First, I want to thank all of you who took the time to sign and share this petition and comment. I’ve read all the comments, and it’s apparent to me that many of you can see the real issue: a lack of maturity on the part of many of our elected officials.

Agreeing to pass the CR (which Democrats previously passed three times!) doesn’t eliminate or change anything but would have opened the government and still left them plenty of time to negotiate some of the other items.

While Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer are arguing that they are “fighting for your healthcare,” I decided to take the time to read what is actually in the proposal that Republicans are saying no to.

Those items causing all of us to be inconvenienced by the shutdown don’t just include healthcare (which doesn’t end until December); it also includes the following that Republicans are calling wasteful (please be sure to fact-check all this—I did multiple times before writing this update):

- $13.4 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe
- $3.9 million for LGBTQ+ democracy grants in the Balkans
- Restoration of subsidies estimated at $200 billion over 10 years for non-citizen healthcare
- $500 million for Public Broadcasting
- $24.6 million for climate resilience for Honduras
- $2.9 million for locust risk reduction in the Horn of Africa
- $2 million for organizing feminist democratic principles in Africa
- Opposition to repealing the $50 billion rural hospital fund
- Prioritized HOV lane access for Electric Vehicles

Now, be honest: While you are missing paychecks and SNAP/EBT benefits, does that sound to you like Democrats are fighting for you—or everything but you?

Please be sure to share this petition and this update. Does that sound like the media is being honest with us? Who will benefit most from the things the Democrats are keeping the country closed for?