WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democrats are using a government shutdown in order to push for the restoration of taxpayer-funded health insurance subsidies for illegal immigrants, according to their own counterproposal for funding the government. That funding stream was eliminated when Republicans delivered working families tax cuts that include no tax on tips, overtime, and Social Security as well as major health care reforms that expand access and flexibility while reducing fraud and improper payments in the system. Even the Congressional Budget Office recently announced that Republican reforms contained in the working families tax cuts legislation earlier this year would actually lower premiums for Americans. 

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) said:

“Democrats shut down the government in order to put illegal immigrants ahead of Americans, attempting to undo vital reforms that Republicans enacted just three months ago. Hardworking Americans should not be paying taxes in order to subsidize the health care of those here illegally. But that’s exactly what Democrats are demanding in order to reopen the government.”

FACT: Democrats are fighting for taxpayer-funded health benefits for illegal immigrants.

• Republicans delivered tax cuts to working families by ensuring illegal immigrants will no longer be able to pocket taxpayer-funded benefits meant for American citizens like billions of dollars of Obamacare premium tax credits and Medicare benefits.
• Democrats have made clear they want to undo these reforms and restore taxpayer-funded health benefits for illegals – specifically on page 57, Section 2141, of their own proposed funding resolution, which repeals new safeguards against waste, fraud, and abuse in health care spending to restore and continue $200 billion in American taxpayer funded health care subsidies going to illegal aliens.

Read: Democrats’ Failed Health Care Policies: Higher Prices, Less Choice, More Fraud