Vance, Johnson Reveal Outrageous Dem Demands To Avoid Govt. Shutdown

In a last-minute effort to prevent a government shutdown, talks between Republicans and Democrats fell apart on Monday. Vice President J.D. Vance and House Majority Leader Mike Johnson held a press conference, accusing Democrats of holding the negotiations “hostage,” while Democratic leaders insisted Republicans would be blamed if the government closed.

Vance criticized Democratic demands, saying a shutdown seemed likely because of proposals he called extreme. He argued that Democrats were threatening Americans by insisting on their terms, while pushing for massive spending that prioritized non-citizens over struggling U.S. residents.

“This is preposterous and totally unacceptable,” Vance said, emphasizing that Republicans had rejected what they considered an unfair plan. He framed the issue as a defense of American taxpayers against unnecessary spending.

Shutdown battles, he noted, often involve political theater. Democrats, according to the GOP, have a pattern of blaming Republicans regardless of who actually negotiates or rejects proposals. Media coverage, he argued, perpetuates confusion about responsibility.

Speaker Mike Johnson targeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, highlighting the scale of Democratic spending requests. He criticized proposals for $1.5 trillion in new spending, including restoring benefits for non-citizens and funding left-leaning media, while linking them to a short-term stopgap measure.

Johnson argued that past shutdowns under Democratic administrations were handled responsibly by Republicans, who kept the government open despite being in the minority. He warned that allowing Democrats to dictate terms via shutdown threats would undermine the majority’s mandate.

Republicans, he concluded, should stand firm, resist caving to media pressure, and defend their voters’ choice. Succumbing to shutdown brinkmanship, Johnson argued, would empower Democrats to use the tactic repeatedly for policy gains.