Medicaid for Illegals – Dems Say Yes

 

H.R. 3200 Amendment Preventing Medicaid Coverage for Illegals Overturned

On July 30th, 2009, the Republican-sponsored amendment to the H.R. 3200 Healthcare Bill, (ECR 001), was brought to a vote. That amendment, which got little media attention, would have required proof of citizenship in order to receive Medicaid benefits. Seemingly cast in some darkened backroom, the ECR001 Amendment did come to a vote and was rejected by a vote of 29-28 by the Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee. The amendment would have prevented illegal aliens from piggybacking an already struggling healthcare program designed to aid eligible U.S. Citizens and certain resident aliens with health care expenses, including the cost of nursing home care. 

Already bloated by corruption, fraud, and a growing elderly population that relies heavily on Medicaid assistance, the Democrats, knowing this,  gave the green light to free healthcare and nursing home care for the 12 to 15-million illegal aliens already in the country, not to mention the numbers that will surely pour over the borders in the future to take advantage of  what was the world’s best medical care "on the House." With the future of Medicaid already said to be uncertain, it will not be sustainable in the future unless we limit, not increase, the number of people that will rely on the program’s limited budget while working to remove waste and fraud.   

Medicaid, which is partially funded and managed by the states, currently consumes about one-fifth of each state’s annual budget. It has been projected that as that number continues to increase, especially with the aging of the American population, many states may soon be facing bankruptcy. We’ve already seen California struggling with the costs run up by its social programs. In fact, it is predicted that Medicaid could become unsustainable in as little as 15 years. It would seem a logical first step in controlling these growing costs to clearly define those that would be allowed access to the Medicaid program, so that only citizens truly in need could be added to the program. Knowing that, shouldn’t the ECR 001 Amendment have had unanimous bi-partisan support? After all, Medicaid was designed to assist qualified Americans. Allowing millions of illegals to be added to the state’s already-engorged budgets will, in the long-term, most certainly put the solvency of the program in imminent jeopardy of collapse.  

Here are the names of those representatives that voted NO to ECR001. Remember,  by a NO vote, these representatives have decided they would NOT exclude illegal aliens from access to Medicaid. You decide if that will increase the cost and the longevity of the program designed to help Americans with their healthcare costs at their time of financial need. Remember their names the next time you go to the polls. 

      VOTED NO to (ECR001) Which Would Have Required Proof of Citizenship to Receive Medicaid – 29

(With a vote of no, it is now possible for any illegal alien to receive Medicaid benefits equal to that of legal American citizens, most of whom have paid into the system their entire lives. No proof of citizenship will be required to receive benefits.  Read. Remember. Vote.)

• Shadegg (R-AZ)
• Ross (D-AR)
• Bono Mack (R-CA)
• Radanovich (R-CA)
• Stearns (R-FL)
• Barrow (D-GA)
• Deal (R-GA)
• Gingrey (R-GA)
• Shimkus (R-IL)
• Buyer (R-IN)
• Hill (D-IN)
• Whitfield (R-KY)
• Melancon (D-LA)
• Scalise (R-LA)
• Rogers (R-MI)
• Upton (R-MI)
• Blunt (R-MO)
• Terry (R-NE)
• Myrick (R-NC)
• Sullivan (R-OK)
• Walden (R-OR)
• Murphy (R-PA)
• Pitts (R-PA)
• Blackburn (R-TN)
• Barton (R-TX)
• Burgess (R-TX)
• Hall (R-TX)
• Matheson (D-UT)