Angry shout thrusts illegal immigrants into debate

Sacramento Bee ^ | 9/11/9 | Bobby Caina Calvan

[SmithL]

On national television, President Barack Obama contended this week that his plan to overhaul the country's health care system wouldn't spend a single federal dime on undocumented immigrants.

As he spoke, a Republican congressman called the president a liar - once again bringing the incendiary issue of illegal immigration to the forefront of the national debate on health care.

While some say undocumented immigrants are scapegoats in an already heated debate, others say they are part of a bigger problem about how to handle a national health care crisis to control medical costs.

In a climate of economic trouble and rising insurance premiums, the cost of providing care to illegal immigrants has become a focus of public concern, putting pressure on politicians at all levels of government.

Sacramento and Yolo counties recently said they would begin requiring proof of citizenship before providing treatment at county clinics.

Few dispute that undocumented immigrants pose some financial drain on the nation's health care system, but some experts say the extent of that cost has been wildly exaggerated.

At the same time, health officials worry that denying health care to undocumented immigrants could have costly consequences to public health, particularly in controlling communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis and H1N1 flu.

"Some people are placing the blame for the financial problems that hospitals are having solely on undocumented immigrants. While it is a component of the challenges we have, it is not the sole reason and not the biggest reason," said Jan Emerson, a spokeswoman for the California Hospital Association.

Still, she said, "We know it's a hot-button issue."

[Tammy8]

The problem is people being treated are not usually asked their citizenship- at least around here they aren’t. I wonder how they arrived at these figures if they don’t ask?

[research99]

"Those that are forced to stand behind illegal aliens in the emergency rooms, watched as they choked off our social services, jails, classrooms, schools, and crippled our hospitals never lost sight of this lawless, government sponsored invasion for a second."

You forgot to also mention:

"And burned our forests down (when camping on their pot plantations)"

[NRA2BFree]

Somehow we seem to have forgotten all about Bambi’s own illegal alien auntie, still enjoying welfare and bennies in Massachusetts.

Yeah, but that's different. She gets special privileges because he's her nephew, and he "won." I wouldn't be a bit surprised if a lot more of his relatives get special treatment and are allowed to come live in the US.

[cricket]

Joe Wilson is still standing; and hope all Repubs standing; now at least; with him. The Left is furious and is deliberately drawing blood; and they will not stop until they have drained all of his.

You could hear the ice in Obama's words; and the emptiness when he offered that he accepted Wilson's apology. . .yes; he accepted it; but you know Obama likes making a 'lesson' out of those who embarrass him. . .and no 'mea culpa' will change that.

We have only to challenge these liars with the lies they tell; and help Joe survive the most undkindest of cuts that will be coming his way. We need him for him to survive this; and win next Election.

Donations; no doubt; will help!

[Razz Barry]

Few dispute that undocumented immigrants pose some financial drain on the nation's health care system, but some experts say the extent of that cost has been wildly exaggerated.

I don't care what some "experts" say. Those "experts" don't count anchor baby medical cost because they are, wrongly, counted as citizens. The medical cost of illegal women birthing anchor babies is not counted.
What makes illegal alien medical mooching worse, is, in states like Georgia, there's only so much money each year for medical care for the poor. If illegals receive it true American citizens are denied. Sure, they can still get emergency care, but that cost falls on the hospitals.

The last two days I've called Wilson's office and gotten "All lines are busy." I called Rep. Deal's office and asked them to pat Joe on the back for me, as I couldn't get his office. I left a message for Nancy that Wilson was, as the left likes to say, "speaking truth to power" and that BO did lie.