John Fetterman (D‑Pa.) voted with Republicans on a funding measure to reopen the federal government, saying “It’s an easy, easy choice to pick my country over the party.”
According to the report, the bill failed 54–46 because it did not reach the required 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Fetterman noted that the shutdown stalemate was causing harm: “America is losing in this place right now.”
Fetterman criticized his party’s strategy, saying many Democrats were holding out for “an absolute ironclad kind of a deal” before reopening the government. He also praised John Thune (R‑S.D.) as “an honorable guy” and said healthcare negotiations could resume once the government is reopened.
His position creates tension within the Democratic caucus, where the majority oppose reopening unless certain policy changes—like extensions of tax credits under the Affordable Care Act—are included.
