Senator John Fetterman shocked listeners when he started talking about ‘explosive diarrhea’ while discussing a looming government shutdown.
The Pennsylvania Democrat has been vocal that he would vote for a GOP bill to fund the federal government as the clock ticks down on the deadline and Democratic leadership coming out against it.
Fetterman was asked about whether Senate Republicans have the votes to pass the so-called continuing resolution (CR).
He responded that he was not at the Senate lunch earlier this week where it was discussed.
Then his response took an unexpected turn.
‘I wasn’t present. I didn’t go to the lunch,’ Fetterman said, noting he didn’t go to the lunch because he wanted Chipotle instead.
‘But then I was worried about explosive diarrhea with Chipotle then too,’ the senator said.
Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said he would vote for the continuing resolution ahead of the looming government shutdown despite Democratic Senate leaders calling for a 30-day funding extension
During the exchange, Fetterman did confirm that he would vote for the bill to fund the government through September ahead of the deadline just after midnight Friday.
Republicans were able to pass the CR through the House on Tuesday along nearly party lines 217 to 213.
Only one House Democrat, Congressman Jared Golden of Maine voted for it. One Republican, Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted against it.
But Republicans in the Senate need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. They only have a 53 seat majority and one GOP Senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky, has already come out against it.
It means Senate Republicans need more than a handful of Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for the Trump-backed GOP bill to keep the government open.
It remains to be seen whether any other Senate Democrats will join Fetterman in backing the six-month stop-gap measure.
Some Democratic lawmakers have blasted the GOP bill because it was rammed through by Republicans who did not make any effort to obtain bipartisan input.
As the bill went before the House for a vote, Senate Democrats remained tight-lipped on how they would handle the CR should it pass, telling reporters they would wait and see.
But on Wednesday as the House GOP legislation made its way to the Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans in the Senate do not have the votes.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaking on Senate floor on Wednesday called for a 30-day CR rather than the House bill which funds the government through September
Fetterman slammed the Senate Democrats’ approach to the Republican stop-gap funding measure passed in the House
He blasted the GOP for not working with Democrats and called for a clean 30-day measure that would fund the government through April 11 and give lawmakers more time to negotiate a deal.
Some House Democrats who voted against the bill have urged their supporters to make calls to their Democratic senators to push them to reject the bill.
They argue it gives Trump and Republicans a blank check to move forward with their plans to pass massive tax cuts for the wealthy.
Some Senate Democrats have made it clear they believe it’s time to stand their ground. Progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren said she would vote no.
On Thursday, Senator Mark Warner also said he was no on a procedural vote to overcome the filibuster and no on the legislation.
But Fetterman has pushed back on his own caucus’ approach and accused Senate Democrats of ‘theater’ to save face.
‘Shut the government down, plunge the country into chaos, risk a recession,’ Fetterman posted on X. ‘or Exchange cloture for a 30 day CR that 100% fails.’
‘The House GOP CR will then pass the Senate because it only needs 51 votes. Total theater is neither honest with constituents nor a winning argument,’ the senator added.
