Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Friday criticized his fellow Democrats for repeatedly voting against legislation to reopen the government — a move that has put aid programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at risk.
Democrats have held firm to their demands for an extension of health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in exchange for support on the GOP-led continuing resolution. Now, 32 days since funding lapsed, frustrations are growing on both sides of the aisle.
“Americans are not leverage,” Fetterman told CNN’s Manu Raju, a day before SNAP benefits were set to lapse. “This is not some sh—y gameshow about who’s winning or whatever.”
“It’s just like, we have to be better than this and just open this up,” he added.
The Pennsylvania senator — who has rebuffed claims he may switch parties — has remained critical of party leaders who have urged Democrats to vote against the stopgap bill. He listed concerns for his constituents and the broader wave of U.S. citizens that are impacted by the shutdown as reasons to support the House GOP’s “clean” continuing resolution (CR).
“It’s an absolute failure what occurred here the past month,” he said, as SNAP funding was expected to lapse Saturday and health care premiums are likely to rise due to the expiring ACA tax credits. “And now things are really going to land.”
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Fetterman continued, “And imagine being a parent with a couple kids, and how you’re going to fill their refrigerator, and pack their lunches, and get on with their lives when the things that they depended on now is gone because we can’t even agree to open things up.”
Video - Fetterman Apologizes to the American People for the Democrat Shutdown
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