SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – On Saturday afternoon, Senator Bernie Sanders packed the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.

Opening remarks were met with cheers as former Shreveport City Councilwoman LeVette Fuller approached the podium to welcome those in the auditorium. Fuller called Shreveport a blue city in a ruby-red state and highlighted how the House reconciliation bill, or “One Big Beautiful Bill,” is detrimental to Louisiana.

Residents shared their personal experiences navigating the ever-changing federal landscape, specifically as it relates to healthcare costs and their choices to seek or avoid medical care due to exorbitant fees, and the toll those choices are taking on their families.

Gary Chambers was on hand to remind those in attendance that in the United States, it has always been the will of the people that has forced and pushed for justice in this nation. Calling out both the GOP and Louisiana Democrats.

However, his message was directed squarely at the Speaker’s policy and leadership in Louisiana, creating a stark contrast between the event’s host and the number three man in federal leadership.

“While Mike believes that we should have bombs in the Middle East, Bernie believes that we ought to have bridges, books, and Black maternal health for the people of this country,” Chambers said.

Sanders started his remarks by acknowledging his billboard greeting along I-20. Thanking Johnson for recognizing that his Big Beautiful Bill was the reason he was in Shreveport.

Sanders explained that he was in Shreveport because the red state, blue state factions are tired and serve no purpose in the United States. He did not shy away from his opposition to war and called for the American people to push for an end to billionaire campaign donors’ influence on the electoral system.

“The most important political issue that we must deal with as a nation is getting rid of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.”

The Senator dissected Mr. Johnson’s ‘big beautiful bill,” which, according to Sanders, does virtually everything wrong.”

Sanders said that the massive tax provisions for the nation’s wealthiest 1% would lead to striking income inequality through cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by over $1 trillion. He said the Congressional Budget Office reported that the move would force an additional 16 million people out of the programs. Currently, there are 85 million Americans who are uninsured or underinsured.

“This makes a terrible situation even worse,” Sanders said.

Since “all politics are local,” Sanders repeated comments made by Cameron Henry (R), the Louisiana State Senate President, stating that the state legislature would have to return for a special session, as the cuts could cost the state $4 billion, causing significant disruptions for Louisiana’s rural hospitals.

In a state where 35% of residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare, the cuts would exacerbate healthcare outcomes that are already among the lowest in the nation. The United States is the only “wealthy, developed” country that does not provide some form of universal or affordable healthcare for its citizens. Even Brazil, which is considered an “emerging market,” provides universal healthcare.

Also affected by the bill would be a $350B cut to education and deep cuts to nutrition programs for children and the elderly, according to Sanders.

Speaking directly to Speaker Mike Johnson’s evangelical Christian faith, Sanders said, “I don’t know that there is any religion on earth that believes it appropriate to take food away from hungry kids and give tax breaks.”

Sanders vowed to continue his fight to defeat the bill in the coming weeks, but also emphasized the need for Americans to think creatively and develop a new vision for the nation.

“Brothers and sisters, instead of throwing 16 million people off of health care, we should understand that health care is a human right.

The statement drew a rousing round of applause. Click to read the budget reconciliation bill in its entirety.