In a recent revelation, U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) confirmed that the Democratic party's decision to shut down the government was driven by their commitment to universal healthcare, including coverage for illegal immigrants.
According to One America News, Waters was questioned outside the U.S. Capitol regarding the Senate Democrats' refusal to accept the stopgap funding bill, which had already been approved by the House. Alison Steinberg, a reporter from Lidnell TV, asked if the Democrats were prioritizing the healthcare of illegal immigrants over preventing a government shutdown.
Waters responded, "We're not prioritizing what we're doing is saying simply we want to keep the government open and we want to work with Republicans and have a bipartisan agreement to keep this government open. And healthcare is at the top of our agenda."
When pressed further about the Democrats' demand for healthcare for illegal aliens, Waters stated, "Democrats are demanding health care for everybody." She emphasized the party's desire to save lives and ensure healthcare access for those who would otherwise perish without government assistance.
The conversation took a contentious turn when Steinberg suggested that the Democrats were willing to risk a government shutdown to provide healthcare to non-citizens. Waters retorted, "You're standing here and you're trying to make me say that somehow we're going to put non-citizens over Americans. Quit it! Stop it! This is the kind of journalism we don't need. You're divisive."
She concluded by reiterating the Democrats' commitment to healthcare for all.
Despite the Democrats' stance, the Republican majority managed to pass the legislation in the House of Representatives. However, the bill required bipartisan support to secure the necessary 60 votes. Only two Democrats, Senator John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Independent Senator Angus King (I-Maine) supported the measure. In the House, Representative Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted for the bill.
President Donald Trump expressed his views on the matter via Truth Social, accusing Waters of demanding top-tier healthcare for illegal immigrants at the expense of American taxpayers. Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump's sentiments at a White House briefing, stating that the Democratic party, led by Chuck Schumer and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had shut down the government to secure billions in funding for healthcare for illegal aliens.
Trump further warned that the Democrats' plan to allocate healthcare funds to illegal immigrants and open the borders would attract criminals from around the world.
The vote on the bill was postponed due to the observance of Yom Kippur, a Jewish holy day, extending the government funding lapse to at least three days. The Republicans have dubbed the event the "Schumer Shutdown," while the Democrats, as indicated by a statement from Waters' office, have termed it the "Trump-Republican Government Shutdown."
Waters' office released a statement accusing Trump and the Congressional Republicans of recklessly shutting down the government to undermine affordable healthcare for millions of hard-working American families. The statement also criticized the Republicans for their lack of concern for the human cost of the shutdown, drawing parallels with the 2018 shutdown under Trump's administration, which led to families resorting to payday loans and incurring long-term economic consequences.
The statement ended with a call to the Republicans to reverse their course, restore healthcare for working-class families, reopen the government, and rein in what they described as a reckless and failed President. As the political tug-of-war continues, the American public awaits a resolution that prioritizes their welfare and upholds the values of their nation.
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