Sanders: Congress must address ‘obscene’ wealth inequality

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is demanding that Congress address the “obscene” level of wealth inequality in the United States.

“Never before in the modern history of our country have so few had so much and so many had so little,” Sanders said Saturday. “This incredible and obscene level of wealth and income inequality is a grave danger to our economy and our political system.”

{mosads}His comments were prompted by Forbes magazine’s new tally of the 400 wealthiest Americans. The top 400 people are now worth $2.29 trillion, a 13 percent increase from last year.

Sanders suggested Congress increase taxes on the ultra-rich and ensure big money can’t influence politics through campaign donations.

“Congress must summon the courage to take on their big money campaign contributors and pass legislation that asks the wealthy to start paying their fair share of taxes and overturns the disastrous Supreme Court decision on Citizens United,” Sanders said. 

Sanders has been a critic of recent Supreme Court decisions that loosened campaign finance laws. The court ruled that campaign donations are protected as free speech under the First Amendment.