Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer quietly got rid of the dress code for Senate members, seen as a way to appeal to the often casually dressed Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman.
Fetterman, like Schumer, a Democrat, often creates a buzz among those following the action at the Capitol by showing up in a hooded sweatshirt and shorts, although Republicans like Ted Cruz have also been seen previously in sweatshirts. shirt.
“Senators can choose what they wear in the Senate. I will continue to wear a suit,” Schumer said.
The rules state that professional attire dominates in the Senate, meaning a suit and tie for men.
The change helps Fetterman, as well as lawmakers who have just arrived from an airport or gymnasium, be able to vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has quietly gotten rid of the dress code for Senate members, seen as a way to appeal to the often casually dressed Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman.
Previously, leaders had to vote from the edge of the Senate with one foot in the Senate cloakroom if they did not follow dress rules.
Joe Calvello, Fetterman’s spokesman, responded to the change by joking about a fringe conspiracy that there are doubles appearing in the senator’s place since his stroke.
“Big day for John Fetterman’s stunt double, we don’t have to buy them costumes anymore,” Calvello joked.
In May, Fetterman wore his favorite Carhartt hoodie as he appeared alongside several Democratic heavyweights, including Bernie Sanders, to tout progress in debt ceiling negotiations.
Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert took to Twitter to express her disapproval of his clothing decisions, calling his outfit “really inappropriate.”
By comparison, his four Democratic colleagues all wore suits, ties and more formal shoes.
“John Fetterman redefined Casual Friday as Thursday morning. It is truly unbecoming for someone to run like this for any job, let alone one for which only 100 people are elected. There is simply no excuse for this,” she railed.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman wore his signature hoodie and shorts, leading Rep. Lauren Boebert to express her disapproval on Twitter.
Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert previously blasted Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s clothing choice during a Senate press conference, describing it as “really inappropriate.”
Fetterman’s four Democratic colleagues were dressed in suits and ties
By comparison, his four Democratic colleagues all wore suits, ties and more formal shoes.
But for Fetterman’s regular followers, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see him wearing such casual clothing.
During his tenure as mayor of Braddock and throughout his campaign for Pennsylvania Senate, he could often be seen wearing a hoodie and shorts.
Fetterman only recently returned to the Senate after a six-week hospital stay for clinical depression.
During this period, he was also seen wearing a hoodie and shorts on several occasions.
Fetterman has spearheaded some changes at the Capitol since his election.
Fettermann was profiled for a cover story for Time magazine in July and said it was his debate against Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz that led to his depressive episode.
He even revealed that he recorded a goodbye message to his children after suffering a stroke last spring.
The senator still suffers from auditory processing issues 14 months after the stroke, for which the Senate had to update technology to allow him to participate.
Just days before the Democratic primary, Fetterman faced his first major challenge in a year: stroke.
“Senators can choose what they wear in the Senate. I will continue to wear a suit,” Schumer said
The rules state that professional attire dominates in the Senate, meaning a suit and tie for men.
Previously, leaders had to vote from the edge of the Senate chamber with one foot in the Senate cloakroom if they did not follow dress rules.
Fetterman, like Schumer, a Democrat, often creates a buzz among those following the action at the Capitol by showing up in a hooded sweatshirt and shorts, although Republicans like Ted Cruz have also been seen previously in sweatshirts. shirt.
While campaigning near Lancaster, wife Gisele noticed her husband’s face beginning to droop and immediately took him to hospital.
He easily won the Democratic primary and spent the day of his victory anesthetized, having a pacemaker installed.
Time reported that Fetterman recorded a video message to his children – Karl, 14, Grace, 11, and August 9 – in case he died.
Fetterman stayed off the campaign trail for most of the summer to recover from his stroke.
By August, however, he had returned and was able to deliver a standard speech, making a few mistakes, but the debate was the event that really highlighted the progress he still had to make to fully recover. of his stroke.
Despite the debate performance, Fetterman beat Oz, the Trump-backed TV doctor, by five points.
