To Tom Barrett, October 2, 2025, and responses
Excerpt from Rep. Tom Barrett's Newsletter, October 2, 2025:
"Despite my vote to keep it open, the federal government shut down overnight after Senate Democrats blocked bipartisan legislation that would fund the government until November 21. Now, rather than pass this straightforward solution that will pay American troops and federal employees, Democrats are proposing a different plan that could provide free taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants and eliminate $50 billion in funding for rural hospitals."
My Response, October 2, 2025:
Rep. Barrett Your latest newsletter contains two kinds of lies.
Lies of omission: You do not mention that your vote for the budget would throw 7.5 million American citizens off their healthcare plans. Unlike your fantasy about what your vote did, that number is from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. In other words, you voted to make people sicker and possibly kill them. Take responsibility for your actions.
Lies of commission: First, undocumented immigrants are ineligible for federal funds for healthcare. Your scapegoating of them is a lie and you should be ashamed of yourself. Second, the Democrats did not cause the shutdown, your party did. Just like last Trump shutdown, over his stupid wall, the GOP was blamed for the shutdown. You will be blamed this time, rest assured. Best start looking for a new job because there is no way you survive the next election.
Barrett's Response, October 7, 2025
Dear Mr. Jackson,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the widespread confusion on aspects of the government shutdown. This is a complex issue, so I am more than happy to break down some of the facts.
First and foremost, a government shutdown is never the answer. To avoid a shutdown, I joined a bipartisan majority in both chambers of Congress in voting to keep the government open on September 19, 2025. This House-passed, clean continuing resolution (CR) simply extends current funding levels to keep the lights on while giving Congress the time to work out a long-term solution. In order to take effect, this bill also requires 60 votes in the Senate, which has not happened because a majority of Senate Democrats are insisting on inserting unrelated, partisan provisions.
My Response to Barrett, October 8, 2025
Your claim you are presenting "facts" is distressing. Falsehoods do not become "facts" merely because you repeat them. Nor do right-wing talking points become reality because Trump asserts them as so.
The reason Republicans are being blamed for the shutdown is simple: no one believes their lies about undocumented immigrants and healthcare. No reputable fact-checking source backs up your bald assertions about this matter:
https://www.factcheck.org/2025/10/lawmakers-health-care-government-shutdown-claims/
I keep wondering why you hold views that are so false. Are you so committed to Trump that you lie for him? Are you so ideologically blind that you reject the evidence from non-partisan sources? Help me understand why you refuse to do the right thing.