The gargantuan Republican tax bill currently under consideration in the Senate represents the biggest cuts in decades to an already thinning U.S. social safety net, potentially booting nearly 12 million Americans from their health care plans.
Senators on both sides of the aisle have been feverishly working to either sink the bill, whip up support for it or secure concessions in exchange for their vote — all before a July 4 deadline imposed by President Donald Trump.
But, like a schoolchild gazing longingly out a pane-glass window, one Democratic senator has tired of it all.
“Oh my god, I just want to go home,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) told a small gaggle of reporters, including CBS News’ Alan He.
“I’ve missed our entire trip to the beach,” Fetterman said in reference to a family vacation.
He reaffirmed his intention to vote against the package, and — oddly — asserted that “there’s no drama” around the voting process.
Fetterman said, “The only interesting votes are going to be on the margins,” such as Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who bills herself as a force of moderation.
Given the Republicans’ narrow Senate majority, however, Trump’s party can only afford to lose up to three votes on the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which Trump not only personally named but would constitute his biggest legislative achievement to date. The bill could pour billions into the nation’s border security apparatus and increase the national debt by trillions, even while cutting funding to social programs like SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.
“All the Democrats, we already know how that’s going to go. And I don’t think it’s really helpful to put people here till some ungodly hour,” Fetterman said.
Joe Cavello, Fetterman’s former communications director, slammed his ex-boss’ attitude on social media.
“This bill is the biggest transfer of wealth from the working class to the 1% and Fetterman’s message to voter is that he just wants to go home,” Cavello wrote on X.
The Pennsylvania lawmaker has spoken openly about his mental health and the stroke that almost killed him, but his public commentary and actions have increasingly put him at odds with his party.
“Does Fetterman think his job is beach like Ken from ‘Barbie’?! He’s a United States senator! You’re expected to work long hours and take hard votes,” a Senate Democratic aide told HuffPost, referring to the doll portrayed by Ryan Gosling in the popular 2023 movie.
Igor Bobic contributed to this report.
CORRECTION: This article has been amended to reflect that Fetterman is a Democrat.
“Does Fetterman think his job is beach like Ken from Barbie?! He’s a United States Senator! You’re expected to work long hours and take hard votes,” a Senate Democratic aide told HuffPost.