Dems’ health plan would limit immigrant aid

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: HC

The latest loser in the political pandemonium over health care reform may be immigrants living in America, an estimated 24 million people likely to be bartered in order to win support in Congress from fence-sitting Democratic moderates and conservatives.

Just as House Democratic leaders sacrificed the wishes of abortion-rights activists in a successful gambit to win the votes of anti-abortion Democrats last week, the Senate leadership has included provisions in its health care proposal that would bar any aid to illegal immigrants and would restrict assistance to immigrants residing legally in the United States.

The hesitation to include more immigrants has substantial implications for states like Texas, which has the highest number of uninsured immigrants in the country — at least 1.5 million people, some legal permanent residents, some not, according to an October study by the pro-immigration Migration Policy Institute in Washington.

The concessions to immigration critics have shaken Latino rights groups, who have strongly backed Democratic attempts to overhaul the American health care system.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6732122.html

---

Just wonder if this legislation will limit the health care aid to those entering with a tourist visa

[earcandle]

1. thoughtless and careless legislation. all of us need to be covered to avoid pandemics and to feel

whole again. 

[DissedByBush]

2. What the hell!

"would restrict assistance to immigrants residing legally in the United States"

I can understand not wanting to give assistance to those who broke our laws and are in the country illegally.

But those who showed enough respect for our country to get here legally? Those who went through all the trouble and expense? They have the right to every benefit of a citizen.

[AlphaCentauri]

3. They are pleasing republicans

donors and the middle class that follow Lou Dobbs

[kiva]

4. A rather awkwardly written sentence -

actually it does mean that legal immigrants will be included in health care reform; it is only those who are here illegally who will not be included.

[DollyM]

6. those who are legal and Veterans especially . . .

My husband is British, has been here since he was a small child. He has started the process of becoming an American citizen several times and always gets frustrated with the paperwork and lets it slide. His permanent resident alien status entitled him to be drafted and serve during Vietnam so he is entitled to Veterans Health Care but he has to drive 70 miles to see a Doctor and even though we have an income of about $500.00 a month (yes, I am serious--we are both jobless and out of unemployment)he is still charged for his presciptions which amount to about $100.00 a month. I don't think they need to throw permanent resident aliens in the same category as illegal aliens, especially if they have served the United States military.

[mddem9850]

5. Oh just great.

[cstanleytech]

7. I dont see anything wrong with barring aid to people here

illegally, they are after all violating our laws.
Not so sure about the limiting it for those though who took the time and effort to come here legally especially if their paying taxes.

[AlphaCentauri]

8. Tax payers deserve the benefit of their contribution n/t