By suzanne downing 
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday accused Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media of spreading false information about whether illegal immigrants could receive taxpayer-funded health benefits under proposals tied to ending the government shutdown.
Johnson and other Republican leaders pointed out that Democrats are attempting to restore nearly $200 billion in health care benefits for non-citizens as part of negotiations to reopen the government. He said the push is being disguised by partisan messaging amplified by major media outlets.
The Louisiana Republican has launched a media blitz in recent days, telling the Daily Caller News Foundation that his goal is to counter what he called “left-wing talking points” and to highlight what Republicans view as Democratic priorities that favor migrants over U.S. citizens.
“As has been demonstrated over and over, the mainstream media is simply repeating verbatim Democrat false talking points,” Johnson told the DCNF. “We have to be out there telling the truth — because the entire mainstream media apparatus is covering for the Democrats and sharing their falsehoods.”
Republicans have made immigration and border policy central to the budget fight, insisting that Democrats are holding up negotiations by tying additional funding for migrant-related health care programs to the broader deal. Democrats, meanwhile, argue that Republicans are distorting the issue to score political points.
The shutdown began Oct. 1.
Suzanne Downing