Shortly after noon at the White House today, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, joined a small group on a stage with President Barack Obama. The occasion was Obama's announcement of $500 million in federal stimulus dollars for construction and renovation projects at federally qualified health centers.

Sanders has been a long-time champion of funding for this network of community health centers -- and it turns out that a few years ago Obama signed onto a Sanders' bill to quadruple funding for them.

So Wednesday, when Obama announced funding to expand 85 health centers -- including one in Burlington, he put the spotlight on Sanders for a millisecond. "I also want to thank the many members of Congress who are with us today both in the audience and up on the stage, particularly Bernie Sanders and Representative Jim Clyburn. We are grateful for all that you've done."

The Community Health Center of Burlington is one of the 85 and will receive $10.9 million dollars to construct a new building that will eventually replace the structure on Riverside Avenue.

In the madcap world that is Washington -- especially these days -- it must be nice to get noticed.

-- Nancy Remsen

Labels: health care, Sen. Bernie Sanders