"I've never agreed with Fetterman more" says Gaetz
On May 16, the Chief Executives of recently bailed-out Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank attended the Capitol Building to be grilled by Senators over their conduct, and the circumstances that led to these banks collapsing and needing government bailouts. One of the most vocal challengers was Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who gave the CEO of Silicon Valley Bank a tough time.
In the aftermath of the interrogation, as footage of Fetterman challenging the bank executives went viral on social media platforms, he found an unlikely ally in Florida's outspoken and controversial Republican congressman - Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz took to Twitter to share his support of Fetterman, claiming that he'd "never agreed with Fetterman more":
Giving bankers a hard time
Fetterman expressed his disbelief over the power held by CEOs of major banks, and the responsibility they have to ensure that they don't bring down entire economies when mismanaged. Fetterman then went on to compare how recipients of SNAP assistance (provision of food to those in need) are obliged to adhere to work requirements, while bank executives have no such conditions placed upon them.
As he put it:
“Republicans want to give a work requirement for SNAP, you know, for a hungry family to have these kinds of penalties, or some kinds of working requirements. Shouldn’t you have a working requirement after we bail out your bank?”
He continued:
“Because (Republicans) seem to be more preoccupied (by) SNAP requirements for hungry people, but not about protecting the taxpayers that will bail (out the banks).”
Based on Florida's Matt Gaetz having endorsed Fetterman's comments, it would seem that perhaps the Congressman is a little divided from the Republican party line?
However, Gaetz has recently demonstrated himself as a politician who isn't ashamed to pursue corruption and mismanagement in finance, and this may just be a further example of this. In early May, Gaetz appeared with controversial right-wing figure Charlie Kirk on 'Real America's Voice' where he announced his pursuit of a bill to prevent insider trading by members of government who have access to privileged information.
Gaetz co-operating with Democrats?
His recent endorsement of the words of the Pennsylvania Democrat Fetterman, is another instance where the Florida Republican has chosen to ally himself with a Democrat too.
On May 2, it emerged that Gaetz and New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had teamed up with Representative Brian Fitzpatrick to co-sponsor the Bipartisan "Restoring Faith in Government" Act.
Gaetz is more usually associated with sponsoring bills that advance the mainstream MAGA agenda, such as calling for the defunding of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or blocking legislation to cap the price of insulin for diabetics. Based on recent examples however, it seems that he may have seen the merits of a supporting common-sense bills and initiatives that don't seem controversial or extremist in their intended purpose.
In the case of Fetterman's call for work requirements for the CEOs of banks that require taxpayer bailouts, perhaps this is a reasonable suggestion? Certainly it seems to be one that Gaetz is happy to support.
Do you think that Florida's Matt Gaetz is right to support more bipartisan bills, rather than treading the Republican line unquestioningly? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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