Dems Vote to Shutdown Government [semi-satire]

This week, the Democrat minority in the US Senate refused to vote for the continuing resolution that was needed to keep the federal government funded while the negotiations for the next budget are underway. The resolution was passed by the House, but couldn't make it past the Senate's filibuster rules.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) explained "Republicans want to discontinue the special pandemic increase in the spending for medicaid that has been part of the budget since 2021. Democrats want to continue this level of spending. Until Republicans do what we demand we will oppose the funding required to keep the government open while negotiations are ongoing."

Vice-President JD Vance pointed out that "the pandemic is over. The reason for the increased medical spending is gone. Further, it turns out that billions of the emergency spending went to subsidize medical care for illegal aliens. Democrats admit that subsidizing medical care for persons who entered the country illegally is against the law. Yet, they now insist it must not be cut out of the budget and are willing to shutdown the whole government until this demand is met."

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif) insisted "the immigrants who came here at the invitation of President Biden are not here illegally. They are just as entitled to health care as the rest of us. Our Statue of Liberty invites the oppressed and impoverished folks around the world to come to America. Once they make it here it is our obligation to tend to their needs. This is what the people want and the Democrats support. It is the Republicans who are spurning the generosity that has been the bedrock of our country's policy for generations."

President Trump challenged this notion, saying that "subsidizing the people who are invading our country should not be our policy. It is fiscally impossible to sustain the unrestricted entry of persons who are dependent on government welfare payments. It is also not what the majority of our citizens wanted when they elected me as their president."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) conceded "it may not be what those who voted for Trump want, but it cannot be allowed. It is the type of policy that Hitler would've championed. It can never be right no matter how many people vote for it. As former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin observed, 'only non-fascist parties should be permitted to run for office in true democracies.' Today's Republicans don't meet this standard. Those who voted for Republicans cast ballots that would not have been counted if Stalin's wisdom had been heeded in 2024."

An interesting aspect of government shutdowns is that so-called essential services will continue operating while non-essential functions will not. Trump has suggested that "the idea that the government should continue to fund non-essential functions seems nonsensical. Why should taxpayers be compelled to hand over money that they could use to support their families or invest in their businesses so some bureaucrats can be paid to do non-essential things? I think the shutdown may provide an opportunity to eliminate some of these non-essential costs."

The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the unions representing government employees being paid for non-essential functions, is suing to prevent Trump from cutting non-essential employees. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) called Trump's suggestion "outrageous and unprecedented. The federal government has been funding non-essential functions for many decades. Millions of employees and their families have come to rely on the paychecks and generous pensions awarded to those who perform these non-essential functions. Terminating this spending would be an earthshaking transformation of the government we have come to know and love."

In related news, the shutdown may force the cancellation of luxury retreats scheduled for the congressional recess next week. Republicans had planned to go to the ultra-exclusive resort at Sea Island, Georgia. Democrats had planned to gather at the Hotel Yountville, a luxury resort located in California's wine country. Cynics speculate that the prospect of interrupting these types of perks may motivate a quick compromise that would fund the government for another seven weeks. An anonymous source observed "disputes over policies take a backseat to the preservation of special privileges on both sides of the aisle."

Cromwell did not need Parliament to rule England....Trump may not need Congress if the Sodomites keep pushing it.

It all comes down the what the Army wants....

Hmmm.....so that was what the big Generals’ meeting was all about.

You seem to post "freedomsphoenix.com" consistently. It's a site with ads, asking readers to donate as well. Rather NOT like Free Republic which does not place ads on its site.

Freedom's Phoenix says: "Freedom's Phoenix costs a lot to create, maintain, improve and expand. Your participation, support, and contributions are greatly appreciated anytime. And, please support our advertisers and let them know you saw their ad on FreedomsPhoenix.com whenever you talk with them."

Sounds like Free Republic, excepting that Freedom's Phoenix isn't as active with comments, judging by looking through it a bit. Example: 10-03-2025 no comments under your piece. Whereas on Free Republic you get some comments:

Posts / Comments by John Semmens

Perhaps you should just post your entire column first on Free Republic, so one doesn't have to read ads to read you?

It is fascinating that spending for illegals health insurance is what mobilizes the left and not the fact that the CR does nothing little to nothing to rein in govt spending?

Not a huge fan of Paul, but I am with him on this one.

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