[StoneColdGOP]

The Republican spine crumbles again. The bill got only 88 votes, 87 Republicans, and ONE Democrat (who had more guts and principle than a lot of Republicans).

Thanks Bush, thanks Rove. Here's to ya...

[StoneColdGOP]

Link to the vote breakdown... How about not voting for anyone who voted NAY?

http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2004&rollnumber=182

[snopercod]

I have a radical idea. How about requiring ALL patients to pay for medical care at hospitals?

Oh, I forgot. Health care is a "right", just like cable TV and a nice place to stay.

[Yaelle]

[Glenn]

A correct outcome. Good.

[Xenalyte]

I'm disgusted, but not shocked at all.

[NJ_gent]

Perhaps if we kept illegals out of the country in the first place by securing our borders, we wouldn't have to put such legislation up for consideration in the first place. Secure the borders, boot illegals currently living here, and your problem solves itself.

It isn't the job of hospitals to make up for the pathetic border security we have in place. What's next? Having emergency room doctors audit tax records prior to providing medical care? "I'm sorry Mr Smith, we can't do that triple bypass until you clear up this little matter of your 2002 returns..."

[yonif]

[skeeter]

Alternative headline - "House helps employers of illegal immigrants dodge costly bullet - taxpayers once again saddled with cost of health coverage"

[heleny]

But Hilda Solis, D-Calif., said the bill would turn hospitals into law enforcement and immigration agents, and would have lead to scenarios where women in labor would have to choose between going to a hospital and being deported. "What kind of fear does that place in a community?" she asked.

Illegal alien pregnant women could actually choose hospital care to avoid deportation? Huh? That was not the intent of Rohrabacher's proposal, so either Solis is stupid or the AP cannot write.

Rohrabacher was ready to vote against the Medicare bill because it contained $1 billion over four years to reimburse hospitals for treating illegal immigrants. The Orange County conservative was told he could offer legislation to counter the effects of that provision.

If they really wanted it, they should have found a way to attach the proposal as an amendment to the Medicare bill before passage.

[dpwiener]

This was all window dressing for Dana Rohrabacher, whose single vote could have killed the disastrous medicare prescription entitlement and thus saved taxpayers hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of dollars. Instead he sold out for a face-saving promise of a vote on legislation which he knew didn't have a prayer of passing.

At least that was his publically-stated price. We don't know what his private price was.

[JustAnAmerican]

Just means it's time to kick out the POS politicians that voted NAY, DIMS,Repubs and INDs. I see as usual Americans mean nothing to these Idiots, lets see how they like having the true Americans in their districts pointing out to their constituents just how much they prefer Illegals over Americans.

[Biblebelter]

Mr. Rohrabacher must be given credit, he knows that the only purpose of the vote was to document the treachery of those in elected office who find it necessary to coddle the illegal invaders. I have nothing but contempt for the 331 officeholders who are selling our sovereignity for nothing more than a warm political wind blowing from our southern border.

[Dog Gone]

I don't think Bush or Rove voted on this bill. I'll have to check.

[Ed Thomas]

If you don't mind me asking, what on earth has Neville Chamberlain got to do with all of this? As far as I'm aware his thoughts on healthcare weren't all that controversial- maybe I'm missing something?

[rolling_stone]

Simple solution just post an INS agent at hospitals, the welfare office and DMV, and let them do their job...heck all they would have to do is park a marked vehicle out in front and watch the attendance drop..LOL...

[Not a 60s Hippy]

They are in the process of bankrupting the people and government with social programs, environmental programs and out-right GIVING money to socialist front groups, the UN and foreign countries.

[Teplukin]

I disagree. If you ask folks for ID, you discourage them from coming to the hospital. And this can lead to delay in becoming aware of crime (i.e. gunshot wounds) and plagues.

[concentric circles]

A year ago it was estimated that Los Angeles County spent $340 million for emergency care and followup for people who are in the country illegally.

This was a striking figure not only because it represents an outrageously large sum of taxpayers money but also because that amount was nearly the same as the unfunded debt the County health care system anticipated for the year, red ink that forced the closure of numerous neighborhood clinics as well as other cutbacks.

In neighboring Ventura County, Santa Paula Memorial Hospital closed it's doors recently, leaving some people more than twentyfive miles from emergency care.

I don't know where the Representatives who voted against this bill think the money will come from to support overburdened health care facilities.

[johnfrink]

I'd be willing to let anyone get services as long as they had ways to ensure that those people pay. But they don't. They will just leave as soon as they are healed, and the insurance premiums of everyone else will rise.

[Theodore R.]

The GOP is terrified of losing, and when people are terrified and lack self-confidence, they usually LOSE.