Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersDemocrats say they have the votes to advance .5T budget measure Millennial momentum means trouble for the GOP Briahna Joy Gray: White House thinks extending student loan pause is a 'bad look' MORE (I-Vt.) scored the first laugh of the fifth Democratic presidential debate on Wednesday by dredging up an old line: "I wrote the damn bill."
Sanders first made the quip — a reference to his signature "Medicare for All" legislation — during the second Democratic primary debate in July after one of his rivals, Rep. Tim Ryan
Timothy (Tim) RyanHouse passes spending bill to boost Capitol Police and Hill staffer pay Tim Ryan slams McCarthy for mocking Capitol physician, mask mandate Six takeaways: What the FEC reports tell us about the midterm elections MORE (D-Ohio), suggested that the Vermont senator was unaware of what the single-payer health care proposal actually entailed.
Since then, Sanders has capitalized on that phrase, repeating it at times during public appearances and even selling campaign merchandise emblazoned with the slogan.
After Sen. Elizabeth Warren
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 21, 2019Elizabeth WarrenPelosi disputes Biden's power to forgive student loans Warren hits the airwaves for Newsom ahead of recall election Human rights can't be a sacrificial lamb for climate action MORE spoke on her Medicare for All stance, moderator @kwelkernbc asked Sen. Bernie Sanders for his response.
Sanders: "Thank you. I wrote the damn bill" #demdebate https://t.co/u9aiISXBvU pic.twitter.com/dPhUxPnNXG
It resurfaced once again on Wednesday night after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sanders's chief ideological rival in the presidential race, responded to a debate question about Medicare for All.
Once Warren finished her answer, the debate moderators posed a similar question to Sanders.
"Thank you. I wrote the damn bill," Sanders said as the crowd briefly erupted in laughter.
