Sen. John Fetterman unloaded on his own party Wednesday, blasting Senate Democrats for dragging the government shutdown into its 36th day — now the longest in American history — as millions of working-class Americans suffer.
Fetterman, one of only three Senate Democrats or Dem-leaning independents to consistently vote with Republicans to reopen the government, called the shutdown a disgrace and a betrayal of the very people Democrats claim to represent.
“This should have never started,” Fetterman told The Post. “People like to celebrate about breaking a new record, but this is a terrible record.”
He tore into the political gamesmanship playing out in Washington while food stamp benefits lapse, military members go unpaid, and the nation’s air travel infrastructure falters.
“Forty-two million Americans now are going to lose their SNAP [benefits],” he warned. “Anyone that’s spent time in our airports can realize things are seriously deteriorating. I couldn’t even find a flight to get here last weekend.”
The shutdown began when Senate Democrats blocked a stopgap bill passed by the House back in September. That bill would have extended current government funding through November 21. Despite bipartisan House support — including from Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) — Senate Democrats have now voted over a dozen times to block it, demanding Republicans agree to extend Obamacare subsidies as a condition for ending the shutdown.
Fetterman said the consequences of the standoff are being felt everywhere: families can’t afford food, military personnel are working without pay, and law enforcement and air traffic safety are at risk.
“Who wants to vote to not pay our military?” he asked. “The people that are protecting us aren’t getting paid because of the votes.”
He even cited recent security concerns, noting a man from Pennsylvania was arrested after threatening to kill a member of Congress, while Capitol security officers go without pay.
“This is impacting law enforcement, airline travel, working families — especially union families,” Fetterman said. “We are supposed to be fighting for the workers’ families. But all the unions are the ones getting hurt here.”
As pressure mounts, some Democrats are softening. Talks are underway for a possible vote on the GOP-backed stopgap measure — or a dual-track plan that would extend ACA subsidies and temporarily fund the government. Others have discussed sector-by-sector funding to minimize disruptions.
But with leadership still holding the line, the end remains uncertain.
Fetterman made clear he’s had enough.
“We need five more people [Democrats] to realize this has run way too long,” he said. “Even if you wanted to do this to make a statement, you know, we are way past that for any value.”
“There are no winners,” he said. “America loses. I’ve said that from the beginning. History demonstrates: Shut our government down, America loses our reputation, the stability, the economics — but primarily, people’s lives are being upended by a really sad, shitty political game.”
The post Fetterman Rips Democrats Over Record-Breaking Shutdown: ‘A Sad Political Game’ appeared first on Real News Now.
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