Watch: Bernie Sanders Yells at Fox Reporter, Puts Hand in Her Face

Watch: Bernie Sanders Yells at Fox Reporter, Puts Hand in Her Face

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont had a heated exchange with a Fox Business correspondent on Thursday, asserting during a conversation inside the Capitol, “I can yell as loud as you!”

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Sanders, conducted a hearing on Thursday regarding his proposal to reduce the standard workweek to 32 hours without a reduction in pay, as reported by Fox Business. Sanders argued that European countries have already implemented shorter workweeks, and it's time for America to follow suit.

While traversing a Senate hallway, Sanders was approached by Fox Business reporter Hillary Vaughn. Upon learning her affiliation, Sanders paused.

“It seems like Democrats want businesses to be taxed more, pay their workers …” Vaughn started.

“Really? Is that what you think?” Sanders interjected forcefully, gesturing with his hand towards Vaughn.

“They pay their workers …” Vaughn attempted again.

“Excuse me! Excuse me!” Sanders retorted, raising his voice.

“I didn’t get to ask a question,” Vaughn remarked.

However, Sanders continued speaking without acknowledging Vaughn's attempt to interject.

“OK, thank you. You wanna. Hold it, OK. We held a hearing on a 32-hour workweek because what we have seen is that over the last 50 years, despite a huge increase in worker productivity, almost all of the wealth has gone to the top 1 percent while 60 percent of the people living paycheck to paycheck. Many of our people are exhausted. We work the longest hours of any people in the industrialized world. I think it is time for a shortened workweek,” Sanders explained.

“Let me ask you a question about that. Seems like Democrats want businesses to be taxed more, pay their workers more, lower prices, and now pay people not to work,” Vaughn remarked.

“Really? That’s not my assumption. I don’t think so. You know what Democrats — you know what I would like to see?” Sanders responded.

“I can yell as loud as you,” he said at one point while gesturing towards Vaughn.

“How are businesses going to survive that? That’s the question. How can businesses survive all of those proposals?” Vaughn queried.

“When Mr. Bezos pays an effective tax rate lower than the average worker, I think we have a real problem in our tax system. I think that billionaires have got to start paying their fair share of taxes. Thank you,” Sanders concluded.

In a news release on his website, Sanders defended his proposal as “not a radical idea."

“Today, American workers are over 400 percent more productive than they were in the 1940s. And yet, millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages than they were decades ago. That has got to change,” Sanders emphasized.

“The financial gains from the major advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, and new technology must benefit the working class, not just corporate CEOs and wealthy stockholders on Wall Street. It is time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life. It is time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay,” Sanders concluded.

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