John Thune Warns Democrats Against $1.5 Trillion Shutdown Ransom

Government Shutdown Stalemate

• ⚠️ Senate Republicans are offering Democrats another opportunity to vote for a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government.
• 🎯 This CR would extend current funding levels for a few weeks while full-year appropriations are negotiated, without including new Republican policies.
• 🚫 Senate Democrats have chosen to shut down the government despite the CR being considered clean by various groups, including the Teamsters Union and mainstream media.

Democratic Demands and Bailout

• 🏥 Democrats' stated reason for the shutdown is their demand for Republicans to agree to a bailout of the healthcare mess they attribute to Obamacare and its expired enhanced tax credits.
• 💰 Republicans are willing to discuss healthcare issues but not under a hostage situation or by paying a $1.5 trillion ransom.
• 📊 The $1.5 trillion demand is described as new spending, including free healthcare benefits for non-citizens, to reopen the government for a short period.

Consequences of Paying Ransom

• 📈 Paying the $1.5 trillion demand would set a precedent, potentially leading Democrats to demand similar amounts for future continuing resolutions.
• 💸 This could lead to the destruction of taxpayers and the economy through continuous, excessive spending.
• 💡 The speaker emphasizes that Republicans will not pay this ransom to reopen the federal government.

Political Pressure and Call to Action

• 🗣️ Senator Thune expresses sympathy for Senate Democrats, suggesting their actions are driven by pressure from their far-left base rather than solely healthcare concerns.
• 🤝 He notes that the Democrat leader previously voted to keep the government open, but now leads the shutdown charge due to backlash from the left.
• ✅ It would take only a handful of Democrats to vote for the clean CR to reopen the government and allow federal workers to be paid.
• 🇺🇸 The American people are depending on Democrats to prioritize their interests over those of the far-left base.