Health Care Bill Could Hinge on Immigration Language

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP)

Democrats in the House can only afford to lose 40 members of their caucus when they vote on health care legislation this weekend, and leaders are scrambling to assuage the concerns of certain groups, particularly the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Democrats concerned over abortion issues.

There are already about 25 Democrats who almost certainly will vote against the Democrats' health care package, according to the Washington Post.

On Thursday, the Hispanic caucus told President Obama he could lose 20 more votes if revisions pertaining to immigration are made to the House bill, according to various reports. Mr. Obama met at the White House Thursday with a handful of CHC members, including Caucus Chairwoman Nydia Vel?zquez (D-N.Y.), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.).

The lawmakers said they opposed a provision from the Senate health care bill that would prohibit illegal immigrants from buying private insurance plans on the new health insurance exchanges to be created, even with their own money. If the provision is added to the House bill, "I guess they won't have those 20 votes" hinging on the issue, Velazquez said, the Post reports.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

The House bill already would already require immigrants to verify their citizenship in order to receive federal subsidies for insurance. However, the House could be compelled to adopt the stronger Senate language. The White House is backing the Senate language because it is concerned the issue could derail the bill once Senate and House leaders have to merge their proposals, the Boston Globe reports

Democrats are also trying to bring on board members concerned the bill does not do enough to make sure no federal funds would support abortions. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops participated in negotiations over the issue, according to the Associated Press.

Debate on the bill will start on Saturday and could take at least five hours, the Post reports, and legislators may not actually vote until Sunday.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Deece58 November 7, 2009 4:35 PM EST: Our elected officials need to start taking a hard line on this issue. Only critical, life threatening medical emergencies should be treated. Stabilize the patient and send them packing. We should do everything in our power to prevent illegal alien women from giving birth in our hospitals. If they're from Mexico and attempt to have their baby in a hospital in a bordering State, they should be transported by ambulance to the closest Mexican hospital so the US doesn't end up with any more anchor babies we're stuck supporting.

Countries like Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala and El Salvador really needs to stop exporting their uneducated, low-skill, ignorant, bottom of the barrel cockroaches to the US. These illegal aliens are bankrupting our states and add no value to our culture or society.; Reply to this comment


by joelwisch November 7, 2009 9:09 AM EST: As Charlie Gonzalez of Texas said, they are here so they should be insured.

!. They should not be here. They are illegal aliens.
2. If Congress had done its job, they would not be here.
3. I do not want to supply even a hit of support for the illegal aliens by providing insurance.

Needless to say, he is playing with billions of dollars of American Taxpayer money and totally ignoring the responsibility of the Mexican Government to their people. Further, I did not hire the illegal aliens, nor would I have. There is no reason to punish all Americans because a few employers are criminally inclined, and Congress is incompetent.

The vote will be in before they read this. But if they buckle under to the illegal aliens, I will start the campaign against the Democratic Party Monday Morning.; Reply to this comment


by wgberger November 6, 2009 8:28 PM EST: Insurance for illegals? How about subsidized housing? Free tuition? Affirmative action? Let's reduce citizenship so it is just the status of chumps.

"Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." - Adam Smith, economist and ethicist

Everything you need to know about immigration and what to do about it humorously told.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBw1nUlf38I

(Roy Beck and NumbersUSA are the "gumball" heroes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ; Reply to this comment


by RexJ123 November 6, 2009 4:21 PM EST: I am sick and tired of the RACIST Congressional Hispanic Caucus demanding anything and everything for illegal immigrants!!! This group - along with other Latino racists like columnists Miguel Perez and Albor Ruiz, TV "news" anchor Jorge Ramos (who is a Mexican citizen, not a US citizen), activist Juan Hernandez, "Reverend" Miguel Rivera, etc. - wants only what is best for Latinos. Excuse me, they want what is best for Latinos who are either ILLEGALLY in the US or who want to come to the US illegally. What is good for the rest of America (including citizens and legal residents who are Latino) is of absolutely no interest to these RACISTS!

If you are a Latino citizen of this country, and you put being an American above being a Hispanic, I beg you to make your voice heard. These RACISTS are giving all of you a bad name, and their actions are going to lead to dire consequences for all of us if they are not stopped.; Reply to this comment


by ianlou November 6, 2009 2:08 PM EST: Easy, No Illegals and no Abortion coverage.
Now pass this thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by abusedcitizen November 6, 2009 1:14 PM EST: It is appalling that congressional representatives, Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif, that are supposed to represent the citizens of their districts are conspiring with foreign nationals to rip off the assets of American Citizens. How many Americans will suffer because American resources are diverted to illegal aliens?
If they truly wished to represent the interests of illegal aliens, they would pursue coverage provided by the illegal alien's country of citizenship rather than betraying American citizens.; Reply to this comment


by lightningF November 6, 2009 12:30 PM EST: If the House bill already requires verification of citizenship,what are the Latino's afraid of if the language is made more plain?Illegals are not allowed to vote so they should not be allowed coverage under our insurance policies.Do not the Latino's know what illegal means? Maybe they need an english lesson.; Reply to this comment


by jsd330 November 6, 2009 12:30 PM EST: How many votes will they lose if they allow illegals the same rights as legal U.S. citizens? These people are criminals, they are here against the law. How many illegals do you think would really buy insurance, since the government can't mandate them like they can a citizen. They'll keep using the emergency rooms and clincs, as they do now and we'll still be paying for them. Time to start rounding them up and sending them back to their own country, or making them become legal citizens, if they want the benifits of this country.; Reply to this comment