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House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed on Tuesday that Democrats are demanding billions in wasteful and ideological spending, including $3.9 million for LGBTQI+ democracy grants in the Western Balkans, as part of their conditions to reopen the government.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the 14th day of what he called the Democrat government shutdown, Johnson said the American people are suffering because Democrats have chosen politics over responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome to day 14 of the Democrat government shutdown,\u201d Johnson said during his press briefing. \u201cIt\u2019s two weeks of Democrats in Congress inflicting untold pain on the American people for nothing other than pure politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson explained that House Republicans had already offered a clean continuing resolution to keep the government funded, but Democrats repeatedly rejected it.<\/p>\n
Instead, he said, Democrats are tying unrelated left-wing priorities to essential government operations in an attempt to strong-arm Republicans into approving radical spending measures.<\/p>\n
He accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of catering to what he described as the party\u2019s \u201cMarxist base.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Speaker laid out details from the Democrats\u2019 counterproposal, calling it a $1.5 trillion wish list of reckless spending that would send taxpayer money to liberal causes and foreign projects that have nothing to do with running the U.S. government.<\/p>\n
Among the examples he cited were $24.6 million for climate resilience programs in Honduras.<\/p>\n
Another $13.4 million would go to civic engagement programs in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
An additional $2.9 million is earmarked for desert locust risk reduction in the Horn of Africa.<\/p>\n
The Democrats\u2019 plan also calls for $2 million to fund \u201corganizing for feminist democratic principles\u201d in Africa, according to Johnson.<\/p>\n
Johnson highlighted the $3.9 million in LGBTQI+ democracy grants for the Western Balkans as an example of Democrats\u2019 misplaced priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want to spend 3.9 million of your hard-earned dollars for LGBTQI+ democracy grants in the Western Balkans,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe are not doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He argued that Democrats are also trying to undo common-sense reforms enacted by Republicans that prevent illegal immigrants from accessing taxpayer-funded healthcare.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a fact,\u201d he said. \u201cThey would add illegal aliens and non-citizens back to taxpayer-funded benefits. It would cost taxpayers nearly $200 billion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson further warned that Democrats want to roll back modest work requirements placed on able-bodied young men without dependents.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Democrats are pushing to make COVID-era Obamacare subsidies permanent, with no income limits or meaningful reforms.<\/p>\n
Johnson said this approach would not only punish working Americans but also reward dependency and mismanagement.<\/p>\n
The Speaker accused Democrats of prioritizing ideological projects over the immediate needs of the American people.<\/p>\n
He said their proposal exposes how out of touch the party has become, highlighting spending for causes abroad while Americans face uncertainty at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not about keeping the lights on,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cThis is about Democrats trying to use the shutdown as leverage to fund their far-left agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson reminded reporters that Republicans have already passed legislation to reopen the government responsibly, without any of the unrelated political riders Democrats insist on including.<\/p>\n
The Republican plan, he said, would maintain government operations, protect taxpayers, and prevent wasteful spending abroad.<\/p>\n
Johnson also pointed out that the Democrats\u2019 proposal would restore funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, sending a half-billion dollars to what he described as liberal media outlets that have long benefited from taxpayer subsidies.<\/p>\n
He described it as another example of Democrats using government funding to reward their political allies rather than serving the public good.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are not the priorities of the American people,\u201d Johnson said firmly. \u201cThey are the priorities of a radical political class that has forgotten who they work for.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Speaker ended his remarks by calling on Democrats to stop the political games and join Republicans in reopening the government immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a clean bill ready to go,\u201d he said. \u201cIt keeps the government open, pays our troops, secures the border, and protects hardworking taxpayers. Democrats need to stop holding America hostage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson\u2019s comments reflect growing frustration among House Republicans who say Democrats are using the shutdown to push through spending on social experiments, foreign projects, and activist groups under the guise of government funding.<\/p>\n
He warned that such spending will only deepen America\u2019s fiscal crisis and fuel public anger toward Washington\u2019s political class.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a moment for leadership,\u201d Johnson concluded. \u201cIt\u2019s time to put the American people first and end this shutdown\u2014not by giving in to woke demands, but by standing firm for fiscal sanity and common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Summer Lesson in Caution<\/p>\n
It was a perfect summer afternoon\u2014blue skies, a breeze, and a picnic blanket spread while the kids played nearby.<\/p>\n
Our daughter wandered toward a tall tree and called out, \u201cMom, Dad, come see! This tree has stripes\u2014it\u2019s so pretty!\u201d<\/p>\n
As she reached for the trunk, my husband quickly pulled her hand back. That\u2019s when we realized the \u201cstripes\u201d<\/p>\n
weren\u2019t bark at all\u2014they were clusters of caterpillars camouflaged against the tree.<\/p>\n
Later, we learned they were Lonomia caterpillars, an insect capable of causing serious health risks if touched.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, we avoided contact and alerted environmental authorities, who safely removed them and placed warning signs for others.<\/p>\n
The incident became an important reminder: nature is full of beauty, but also hidden dangers. What looks harmless<\/p>\n
or fascinating can sometimes be risky. Since then, we\u2019ve taught our children\u2014and friends\u2014that if you see unusual<\/p>\n
insects or patterns in nature, admire them from a distance and call the experts.<\/p>\n
That afternoon reinforced a simple truth: wonder and caution should go hand in hand. With awareness and respect,<\/p>\n
we can safely enjoy the outdoors while protecting ourselves and others.<\/p>\n
Lonomia obliqua is a species of caterpillar that is native to South America, including Brazil. It is commonly found in the state of Paran\u00e1 but can also be found in other regions such as S\u00e3o Paulo and Minas Gerais. In Brasilia the caterpillar was found for the first time in Lago Sul and has now spread all over Brasilia.<\/p>\n\n