Fetterman: ‘I Just Want to Go Home’

A longtime Jersey Shore favorite – Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes – recorded Steve Van Zandt’s “I Don’t Want to Go Home” in 1976.

A Pennsylvania favorite – at least according to the 2022 general election – disagrees.

Sen. John Fetterman (D) was vocal about his desire for the Senate’s so-called “vote-a-rama” on the GOP megabill to come to an end.

“Oh my God, I just want to go home,” he told reporters on Monday. “I’ve already missed our entire trip to the beach… I’m going to vote no. There’s no drama.”

The Senate is expected to vote all day on amendments from both Democrats and Republicans. The lengthy session could run into Tuesday morning, leading to Fetterman’s lament.

Vote-a-ramas are rarely held during daylight hours — majority-party leaders like to use fatigue as a weapon to bring things to a close — but Senate GOP leaders chose to give lawmakers a reprieve after multiple late nights.

But Fetterman doesn’t think there will be surprises out of tonight’s votes.

“The only interesting votes are going to be on the margin, whether that’s [Susan] Collins or [Ron] Johnson and those,” he said. “All the Democrats, we all know how that’s going to go. I don’t think it’s really helpful to put people here till some ungodly hour.”

Pennsylvania’s other senator – Dave McCormick (R) – is excited about the work ahead.

“This bill is going to do great things for Pennsylvanians, great things for Americans,” he said in a recorded message. “What the Democrats don’t tell you is that this bill avoids the greatest tax increase in history. If we didn’t move forward on this bill, an average Pennsylvania family would have a tax increase of $2,500, which is a big deal.

“This is a big step forward for Pennsylvania and a big step forward for the country.”

The senior Senator later posted on Twitter to remind constituents that he is still voting.

But those who have worked closely with the former mayor of Braddock were not impressed by Fetterman’s desire to wrap things up quickly.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D) said “There is always dignity in fighting for the American people. We should be here fighting for the American people. I don’t care if it takes a month”

Fetterman’s former director of communications Joe Calvello also had some pointed words for his former boss.

updated to include comments from Sen. McCormick

Steve Ulrich

Ulrich has worked as managing editor of PoliticsPA since January 2022 after spending two years as the Director of Elections in York (Pa.) County. Prior to that, he spent 35 years as a college athletics administrator. Send email to [email protected]