Fetterman Urges Party Action Amid Government Shutdown
Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has offered some straightforward advice to his party during the ongoing 23-day government shutdown: he believes they should “just come clean and cut shit,” urging swift action to restart the government.
His comments followed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to block a bill intended to ensure pay for essential federal workers and military personnel during this shutdown. As the impacts of the funding freeze become more evident, there’s a growing wave of criticism from Pennsylvania Democrats regarding the party’s approach to the situation.
“I really don’t care who’s winning or losing, it’s just not helpful,” Fetterman told reporters after a vote failed that would have protected the paychecks of millions of federal workers, set to be affected by the new pay period starting Friday. “America lost,” he remarked, emphasizing the dire circumstances.
Fetterman was one of only three Democrats to support a Republican-backed bill aimed at providing pay to federal workers during the shutdown. This bill, however, did not meet the necessary 60 votes to pass, primarily because most Democrats rejected it.
With the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also at risk, Fetterman highlighted the potential consequences, noting that approximately 40 million Americans could see their benefits vanish on November 1 if the shutdown drags on. Many states, including Pennsylvania, may freeze SNAP benefits if funding isn’t restored, causing further distress. “People are asking, ‘Where’s our food?'” he mentioned, pointing to the serious implications beyond mere political maneuvering.
Yet, Senate Democrats appear to be sticking to their hard-line positions. Schumer has led the charge in filibustering bipartisan initiatives to reopen the government multiple times, with Fetterman sometimes standing apart from his party on this issue.
The Democrats maintain that any funding negotiations must incorporate extended Obamacare subsidies and other key policy priorities. Fetterman, however, aligns with some Republicans in suggesting that unrelated policies should be addressed post-shutdown. “Two million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP, and over 400,000 utilize tax credits to make health insurance viable,” he pointed out, implying that these issues are intricately connected.
He elaborated on the tough choices ahead for both the state and the country: “That’s a real dilemma. I want to support both hunger relief and healthcare, but I’m still pondering the best methods to go about it.” This sentiment reflects the often messy reality of political negotiations and priorities.
Most Democrats positioned their opposition to the Republican bill on the grounds that it would yield too much power to President Trump without ensuring that all federal workers would receive their paychecks amidst the shutdown. “Allowing them to decide whom gets paid weaponizes the situation and risks punishing the federal workforce,” Senate colleague Chris Van Hollen asserted.
On the other side, Republican lawmakers criticized Democrats for allegedly using federal workers as leverage in their negotiations. There’s another vote on the horizon, with a proposal from Senator Ted Cruz aimed at compensating airport workers amid closures. Similar discussions about pay for federal employees and military personnel are expected to resurface as the standoff continues.
