Debate crowd erupts in laughs as Sanders chimes in 'I wrote the damn bill' on Medicare for All

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersIntercept bureau chief: minimum wage was not 'high priority' for Biden in COVID-19 relief Murkowski never told White House she would oppose Tanden Tanden withdraws nomination as Biden budget chief 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 RyanTimothy (Tim) RyanTim Ryan: Prosecutors reviewing video of Capitol tours given by lawmakers before riot Acting chief acknowledges police were unprepared for mob Six ways to visualize a divided America 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 WarrenElizabeth WarrenOvernight Health Care: Biden says US will have enough vaccine for all adults by end of May | Biden calls on all states to vaccinate teachers by the end of March | Texas, Mississippi lift mask mandates Biden picks for financial agencies offer preview of regulatory agenda Becerra tells Warren he will do 'thorough review' of executive actions on drug prices 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

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 21, 2019

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.