The American people are watching. Washington is about to hold the government—and your liberty—hostage. The Democrats say they want to “save healthcare” and “protect the vulnerable” — but make no mistake: what they’re demanding in this continuing resolution (CR) is a radical expansion of big government, a reward for illegal behavior, and a power grab over your tax dollars. Democrats are misleading the public by calling their $1.5 trillion spending spree a “clean” counterproposal. It is nothing more than a dirty, counterfeit resolution that crams in partisan policy and extraneous provisions, while pushing the nation closer to crisis and risking FY26 appropriations progress.

The American people deserve better. They deserve a government that prioritizes their needs, not one that panders to special interests and foreign agendas. It’s time for Democrats to stop holding the government—and the American people—hostage.

Here’s how I see it (and why Republicans must refuse to cave):

What the Democrats claim they want

1. Free or taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants
   Democrats and liberal media are pushing the narrative that they want to “restore healthcare” to people in the country illegally, reversing rules that limit usage of Medicaid, ACA subsidies, or emergency health coverage. They frame it as “compassion” but hide the cost. I spent eighteen years working in healthcare across four different hospital systems. In that time, I never encountered a situation where someone with a life-threatening injury or disease was turned away. Medical personnel did not consider legal status, religion, race, skin color, or socioeconomic background in deciding who would receive emergency care. The focus was always on saving lives. This practice is consistent with U.S. law — under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), any hospital emergency department that receives Medicare funding is required to provide a medical screening exam and necessary stabilizing treatment for anyone presenting with an emergency medical condition, regardless of their ability to pay or their immigration status. It is a reflection of the ethical duty of medicine: when life is at risk, care is provided impartially.
2. Full restoration of public media funding (e.g. NPR, PBS, public radio / broadcasting)
   As part of their CR counteroffer, the Democrats want to reinsert funding for public broadcasting and liberal media—from stations that Republican voters view as ideological propaganda outlets. They portray it as arts & culture or local support, but to many conservatives it’s media welfare for left-leaning voices.
3. Reversals of Medicaid / health cuts and expansions of eligibility
   Their pitch includes undoing recent “cuts” or eligibility restrictions that the GOP inserted (especially regarding non-citizen status or “lawfully present” immigrants). In effect, they’re demanding that more people be eligible for government programs.
4. Riders and policy Trojan horses
   They’re not just asking for funding; they want to attach ideological riders—climate, DEI, government mandates, restrictions on executive discretion (ban on rescissions), and protections to prevent cuts to programs they favor. They want guarantees that the next administration can’t reverse or prune programs.
5. Using a CR as leverage
   By locking in such demands in a must-pass “short-term” funding vehicle, Democrats aim to force Republicans into a corner. They’re betting the GOP caucus will crack under pressure of a shutdown, especially as federal services begin to falter, federal employees go unpaid, and public frustration rises.

Why these demands are dangerous

1. Putting non-citizens over citizens

If we allow taxpayer-funded healthcare or benefits for people in the country illegally—or dramatically expand eligibility for non-citizens—the message is clear: being in the U.S. illegally becomes a pathway to welfare. That undermines serious immigration enforcement and sends a message that border control and legal status don’t matter.

2. Ballooning entitlement dependency

These are not one-time expenses. Once programs expand, politicians never fully roll them back. You lock in generations of government dependency, swelling federal budgets and crowding out support for core American citizens.

3. Fiscal irresponsibility

Americans are already burdened with high debt, inflation, and overreach. Adding hundreds of billions—or even trillions over time, in new entitlements or program guarantees is reckless. The CR is being weaponized as a vehicle to write permanent obligations on top of a short-term funding measure.

4. Legislative overreach under crisis duress

The CR is supposed to be a stopgap—a bridge to regular appropriations. But the Democrats want to turn it into a vehicle for sweeping policy changes, forcing GOP lawmakers to choose between accepting the changes or crashing the government. That’s abuse of leverage.

5. Political optics and blame-shifting

Democrats want the public to see Republicans as “shutting down the government,” while claiming the moral high ground of protecting healthcare and the needy. But their demands are extremely unpopular with mainstream voters. The GOP must refuse to be painted into a corner by deceptive framing.

My personal thought: Let Congress forfeit their pay during any shutdown

Here’s what I believe: during any government shutdown, every member of Congress should forfeit their pay for the entire shutdown period. No back pay, no exceptions.

If the government is closed, and federal workers and essential personnel are suffering, it’s morally unconscionable that lawmakers continue collecting a full paycheck. The principle is simple: you don’t get paid when you don’t do the job. Congress should feel the pain the rest of us do when Washington fails to act.

This policy would inject accountability, force seriousness, and put pressure on both parties to negotiate seriously instead of playing shutdown games while still getting paid. I could go on for another hour about the other cuts I think Congress members should receive.

What Republicans should do

• Stand firm on a “clean CR” — Let the government stay open on current funding levels, without new policy riders. Force Democrats to negotiate on their merits in separate legislation.
• Expose the spending & lies — Detail exactly how much their proposals cost, who benefits (especially non-citizens), and how many Americans it displaces or burdens.
• Champion the real Americans — Emphasize that taxpayer funds should prioritize U.S. citizens and lawful residents, veterans, seniors — not giveaways tied to open-borders welfare.
• Use leverage on their priorities — The GOP should use the CR to force votes on immigration enforcement, border security, merit-based welfare, restrictions on executive bailout power, etc.
• Promote transparency & accountability — If any new policy is to pass, it should be in standalone bills, fully debated, and subject to scrubbing (no secret riders tucked into must-pass bills).
• Make the election argument — Frame this fight not just as legislative, but as moral: Democrats are pushing a socialist vision of endless government, whereas Republicans believe in limited government, personal freedom, and sovereignty.

Conclusion: A Call for Responsibility and Accountability

The ongoing government shutdown is a direct result of partisan maneuvering by Democrats, who have chosen to hold the American people hostage in pursuit of a radical agenda. Their demands—ranging from taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants to the restoration of public media funding—are not only fiscally irresponsible but also undermine the principles of fairness and accountability that our nation was built upon.

Republicans must not succumb to these demands. A “clean CR” that maintains current funding levels without introducing new policies is the only responsible path forward. This approach ensures that the government remains operational while preserving the integrity of our fiscal policies.

Furthermore, it is imperative that Congress leads by example. Lawmakers should forfeit their pay during any shutdown, demonstrating solidarity with federal workers and reinforcing the principle that public service is about duty, not personal gain.

The American people deserve a government that prioritizes their needs, upholds the rule of law, and operates with transparency and accountability. It is time for Democrats to cease their hostage-taking tactics and for Republicans to stand firm in defense of the American taxpayer.