From: Representative Bernie Sanders <bsanders@igc.apc.org>
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   January 19, 1995


 SANDERS AND PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS LAUNCH "CANCEL THE
 CONTRACT" CAMPAIGN/ OFFER 11-PART COMPREHENSIVE
 ALTERNATIVE -- "THE PROGRESSIVE PROMISE"

      At a packed news conference on Capitol Hill,
 Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and several of
 his colleagues in the 34-member Progressive Caucus of
 the U.S. Congress called for canceling the Republican
 Contract with America and embracing an alternative
 legislative package centering on fairness for all
 Americans.

      "The more the American people learn about Speaker
 Gingrich's Contract with America," Sanders stressed,
 "the more we all realize that it is a fraud.  Giving
 huge tax breaks to millionaires and to multinational
 corporations to ship our jobs overseas and shoveling
 more money into Star Wars and other weapons systems,
 while slashing the safety net for the working poor,
 needy children, senior citizens, veterans and small
 farmers is grossly unfair."

      In contrast with each bill in the Contract with
 America, Sanders and several other members of the
 Progressive Caucus unveiled eleven major interlocking
 bills that the Caucus will introduce during the first
 100 days of the 104th Congress.  (See attached
 materials.) The Caucus members also announced their
 intention to offer various portions of the 11-part
 "Progressive Promise" as floor amendments if the
 Republican-controlled Congress stands by its commitment
 to bring legislation to the House floor under open rules
 allowing policy alternatives to be offered.

      " The members of the Progressive Caucus understand
 that the American people want leaner, more effective
 government at all levels," Sanders noted, "but the
 American people also want a fair shake as we seek new
 ways to solve our nation's problems. Many of us believe
 that we should reform our welfare system, but not by
 throwing poor children into orphanages and low-income
 working families into the streets.  It is absurd to

 seriously talk about welfare reform without proposing a
 jobs program, job training, and child care funding."

      "Many of us also believe our country should make
 more progress toward a balanced budget, but that we can
 do so without destroying Social Security, Medicare, and
 Medicaid and other desperately needed programs," Sanders
 continued.  " For the Progressive Caucus, " Sanders
 noted, " moving toward a balanced budget requires
 looking at extravagant military spending, challenging
 huge tax breaks for millionaires and multinational
 corporations to ship our jobs overseas, and eliminating
 government programs whose time has come and gone."

      Congressman Sanders serves on the House Banking and
 Financial Services Committee and the House Government
 Reform and Oversight Committee.  He also serves as
 Chairman of the 34-member Progressive Caucus of the U.S.
 Congress.


 CONTACT: TINA WISELL (802) 862-0697, BILL GOOLD (202)
 225-4115
                                                 .