rican/Filipino artist) and then comments from @FlyingwithSara

Bernie is now sitting behind what from the camera shot looks like a ginormous table #Covid_19

Sara Nelson says people are feeling financial pinch from working overtime. Airlines cut back flights. Now looking at massive furloughs. Airlines will be out of money to make payroll. #Covid_19

Sara Nelson: We are proposing a worker-relief package. No more bailouts. We went through all hurt of 9/11 and we saw what happened. Start with keeping paychecks going. #Covid_19

Sara Nelson: No more corporate bailouts. This is a worker relief program.

In past, big check comes to corporation. They decide how to spend it and demand concessions from labor. We don't want that. #Covid_19

Sara Nelson: We have opposed stock buybacks all the time.

Bernie adds, we are sick and tired of bailouts for corporations. #Covid_19

Sara Nelson: "We are not chess pieces. We are real people."

Don't let airlines go bankrupt and have government swoop in and turn them around. #Covid_19

Sara Nelson: We hope we're setting a blueprint for workers in rest of country. #Covid_19

Bernie is talking to Saru Jayaraman, who is leading coalition called One Fair Wage. They are fighting to eliminate sub-minimum wage in restaurant industry. Speaking about lobby called National Restaurant Association. #Covid_19

Saru: 70 percent women. Women largely laid off in restaurant industry as result of crisis. Think about unemployment insurance on $2 wage plus tips. Plus, many of restaurant workers don't qualify. #Covid_19

Bernie: How many workers laid off?

Saru: 4 million laid off or at risk is current estimate. #Covid_19

Saru says 40 percent of restaurant workers are single mothers. Sharing heart-wrenching stories of life before coronavirus. This is now disaster of epic proportions. #Covid_19

Bernie: Even in under normal times, it is outrageous how many people are struggling in restaurant industry. Should be earning living wage.

What should Congress do?

Saru: Apply unemployment policy based on $15/hr wage instead $2/hr wage plus tips. #Covid_19

A lot from Saru to clip and share, which I will do when over. This is so important for people to hear. She is highlighting the dark underbelly of capitalism that existed before coronavirus spread. #Covid_19

Saru: This is largest and fastest growing industry in America. Largest employer. If nothing exposes greed, this has to.

Bernie notes this crisis is bringing reality to the fore. #Covid_19

Saru: Government can look at special relief - tax relief for employers that commit to livable wage. Type of policy that will help us after crisis move away from system that never worked in first place. #Covid_19

Bernie says Republican plan is useless.

This should be the message from all Democrats. #Covid_19

From Sanders #coronavirus roundtable, Saru Jayaraman of One Fair Wage:

"Literal legacy of slavery because first tipped workers were hired after emancipation by [restaurants], which demanded the right to hire them for nothing and let them live on tips because they were black."

More from Saru Jayaraman of One Fair Wage. Restaurant workers unable to access unemployment is public health disaster.

"People leave their homes. They start moving in together. They start having communal kitchens because what else can they do." #COVIDー19