The Speakers Lobby
  • Waxman Emphatic that Health Care Reform Bill Does Not Cover Illegal Immigrants

     

    The House's health care reform bill runs 1,990 pages and. It's filled with gullies and eddies of arcane, cryptic language that are hard to understand. But one of the chief architects of the measure wants to be clear about one provision: "No government funds will be used to pay for illegal immigrants to get health care coverage," said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA).

     

    Waxman points out that the Democrats’ health care reform bill unveiled Thursday contains a “verification status” check if anyone is to receive any federal health care subsides. But there’s a distinction between illegal immigrants being eligible for government-run components of the health care legislation versus what they would be permitted to purchase from private insurance providers.

     

    “Yes,” exclaimed Waxman when a reporter asked the California Democrat if he personally thought illegal immigrants should be permitted to purchase health insurance. “Can they buy a car? They’re people doing business in the U.S.”

     

    Coverage for illegal immigrants is one of the most vexing questions in the health care reform debate . But from Waxman’s vantage point, it’s alright for illegal immigrants to participate in the proposed health care reform regime, so long as their care isn’t subsidized.

     

    “Should an illegal immigrant be allowed to drive down the Dulles Toll Road, paid for by federal dollars?” Waxman asked, referring to a major highway that links the nation’s capital with Dulles International Airport in suburban Virginia. “Should illegal immigrants be allowed to buy health insurance from a private insurance company?”

     

    House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) says he expects the House of Representatives to vote on the health care reform bill no earlier than Thursday, November 5.

Greg

Waxman obviously feels he has votes to harvest from the hispanic voters and will put anything, including his country aside to get a vote. After all, he is a politician, not a patriot. What Waxman does not get is that people here illegally are using resources that us taxpaying folks here either legally or by birth are paying for. If Waxman feels so stongly about us sharing with those who don't pay for the services, maybe he will let us all borrow his car... I am all for LEGAL immigration, I...

November 3, 2009 at 8:41 am

De Jo

What does the word Illegal mean to the elected?

November 2, 2009 at 10:37 pm

Arthur Callahan Ph.D

We have received so many promises from our lying, self-indulgent politicians, why should we believe this idiot who probably couldn't find his butt with both hands and a flashlight Remember when social security was passed it was clearly stated that receipts

November 2, 2009 at 5:16 pm

demkiller

Tell that rat faced Waxman that until the democrats allow the GOP to pass legislation that would check for citizenship before collecting health care benefits, this govt takeover does cover illegals.

November 2, 2009 at 3:55 pm

mousetails

This is once again a good example of looing the point. Yes, illegal immagrants can get insurance coverage, they can buy a car.. etc.... Ok so lets take a look at this again.. a bank robber can buy a car and pay for helathcare.. lets ignore the fact they are illegal and focus on the current activity...

November 2, 2009 at 2:19 pm

JOE

This is unbelievable whats going on.Dems.dont care about who is or who isent covered,who pays or who doesent.Its all a power grab,kiss your liberties good by if this passes in any form.They want to control every aspect of our lives and what better way to do that.If they cared about the average american they would include themselves in this so called great plan.....think about it.

November 2, 2009 at 1:41 pm

Matthew Weaver

Waxman needs to rethink his answer about illegals driving, buying cars, buying insurance, and so forth. First, they are here illegally and should be deported when the opportunity presents itself. With few exceptions they cannot have a US state drivers license, thus if they are driving it is without legal license or it is via false identification. Second, they likely have no auto insurance or have insurance on false terms. And regarding health care, they should get it only as a condition of...

November 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm

GREG

Waxman misses the point, as do most liberals. The questions about what Government programs or entiltlements ILLEGALS have a right to participate in is ludicrous! In the country I grew up in ( what we used to recognize as the USA) we had something called LAWS that were ILLEGAL to disobey and when you broke the laws as a Citizen you went to Jail.There was no discussion of the fine points of your rights in the USA if you were here illegally and you could expect that your butt would hit the other...

November 2, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Nelson

The term "Illegal Alien" will no longer be tolerated. Henceforth, they will be refered to as "Undocumented Democrats"

November 2, 2009 at 1:04 pm

cynicalcitizen

Waxman is wrong. The Supreme Court has ruled on this and the Fed cannot exclude persons from receiving benefit from this plan. Texas had a similar case where illegal aliens were excluded and determined that they could not be discriminated against because of citizenship. Isn't that special ~

November 2, 2009 at 12:41 pm

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