Democrats didn't shut down government to fund health care for 'illegal aliens.' Here's context
As amusing and terrifying as it is to listen to listen to Trump, Schumer, Speaker Johnson, VP Vance and all the other talking heads the ultra-left, the left, the middle, the right and the ultraright MAGA groups - a reality check is also helpful.
The whole truth and nothing but the truth is not something we hear from Democrats or Republicans very often.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Immigrants in the country illegally are not eligible for federal health care insurance plans. The Democrats' proposal does not change that.
Democrats are trying to extend tax credits that make some health insurance premiums more affordable, but immigrants in the country illegally are not eligible for these programs. Republicans have cited a provision in a Democratic proposal as funding health care for people in the country illegally, but it simply repeals restrictions Republicans placed on federally subsidized health care eligibility for immigrants with a legal right to be in the country.
Why did the shutdown happen?
Each year, the U.S. federal government must allocate all its spending money through budget bills. If those bills don't pass, the flow of money through the government effectively stops and the government (largely) shuts down. In this case, the deadline was Sept. 30.
When Congress can't agree on a budget bill, it can pass what's called a "continuing resolution," a commonly used temporary spending bill that keeps the government running while a final budget bill is hammered out. Democrats released their continuing resolution proposal on Sept. 17, and nothing in it would provide free health care to immigrants in the country illegally.
The section on health care, which starts on Page 39 and runs through Page 59, does not mention immigrants or noncitizens. Searches for the words "immigration," "immigrant," "noncitizen" and "alien" — often used in government documents to refer to immigrants — returned no results in the entire document.
The bottom line
The Democrats' proposal to fund the federal government did not suggest funding free health care for immigrants in the country illegally. If passed, it would have repealed a provision limiting Medicaid eligibility for immigrants with legal status, not for people in the country illegally. It also would have reversed Republican cuts to reimbursements for hospitals legally required to provide emergency care for people in the country illegally who would be eligible for Medicaid if not for their immigration status.
Republican talking points about Democrats' role in the shutdown also focused on state programs that provide health insurance to undocumented people, but those are not federally funded.
Furthermore, the Democrats' top priority, according to their leadership, is a permanent extension for tax credits that help millions of Americans afford health care. Immigrants in the country illegally are not eligible for this tax credit program.
These are only excerpts from a very long article which contains the actual document which Speaker Johnson allegedly quoes from and invites all to read.
Please check out all of the information for yourself at
Democrats didn't shut down government to fund health care for 'illegal aliens.' Here's context | Snopes.com
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J ohnson, the House Speaker, referenced Page 57 of the Democratic proposal on Oct. 3 and claimed it would restore "taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants":
Actually, the democrats offered resolution does nothing of the kind
the section on health care, which starts on Page 39 and runs through Page 59, does not mention immigrants or noncitizens. Searches for the words "immigration," "immigrant," "noncitizen" and "alien" — often used in government documents to refer to immigrants — returned no results in the entire document.
Truth is a stranger to this Administration.
What do Democrats actually want?
Democrats' top stated priority is a permanent extension on tax credits that millions of Americans use to buy health insurance. Democrats first established the " premium tax credit " through the Affordable Care Act in 2014. These tax credits help keep costs down, and because they're paid for by the federal government, immigrants in the country illegally aren't eligible for them.
While the original credit does not expire, Democrats expanded the subsidy program as part of COVID-19 relief legislation — but set Jan. 1, 2026, as the expiration date for the expanded offerings. They're now asking Republicans to permanently extend that date.
That date was because they passed the expanded subsidy thru a reconciliation bill. With the Covid pandemic officially over, why should we continue to spend money we don't take in via taxes (ie, we borrow the money) for this? The current fiscal year deficit is over $2 Trillion, why should we continue to borrow money like this? We are in a period where there is no emergency and no war, we should be able to eliminate the deficit and start to move the debt level down, but the brainiacs in Congress refuse to act. How much longer can we continue to borrow money before the nation goes broke and we're all sleeping over a steam grate? Yeah, that's sarcasm but in all reality why are we still looking to have the government pay for things when the country really cannot afford it?
I know what you mean $200 million for a golden ball room for the White House - what a waste of money
Except it's not our tax dollars going to build that, it's being built with private donations.
I'm not a fan of the design as it's been shown but the idea of the ballroom has been talked about for several administrations now as the White House just does not have anywhere on site to host large gatherings.
Other than Trump's previous administration - what administration has talked about the need for a golden ballroom?
Please provide a source to that tidbit of knowledge
Fact Check: How much did the renovation of the White House ballroo...
The funding situation is clear as mud
But we are collecting additional taxes, more than enough to cover the extension.
We are self taxing, via tariffs to the tune of $122 Billion collected so far and the scene is so confused with multiple litigations that the end is not in sight..
You seem to be at odds with Mr. Trump to whom the word emergency defines "everything" yet he isn't worried about deficits. He wants to increase spending on the well groomed military with smart looking Naval Ships /S
When it was first talked about, it was mentioned on the news that both Bush Sr and Obama had expressed a desire to have a larger space for official functions as currently they are spread out over several areas including a tent on the lawn.
Funding according to CBS News ..
Will everything be paid by donations? I have no idea. There are other areas that could conflict with that, including Secret Service requirements. All we can really do is wait and see but I would rather wait than attempt to bluster about things I have no additional information on.
The 2025 FY deficit is $2 Trillion as of the end of August. That $122 Billion doesn't come close to covering it.
As for the rest of your post, my name is not Trump and I do worry about both the deficit as well as the debt. IMO the debt is a national security issue or at the very least should be treated as such. I don't know that anybody in Washington is worried about deficits the way they keep spending money. Everybody there has their "special projects" that they want to spend money on. But nobody seems willing to not spend money, they only talk about not letting the 'other group' spend money.
Neither you or I can change Washington policy but I don't have to agree with the continued borrowing and spending of money that is wasteful. You wouldn't run your personal finances like this, why should we accept this from our government?
and with Trump, it is a guaranteed bribe of some sort, just like his BS crypto scams where Middle Easterners are buying Billions to get sopmethin g in return. It is just how Trtump operates, plain as day, in the night, about dusk with dawn
It's not taxpayer money. Find something else to cry about.
because we don't want to end up like Russia with unpaved roads and a third of all homes with outhouses?
No one said it was. Find something else to cry about.
So we can only have a modern lifestyle if the government borrows and overspends? I mean, WTF?
Why is the deficit for FY2025 at just over $2 Trillion? That's money that had to be borrowed. Why did it need to be spent? We were not in a war, there were no emergencies happening (Covid was officially ended) beyond the normal damage from hurricanes and fires. Why should we accept going further into debt? The interest payment on the debt has gone over $1 Trillion annually now. Think what could be done with that if we didn't have to pay it out on borrowed money.
As I said above, you wouldn't accept this type of financial mismanagement for your own personal finances. Why should it be ok if the government does it?
Shall we start with Ronald Reagan?
Be very careful Snuffy, Mr trump would call you names while using every stretch of the imagination to declare said emergencies.
Because the children in charge since Tip retired and Newt started the grudge matches and fiat by hatred to win power by any means believe that they have the power because we elected them.
I totally agree.
Because King or President, it just doesn't matter if it doesn't touch us as individuals.
That is the sad truth.
And you imagine that the current path we're on doesn't lead exactly there? You don't think unsustainable deficits and government waste were directly responsible for the fall of the Soviet Union?
The local governments of Communist USSR didn't develop roads, housing or sewage treatment plants like we did.
That's why they have no conscience when it comes to Ukraine's infrastructure including nuclear power.
They aren't familiar and just don't care.
Governments are made up of individuals that operate in reality as collectives. As such there is access to funding and resources from various ways and means No one individual can maintain. . . it allows government/s to sustain higher debt than any one individual. (We all know this, of course.)
So it's a talking point on the Right, largely.
Sure, I fully agree we must lower our debt, but that is a 'duty and responsibility' of our COLLECTIVE congress to execute with the help of the president. . . not for 'locals' to worry their pretty heads off about and beyond!
We should ask Congress to stop its incessant bickering an acting as party 'spoilers' and get onboard with making this government, our government, work for ALL the people-not just the bigots and complainers (about 'everything').
One more thing I wish to add while on this subject (for everybody/anybody to consider):
WHY IS IT OKAY OR EVEN 'ALLOWABLE' FOR POLITICIANS ON EITHER SIDE TO BLATANTLY LIE TO US. It wastes time and more to the point: MONEY!
As the truth will have to be 'found' and spread to the tune of large sums of money spent (wasted) by politicians.
This nation needs to hold BLATANT lying politicians feet to the fire! It will save great sums of money in the long run.
They don't actually do that. They simply transfer the cost to the taxpayers.
Thus why we've needed a better plan that Obama did the best he could on, without any help from the Repugs. We have the most expensive middle of the road healthcare system unless wealthy. All other developed nations have free healthcare, and we have "i don't care", unless you are paying big bucks to Insurance carriers and Big pHarma, as their lobbyists have often determined who should be in a political place, to retain their critically expensive set pace, cause that , imho, be the case.
Didn't Trump, about 7-8 years ago say his better than Obamacare plan would be out in two weeks...?
And now the GOP ileadership is claiming they are the champions of health care, please, US, do spare.
I assure you Obama was far to intelligent to have crafted such a law. This was Pelosi's.
So what is your "better plan" that doesn't simply transfer all the cost to the taxpayers?
Actually, the core of the ACA which was the individual mandate were based on a plan presented by Republicans and the Heritage Foundation back in 1993 and was also the backbone of 'Romneycare'. Democrats took that plan and added employer contributions and Medicaid expansion.
That was never the core. The individual mandate got all the attention because of the (then) unprecedented extension of govt power. It was never a fiscally important part of the law.
They don't actually do that. They simply transfer the cost to the taxpayers
I agree
But it sounds better on the sound bytes to say they are doing it for illegals, irrespective of truth.
And since we have largely siloed ourselves into news that reflects and justifies our already held belief structures, there is limited exposure to alternate scenarios.
Did anyone actually expect anything different from the party of lies who elected the most prolific liar on the planet as their dear Leader? I would have been shocked if they had actually been honest for once. The reality is MAGAites don't give a fuck about truth, they're only interested in whatever lies can get them more power and greater ability to inflict their sick twisted brand of religious fascism on the rest of the nation.
For my part, I did not. For most of the countries part I will assume the same.
But it sounds better on the sound bytes to say they are doing it for illegals, irrespective of truth.
The truth means little to MAGA and nothing to Trump
Means a bit more to the country as a whole though. The Trump regime is weakening our nation perceptibly from within itself. No one needs to look for the "enemy within" because it is the Trump administration, the congress, and the SCotUS who have been and are actively shredding the constitution and the laws of the nation and the world.
The truth means little to nothing to any of our leadership in Washington.
(fixed it for you)
I hope you are right, perhaps the course of the nation can be corrected
If the Republicans get their way emergency medical care for illegal immigrants in US hospital emergency rooms will not be reimbursed by the federal government, which will cause hospitals to close in the most extreme cases.
Emergency rooms will continue to serve illegal immigrants, they have to by law. The Republicans just dont want to pay them for their services, which is a political stunt.
Good points - crises that people are not thinking about because they get in the way of the MAGA party line
thanks Ronnie Rayguns.
They say these lies because they work on their followers. The people who lap this shit up will never question it.
Because they have been told to, every day, continuously, in their x feeds and tik-tok videos and so-called news stations.
Ronald Reagan signed the EMTALA Act in April of 1986. I think Republican politicians need to use their history books more often or at least use Google or Wiki.
Fact checking the Fact Checker:
"As the government shutdown continues, the media seems fixated on one Republican talking point: That the Democrats want health- care benefits for illegal immigrants. Of course they do.
Part of the way Democrats try to claim otherwise is semantics.
For example, President Joe Biden ballooned the number of illegal immigrants with Temporary Protected Status from 400,000 to 1.2 million during his term. TPS-holders have no legal right to live here, but the government has promised not to deport them until their home country resolves what is supposed to be a major destabilizing condition — a natural disaster, for example, although past administrations have tended to grant and renew TPS for far less.
Similarly, President Biden allowed 2.9 million inadmissible migrants to enter the US via “parole,” which, like TPS, gives them a fixed time period to stay before facing removal.
Because these migrants are still considered inadmissible and removable, and their deferred status is temporary, the Department of Homeland Security and outside experts continue to count them as illegal immigrants.
Prior to passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act , parolees could access Medicaid after a five-year waiting period, just as legal permanent residents can, and they could also qualify for Obamacare subsidies after one year. TPS holders for their part could access Obamacare subsidies.
Welfare workarounds
The OBBB sunsets all of these privileges, but the Democrats’ proposed budget would restore them. Therefore, the claim that congressional Democrats want to give public health benefits to illegal immigrants is indeed true.
That dispute is minor, however, compared to the broader reality that illegal immigrants already consume public health benefits through other pathways. Perhaps the most obvious is emergency Medicaid. Illegal immigrants who show up in emergency rooms, including expectant mothers, will generally have their health-care expenses covered by federal taxpayers.
Another avenue is state-level programs. California, Illinois and New York are among the approximately 14 states that fund coverage for illegal immigrant children. Some states even provide adult illegal immigrants with health benefits.
The Center for Immigration Studies has found that 59% of households headed by an illegal immigrant consume at least one means-tested benefit, with 39% consuming Medicaid specifically.
Some additional restrictions could help reduce the public health benefits that illegal immigrants receive. Indeed, the House version of the OBBB would have penalized states that offered benefits to illegal immigrants, but this provision was dropped by the Senate."
The hidden cost to Dem benefits for migrants as government shutdown continues
Damn those facts.
Snopes became the closest thing to an honest fact checker when it courageously pointed out what Trump clearly said about Charlottsville.
Basically the "fact checkers" are mostly leftwing sites set up to buttress leftwing talking points.
Similar to how Trump ignores the truth to buttress MAGA madness
Ah, deflection!
To the tune of Simon and Garfunkel "Sound of Silence"
Your whole post is whatabout Biden shiny thing look over their and pay attention to my scapegoating of productive members of society while I give a tax break to the people who need it the least.
The world would be a much better place if there weren't so many dickheads who have to fuck stuff up as a matter of principle.
No deflection just the facts (you like facts) there is seldom a time that Trump opens his mouth in a speech or in a press conference that lies do ow from his mouth. Some times I think he might not even know he is lying, he gets caught up in the hype, the need to win, the need to not just win but to punish anyone who disagrees with him.
That is not what our country is about
There is a difference between providing healthcare to immigrants in a hospital or emergency room (which is the law by the way and IAW the Hippocratic Oath of doctors) and providing health insurance.
A point the MAGA mob is not interested in sharing
There is no provision to provision to provide health insurance to undocumented immigrants.
It is part of the democrat proposal. PERIOD.
Those state level programs must be prevented from billing the federal government for aid to ILLEGALS.
If those illegals were not in the country to begin with, we would not be having this conversation, and be able to use the billions wasted on illegals for citizens and legal residents who could benefit from it.
Would be nice if some leftists would step up and take some of these illegals into their home, taking away that burden from actual taxpayers.
No one is illegal. Everyone should receive health care, especially in emergency situations.
We are all human beings.
Well Vic if you say "period" then it must be true
But alas it is not
It is
Do these illegals not have health care in the countries they came from?
Maybe you can take a few in and handle their health care costs instead of relying on legal immigrants and citizens to cover someone who should have never been here in the first place.
Some prove by their callous inhumanity and blatantly obvious bigotry they are not. To even bitch about treating people in an emergency room because the MAGAite might have to pitch in a dime to help save the life of an immigrant that doesn't look like them, sound like them or pray like they do just shows how far gone some of these bigoted conservatives really are. If only they had a shred of shame left they might actually be embarrassed, but that ship sailed in 2016 when the conservative rats began swarming the S.S. Trumpstain helmed by the king of all lying shit stains, Captain Donald, the rapiest bigot to ever sail the political seas.
Maybe if they did not come here illegally in the first place, they would not have ben in a position to be in the hospital in the first place.
If they were in their own country and went to the hospital, they would be responsible for their own costs. Why do they not have to take care of their own costs just because they are here....illegally?
ILLEGAL immigrant. And who cares what they look like.
I fixed it for you
How many illegals have you taken into your home to offset the cost to legal citizens and legal immigrants, pay for their food, room and board, give them a job, pay them the equivalent of what citizens are paid, pay for their health care, etc?
If you say none, then your "callous inhumanity" is showing.
A great many of them didn't. It is not illegal to request asylum.
You can certainly argue that our asylum laws have been abused, but still, requesting it is not illegal.
And that can be done from ANY US Embassy that are all over the world.
Let's pick a country, any country, say...Brazil.
How many countries did an illegal have to pass through with US embassies and consulates to get to the US?
Quite a few. And many have more than one US Embassy.
I raise two daughters of my own and a foster daughter who is Mexican American with a father she hadn't met since she was 2 who is not a citizen and is in Mexico and the mother who is an abusive white Christian alcoholic who tried to smother her boyfriend in his sleep a few years ago. On top of that heritage, my foster daughter has epilepsy and was having several grand mal seizures a week since often seizures are triggered by stress and the home she was in was hazard for her. She was one of my daughters' friends from elementary school and when social services said she asked to be placed with us I gladly accepted. It's been a couple years now but the first few there was a lot of work, training, certification, classes, on top of working full time, which is why I wasn't here on NT much. Now my foster daughter just graduated high school valedictorian and is going to junior college full time, is working towards a career, has met her father's family, half-sisters and grandparents in Mexico for the first time over zoom so I couldn't be prouder.
But I guess I can't say I took in an illegal immigrant, so do you think some "callous inhumanity" is showing?
I admire what you have done, but the truth remains.
I don't believe anyone on the left would take in an illegal to take some financial burden off actual taxpayers.
The CR that was passed in the house was a "clean" CR. A "clean" bill is one that does not have anything added. It's purpose was simple. Democrats didn't want that. Instead they added and extravagant amount of spending that had nothing to do with the CR. Mostly pet projects that had zero benefit to the US taxpayers.
And how many times when the Democrats were in power did they pass a clean CR and demand that Republicans just pass it as it was a "clean" bill? But then again, what else is Washington if not the capital of double standards.
I know there were 14 CR's that were passed. The most recent 6 / 7 months ago.