Fetterman, McCormick back Senate-rejected plan to pay some federal workers during shutdown

Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators — Republican Dave McCormick and Democrat John Fetterman — voted Thursday to pay some federal workers during the government shutdown, but the GOP measure failed to get enough support in the Senate.

Democrats tried to push through a measure of their own that would have paid all federal workers during the shutdown, but the GOP-controlled Senate didn’t take up the proposal.

Fetterman, of Braddock, was one of three Democrats to vote in favor of the GOP-backed bill, which would have paid employees including air traffic controllers, members of the military, border patrol agents and others deemed essential who are forced to work during the shutdown. The bill needed 60 votes to pass, but failed, 54-45.

McCormick, of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, was one of the cosponsors of the bill.

Fetterman and McCormick have found common ground on a number of issues this year, despite being from different parties in a deeply divided Washington.

After Thursday’s vote, they appeared together in a video posted on the social media platform X.

“Both (of) our votes are about country over party at this point. … We’re in a different party, but we’re on the same team for Pennsylvania and our nation,” Fetterman said in the video.

McCormick said the shutdown is “really starting to hurt Pennsylvania and Pennsylvanians, air traffic controllers, border patrol and also 2 million recipients of SNAP,” or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“We’ve got to get the government open, that’s our main responsibility, and I’d say that regardless of what party is in the majority,” McCormick added.