Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

House rejects bill requiring hospitals to ask alien status (Neville Chamberlain would be proud)
May 18, 2004 | Associated Press

Posted on 05/18/2004 3:18:04 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected legislation that could have led to hospital emergency rooms denying some services to illegal aliens while helping to get them kicked out of the country.

Hispanic legislators led opposition to the bill, joining medical groups in contending that it would turn hospitals into law enforcement agencies and prevent illegal residents from seeking life-saving medical treatment.

It was defeated 331-88.

The legislation came to the House floor as a result of a promise that GOP leaders made to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., in exchange for his vote on the Medicare prescription drug bill that narrowly passed last November.

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.

Rohrabacher's bill would have required hospitals receiving money under the provision to obtain information on the immigration status and employer of people seeking emergency treatment. That information would have been sent into a database set up jointly by the departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services.

The Homeland Security Department would have been required to initiate deportation proceedings against illegal aliens.

In addition, employers of illegal aliens would have been responsible for the cost of unreimbursed emergency room care, and hospitals would not have had to provide care for an illegal alien who could safely be sent back to his or her own country for treatment.

Rohrabacher said health care for illegals has extended to heart bypasses, transplants and cancer treatment costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those opposed to his bill, he said, "are voting to spend our limited health care money to make America the HMO of the world. And then they act surprised when even more tens of millions of illegals flood into our country."

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.

Rep. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the House's no. 3 Democrat, envisioned being asked to prove his citizenship in an emergency room because of his name. "That's shameful. You wouldn't ask any other citizen that," he said.

The Federation of American Hospitals, American Hospital Association and other medical groups wrote lawmakers urging opposition to the bill, saying it "would virtually ensure that illegal immigrants will avoid getting the appropriate and timely lifesaving health care they need, when they need it."

Rohrabacher said illegal aliens make up 43% of those without health insurance, and thus account for at least $9 billion of the $21 billion that hospitals reported in uncompensated health services last year. The office of Sen. Jon Kyl., R-Ariz., who was behind the $1 billion in the Medicare bill, put the annual cost of treating undocumented residents at about $1.45 billion.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Mexico; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: aliens; bordercontrol; getagrip; hissychickenlittle; hospitals; hr3722; iamahystericalgirl; iamanidiot; illegals; immigration; rohrabacher; stonehystericalgirl; taxpayers
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141 next last
To: 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.

Yeah, get that one past Bushamecha, Rove, and the open borders crowd... Good luck!

21 posted on 05/18/2004 3:39:28 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP (McClintock - In Your Heart, You Know He's Right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Glenn
"Hispanic legislators led opposition to the bill, joining medical groups in contending that it would turn hospitals into law enforcement agencies...

The federal constitutional responsibility is to protect the states from foreign invasion. Article I, Section, Clause 15, "To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions:"

Since the our federal government has mandated that all emergency room victims be treated at all hospitals and our federal congress has correctly fulfilled the 5th amendment requirement to compensate private property owners for their property taken for public use,(the Medicare bill... contained $1 billion over four years to reimburse hospitals for treating illegal immigrants), then we citizens should insist that the equivalent of TSA security personel be deployed in emergency rooms around the country to screen for illegal immigrants and thus remove the burden of acting like law enforecement officials by the hospitals.

22 posted on 05/18/2004 3:39:34 PM PDT by tahiti
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

Tell me about it! The only thing that saves my sanity re: this is that I adopted a good, conservative congressman and pretend that he's really my congressman. He's flattered, and I get to forget about Jerry the MOAB. ;)


23 posted on 05/18/2004 3:39:53 PM PDT by NYC GOP Chick ("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: NYC GOP Chick

Well then, he represents the response of the illegal immigrants :)


24 posted on 05/18/2004 3:40:03 PM PDT by yonif ("So perish all Thine enemies, O the Lord" - Judges 5:31)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
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.

25 posted on 05/18/2004 3:40:50 PM PDT by heleny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif

Good save! ;)


26 posted on 05/18/2004 3:40:53 PM PDT by NYC GOP Chick ("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
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.

27 posted on 05/18/2004 3:43:09 PM PDT by dpwiener
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: snopercod
1986, I think. That's when congress passed the the law forcing emergency rooms to accept all patients.

I believe that's only for things on the order of life- and limb-threatening emergencies. Back when I was in school, I used to work in an ER and the medical staff turned away people who belonged in a clinic, regardless of their citizenship status and insurance coverage. They do NOT have to accept people who come in to an ER for varicose veins, circumcisions, bunions, etc.

28 posted on 05/18/2004 3:43:54 PM PDT by NYC GOP Chick ("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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.


29 posted on 05/18/2004 3:44:18 PM PDT by JustAnAmerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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.


30 posted on 05/18/2004 3:44:52 PM PDT by Biblebelter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYC GOP Chick

Yes. You're right. The "law" only requires that the ER perform triage. But the trial lawyers have seen to it that nobody is turned away - ever.


31 posted on 05/18/2004 3:46:12 PM PDT by snopercod (Freedom can be preserved only if it is treated as a supreme principle which must not be sacrificed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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


32 posted on 05/18/2004 3:46:20 PM PDT by Dog Gone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
The bill got only 88 votes, 87 Republicans, and ONE Democrat (who had more guts and principle than a lot of Republicans).

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

You link says 86 Republicans and two Democrats. :)


FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 182
(Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)

H R 3722      2/3 YEA-AND-NAY      18-May-2004      12:24 PM
QUESTION:  On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
BILL TITLE: Undocumented Alien Emergency Medical Assistance Amendments


		Yeas	Nays	PRES	NV
Republican	86	133	 	8
Democratic	2	197	 	6
Independent	 	1	 	 
TOTALS		88	331	 	14



---- YEAS    88 ---

Aderholt
Akin
Bachus
Barrett (SC)
Bass
Bereuter
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Boozman
Boucher
Bradley (NH)
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Carter
Coble
Collins
Cox
Culberson
Cunningham
Deal (GA)
Doolittle
Duncan
Everett
Feeney
Franks (AZ)
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gibbons
Gingrey
Goode
Goodlatte
Gutknecht
Hall
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Hoekstra
Hostettler
Hulshof
Hunter
Isakson
Jenkins
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Keller
Kelly
King (IA)
Kingston
Kline
Manzullo
McCotter
McCrery
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller, Gary
Musgrave
Myrick
Norwood
Otter
Paul
Pence
Pitts
Platts
Radanovich
Ramstad
Rehberg
Rogers (AL)
Rohrabacher
Royce
Schrock
Sensenbrenner
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (TX)
Stearns
Sullivan
Tancredo
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Toomey
Vitter
Wamp
Weldon (FL)
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (SC)

33 posted on 05/18/2004 3:50:24 PM PDT by heleny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Biblebelter

Mexicans = Samaritans

Better hurry up and cross the road, Biblebelter, lest ye become unclean...


34 posted on 05/18/2004 3:51:02 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: snopercod

I live in one of THE most litigious states, and I saw clinic cases turned away from our ER.


35 posted on 05/18/2004 3:51:15 PM PDT by NYC GOP Chick ("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: NYC GOP Chick
"the medical staff turned away people who belonged in a clinic, regardless of their citizenship status and insurance coverage. They do NOT have to accept people who come in to an ER for varicose veins, circumcisions, bunions, etc."

Exactly the way it should be, in my opinion. Take care of life-threatening situations without checking deposit slips or immigration papers while sending anyone and everyone who doesn't have an emergeny on down the road.
36 posted on 05/18/2004 3:52:54 PM PDT by NJ_gent
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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?


37 posted on 05/18/2004 3:53:38 PM PDT by Ed Thomas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYC GOP Chick; yonif

I thought it was a young Nadler....

Scary!


38 posted on 05/18/2004 3:56:46 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP (McClintock - In Your Heart, You Know He's Right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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...


39 posted on 05/18/2004 3:56:53 PM PDT by rolling_stone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeeter

Taxpayers gotta pay for everyone's everything. Come to the USA: the good life courtesy of the taxpayers!


40 posted on 05/18/2004 3:58:42 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP (McClintock - In Your Heart, You Know He's Right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson