As Shutdown Deepens, Mike Johnson Plays Politics While Louisiana Families Suffer
Readers are encouraged to review the bill for themselves, available in full at Congress.gov, to see what it actually contains.
BATON ROUGE, La. — As the federal government shutdown stretches into its third week, Louisiana’s House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing criticism for spreading false claims about Democrats’ plan to reopen the government, even as the crisis hits his home state.
Johnson, a Shreveport native who rose to the top job in the House last year, has repeatedly told voters that the Democratic proposal funds “health care for illegal immigrants.” Fact-checkers including the Kaiser Family Foundation and PolitiFact say that claim is false.
The measure in question — the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026 — does not expand coverage to undocumented immigrants. Federal law already bars undocumented immigrants from buying health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, receiving federal subsidies, and enrolling in Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. H.R. 5371 simply continues existing programs at current funding levels. Readers are encouraged to review the bill for themselves, available in full at Congress.gov, to see what it actually contains.
Meanwhile, the shutdown’s impact is being felt across Louisiana. Federal employees are missing paychecks, small businesses reliant on government contracts are struggling, and families dependent on nutrition assistance programs are left in limbo.
“Louisiana’s voice in Congress should be fighting to end this shutdown, not fueling misinformation,” said Baton Rouge community advocate Angela Brown. “Every day this drags on, more working families in our state suffer.”
Johnson has rejected calls to compromise, demanding a Republican “clean” spending bill stripped of Democratic priorities. Critics warn that while such a bill may temporarily reopen the government, it fails to address long-term needs in Louisiana.
A clean continuing resolution keeps federal funding at existing levels but does not expand healthcare, nutrition, education, or social programs that could help struggling families. Democratic priorities — including infrastructure and climate initiatives — are blocked from advancing, leaving partisan disputes unresolved.
The stopgap measure is short-term, typically lasting only weeks or months. Without full-year appropriations, Louisiana could face repeated disruptions in federal services, from missed paychecks to delayed program funding.
Political consequences also loom. By rejecting compromise and pushing a clean bill, leaders like Johnson risk losing credibility with constituents. Critics argue that prioritizing political messaging over real-world impacts could harm families and small businesses that rely on federal funding.
“Stopping the shutdown is important,” Brown said. “But a temporary fix without meaningful solutions leaves Louisiana families still waiting for help — and misled about what Congress is actually proposing. Everyone should read the bill for themselves to know the truth.”
“Leadership isn’t about soundbites,” said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. “It’s about solutions. And right now, Speaker Johnson’s refusal to act is hurting Americans — including thousands right in his home state.”
As frustration mounts, voters across Louisiana are asking hard questions of the man representing them on the national stage. “Louisiana deserves truth, not talking points,” Brown said. “Our families can’t wait while politics play out in Washington.”
