Hispanic lawmakers in Washington are blaming the political fallout over a Republican Congressman's infamous outburst in September for the provision in the newly proposed Senate health care bill seeking to block participation of illegal immigrants.
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus say the Obama administration has become overly cautious since Rep. Joe Wilson of North Carolina shouted "you lie!" during Obama's Sept. 10 address on healthcare reform, according to Politico. Obama had just mentioned that contrary to what some are saying, health care reform would not provide insurance for illegal immigrants.
Although the decorum-defying utterance led to a formal rebuke of Wilson by the House, some say it also has caused the White House to toughen its stance on illegal immigration.
At issue is not whether to allow illegal immigrants to receive federal subsides for health insurance -- most lawmakers of all stripes agree that that is off the table.
Instead, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are upset that the proposed Senate bill would prevent illegal immigrants from buying insurance from an exchange that would be created for people who don't receive health insurance from their employers.
The House's version of the health bill, passed in late October, contains no such prohibition.
"Why create a situation where someone cannot spend their own money?" an aide to a member of the CHC told HispanicBusiness.com, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Isn't that sort of anti-capitalist?"
A health care exchange is essentially a large pool of people that contracts with insurers to lower risk and therefore reduce the premiums of the customers.
Hispanic lawmakers are also singling out Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, as another roadblock to access for illegal immigrants, telling Politico that he believes immigration reform is a threat to Democrats.
Caucus members say the provision will actually be worse for taxpayers in the end, because it will do nothing to stem the tide of uninsured illegal immigrants who seek medical care through the emergency room. By law, hospitals cannot turn emergency-room patients away.
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Hispanic Caucus: 'You Lie!' Outburst to Blame for Senate Health Bill Provision on Illegal Immigrants
Rob Kuznia -- HispanicBusiness.com
Source: HispanicBusiness.com (c) 2009. All rights reserved
Total Comments: 3 | Pending Comments: 0
Patriota69
3/19/2010 12:03:46 PM PST
Joe Wilson told the truth when it said that Hussain Obama is a liar. We should not be giving the people who violate our inmigration laws any breaks, or bestowing upon them any benenfits. What we should do, is round them all up and send them back to the countries where they came from. They want health care, let their country provide them with it. Not us. However the comunists parasites that are runiing our country do not care about what thier actions will do to this great nation of ours. In their quest for more power they are willing to let millions of law breakers be rewarded for their violation of our inmigration laws. They alll should be tried for hight treason agaisnt this country and dealt with accrodingly. Shame on all of you who support them.
fred napurano
11/21/2009 4:47:57 AM PST
the statement could not be further from the truth. the "you lie" statement is solely based on the obvious. obama lied. even according to obama, illegal aliens would not receive health care regardless of the wording.
the legislation contains wording specifically excluding illegal aliens from receiving health care, because they do not have the the right to receive it.
this caucus does not have the US's best interests in mind, when trying to cover illegal aliens with health care. they only care about their race, in other words, they're racist in their thoughts and actions. if this racist group really wants to improve health care for illegal aliens, have them contact mexico, colombia, nicaragua, bolivia and demand increased spending and decreased corruption.
NoAmnesty
11/20/2009 6:50:19 PM PST
THANK YOU MR. Wilson! At least some leaders care what the majority of America want. We do not want citizenship for illegal aliens. Mexicans - Go fix your own damn country. We are tired of giving away our public services to you and your 6 kids!
