Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) took aim at his Democratic colleague Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) Monday after the senator from Pennsylvania complained about missing a beach trip due to the lengthy debate over President Donald Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."
Speaking with reporters, Fetterman complained earlier Monday about Senate Democrats’ efforts to force a lengthier debate on the megabill, Trump’s budget reconciliation package that extends corporate tax cuts and slashes funding for Medicaid and other social safety net programs.
“I don't think people are really going to be paying attention if you're doing 20 or 30 kinds of amendments, I don't really think there's a lot of dignity in it,” Fetterman said.
Brianna Keilar of CNN asked Kelly what his thoughts were on Fetterman’s comments, and whether he agreed with his assessment of drawing the process out. Kelly affirmatively rejected Fetterman’s assessment.
“I disagree with him, there is always dignity in fighting for the American people, especially folks who are just trying to get by; I've talked to so many people in my state that are fearful of this, who have illnesses, who have adopted children who are on Medicaid,” Kelly said.
“If it takes us until 6 a.m. in the morning, or all day tomorrow, we should stay here, and we can try to make this bill a lot less bad. At the same time, we should be here fighting for the American people. I don't care if it takes a month if we have to stay straight through, so I disagree with my colleague from Pennsylvania.”
Debate on the megabil is expected to last well into Monday evening as Republicans try to quash dissent within their own party. Some moderate Republicans have opposed the bill for its cuts to Medicaid, while the House Freedom Caucus has objected to the bill increasing the deficit.
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