Lake County Gazette

Martin McLaughlin, a state representative from Illinois, has said that Democrats are hindering the reopening of the government by prioritizing funds for undocumented immigrants. He made this statement on the social media platform X.

"Democrats won't allow the government to be open because they think you're dumb & they want to continue to give billions to illegal aliens unqualified for Medicaid," said Martin J. Mclaughlin. "Simple Math- it takes 60 votes in the Senate to Reopen Reps have 53 votes Dems have 45 Ind 2 (Dem Lite). return to reasonable."

According to Reuters, negotiations to end the federal shutdown in early October 2025 stalled as Senate Republicans, despite holding a majority, failed to secure the 60 votes required under chamber rules to advance funding bills. The deadlock was primarily due to disagreements over health subsidies and defense-only appropriations, with Democrats blocking measures led by the GOP. This impasse prolonged the government shutdown and highlighted the influence of Senate cloture rules.

As reported by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Medicaid eligibility in Illinois remains at 138% of the federal poverty level for most adults. However, due to budget constraints, the state discontinued the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program on July 1, 2025. Noncitizens now qualify only for limited emergency or federally matched services through safety-net providers.

According to the Congressional Research Service, U.S. Senate Rule XXII requires three-fifths of all senators—typically 60 votes—to invoke cloture and end debate on most legislation, including funding bills. In October 2025, Republicans lacked the necessary bipartisan support to reach that number, delaying measures needed to reopen the federal government after its shutdown.

McLaughlin, a Republican representing Illinois’ 52nd House District since 2020, previously served as Village President of Barrington Hills and owns a pension management firm. According to the Illinois General Assembly, he serves on several committees including Revenue & Finance, Judiciary-Civil, and Ethics & Elections Committees with a focus on fiscal reform and government accountability.