On Monday, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voiced exasperation to reporters about being stuck in Washington for a series of votes on President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a massive tax-and-spending package. “Oh my God, I just want to go home. I’ve already, my — I’ve missed our entire trip to the beach,” Fetterman said, highlighting the Senate’s extended session that delayed the Independence Day recess originally set for July 4.

“I’m going to vote no. There’s no drama that — we know [how] the votes are going to go,” he added.

“And I think, I don’t think it’s really helpful to put people here till some ungodly hour.” His comments reveal the performative nature of these marathon sessions, where party-line votes on amendments, as reported by Politico, often serve to project action while outcomes are predetermined.

The Senate, led by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), began work on the bill late Saturday, with Monday consumed by predictable amendment votes.

Fetterman noted, “The only interesting votes are going to be on the margins, whether that’s [Republicans Susan] Collins [of Maine] or [Ron] Johnson [of Wisconsin] and those. But [with] all the Democrats, we all know how that’s going to go.”

Backlash and Democratic Opposition

Fetterman’s remarks drew criticism on X, where users and former allies accused him of downplaying the bill’s significance.

Joe Calvello, his former campaign communications director, posted, “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.”

Fetterman responded on X, clarifying his stance: “Not one single Democrat will vote for the ‘big beautiful bill.’ I’m here to vote on these amendments and keep the ball rolling. I’m a HARD NO on the final bill and won’t support cutting Medicaid, SNAP or adding up to $5T to our national debt.”

His comments reflect Democratic unity against Trump’s plan, which includes making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, per The Hill.

The marathon votes, while keeping senators like Fetterman in Washington, often serve as political theater, with little chance of altering the bill’s passage given Republican control.

Trump’s Legislative Push and Senate Dynamics

The Senate is expected to vote on final passage later Monday, with the House potentially taking up the bill by Wednesday, July 2, per Bloomberg News.

The prolonged sessions, a common tactic by party leaders to enforce discipline, mirror last month’s House debates where lawmakers dozed off during committee markups, as noted by The Washington Post.

Fetterman’s candor exposes the frustration felt by many lawmakers.

X posts showed mixed reactions, with @PAVoter22 praising Trump’s ability to drive Congress forward, while @PolicyCritic called the votes “a show for the cameras.”

Do you agree with Sen. Fetterman’s exasperation with the process involved in voting on Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act? Let us know what you think in the comments below!