Fetterman Critiques Democrats Over Government Shutdown

Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania has openly criticized his own party for not sticking to their fundamental values amid the government shutdown. He expressed concern about the impact on food stamp funding, calling the situation a “very disastrous” mistake.

“Knowing that 42 million Americans may lose SNAP is incredibly sad,” Fetterman said during his appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” this past Sunday.

He added, “This is one of the main reasons why I cannot support a government shutdown. I think it’s crucial for Democrats to step up here. I mean, the government is shutting down.”

Fetterman was among three Democratic senators, along with Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada and Angus King from Maine, who voted against halting a straightforward stopgap measure aimed at reopening the government.

He’s been one of the more outspoken Democrats regarding the shutdown, even suggesting that Republicans might want to consider eliminating the 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster, as a way to move forward.

Democrats have been leveraging the shutdown standoff to secure concessions from the Republicans, particularly concerning the expansion of Medicaid and subsidies for Obamacare.

Funding for SNAP was cut off on Saturday, prompting a court to direct the Department of Agriculture to utilize emergency funds to keep the essential program running for a few additional weeks.

On another note, former President Trump noted that he has asked his legal team for clarification on his options under the law in light of conflicting court rulings.

Fetterman has a personal connection to this issue, as his wife operates a free store that provides food to those in need, meaning he witnesses the consequences of the shutdown directly.

“This is a total failure,” he stated. “If we can’t even keep the government running, it’s embarrassing. Many federal workers have had to borrow over a third of a billion dollars just to make ends meet.”

He also pointed out that individuals can no longer depend on SNAP benefits or WIC (Women, Infants & Children), emphasizing, “These groups are why I align with the Democratic Party and why I fight for them. It feels like we’re abandoning our core values to keep the government closed.”

Fetterman acknowledged that while he supports the aim of expanding Obamacare subsidies, which will expire at the year’s end, he believes the current shutdown approach is detrimental.

“Right now, shutting down the government offers no benefits and guarantees nothing,” he remarked. “You might get SNAP, but you miss out on the tax credits that everyone needs.”

“If we can get things running again, we can discover a path forward. That’s how democracy should operate,” he concluded.