Boyle to Fetterman: “If You Don’t Want To Be Here, Leave”
Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-02) left no stone unturned about his feelings about Pennsylvania’s Democratic Sen. John Fetterman‘s “vacation” comments during an interview with The Bulwark on Tuesday.
Speaking with Sam Stein, Boyle was critical of the former state lieutenant governor for his comments about missing his family’s “entire trip to the beach” for the “vote-a-rama” on President Trump’s megabill.
“The sacrifices that members of Congress make, especially those of us who have families with young children, I mean those are real,” said Boyle. “I left my wife and daughter even though I had long promised them that I would be with them this week. So I don’t minimize that.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be here,” he continued. “I explained that to my daughter last night. This week will determine whether or not millions and millions of Americans still get to keep their healthcare. She’s only 11, and she got that. I think this is one of the most important things will ever do. Full stop.
“There is no place I would rather be than right here, right now. And if I can make a difference and stop this bill from happening, I will do whatever it takes to stay up for 48 straight hours, 72 straight hours, do whatever it takes to block this bill from becoming law.
“That should be the attitude, frankly, of every Democratic member of the House and Senate. If you are here, you are damned lucky and you’re privileged to be here. You should want to be here, and if you don’t want to be here, leave.”
Boyle, the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, said that in his opinion, the stakes are incredibly high.
“The health care of 17 million Americans is at stake,” he told Stein. “But it’s actually more than that because if we see hospitals close in rural America and urban America, it’ll actually be the rest of us who may not have Medicaid or may not be on the ACA exchanges who will also have our healthcare impacted. I think that second part of the story probably hasn’t gotten out as much as it should.”
He also spoke about the impact in his northeast Philadelphia district.
“We should believe these providers when they are openly telling us that they will close,” said Boyle. “I have hospitals in my district in Philadelphia – Einstein Hospital is a great example; Temple University Hospital. They have Medicaid populations over 80% so when Medicaid is cut by $1 trillion – the largest Medicaid cut in American history, four times larger than any previous Medicaid cut ever to happen – what do you think is going to happen? Hospitals will close and now suddenly my constituents, including myself, won’t have a hospital to go to. Those are the stakes.”
Fetterman, who voted no on the bill, wrote in a fundraising email that he is ready to fight and is calling on fellow Democrats to do so as well.
“I’m angry. I’m heartbroken,” he wrote. “And yeah, I’m fired up. Because we’ve been fighting like hell – and still, they sold out working folks just to line the pockets of the top 1%
“This bill will hurt people. Real people. Seniors, kids, folks just trying to catch a break. And for what? So Trump’s pals can buy another damn yacht? So here’s where I’m at: I’m ready to fight. And I hope you are too.”
Republican Sen. Dave McCormick said no bill is perfect, but he supported it and that Pennsylvanians will see benefits.
“I am proud to support this bill because it would deliver continued tax relief to millions of Pennsylvania families and prevent the largest tax increase in American history,” said McCormick in a statement. “This bill also delivers on many of the promises that both President Trump and I made – to secure our nation’s border and bolster our national defense to keep Americans safe, and to unleash American energy potential and lower costs for consumers.”