Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has criticized Democrats over the government shutdown, saying health care subsidies can be discussed while the government is funded.
“I follow the country, then the party,” Fetterman said during NewsNation’s live town hall Wednesday night at the Kennedy Center.
Fetterman said some of his constituents are angry at him over the shutdown and the state of war between Israel and Hamas before the recent ceasefire.
“I would love to have a conversation on health care [subsidies],” Fetterman said. ”But [the shutdown] It’s wrong for the country… I can’t vote to shut down the government.
Fetterman was one of three members of the Senate Democratic Conference vote along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) and Angus King (Maine), an independent Democrat, for a Republican-backed proposal to defund the government through November 21.
On Sunday, the Pennsylvania senator told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” that the shutdown has been “very isolating,” echoing criticism he has received over his support for Israel.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Wednesday that Senate Republicans will Introduce Pentagon Spending Bill On the floor on Thursday.
“We need to move the appropriations process forward any way we can,” Thune told The Hill. “If we are sitting here every day to vote [Senate Democrats] Keep voting to keep the government shut down, we can try to work on some other things we need to do.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats want to see what Republicans can add to the bill before deciding on a vote.
