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 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141 next last
To: StoneColdGOP

I see. I have to say that as a student of history I do wish people would stop using Chamberlain as a shorthand for the sort of craven cowardice you're obviously implying- It really is a gross oversimplification of the facts to the point of complete innaccuracy (much as most people here seem to hold Churchill up as an example of everything good, for that matter). Ho hum. I suppose it's easier and more fun to cast historical figures as stereotypes.


61 posted on 05/18/2004 4:24:03 PM PDT by Ed Thomas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

Comment #62 Removed by Moderator

To: StoneColdGOP
As far as I know, the President never weighed in this bill. I don't think he ever has said much about any bill not introduced by the White House.

Blame Bush for his actions, and blame Congress for their actions, but don't blame either for the others' actions. They are independent branches.

63 posted on 05/18/2004 4:49:32 PM PDT by Dog Gone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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.


64 posted on 05/18/2004 4:50:00 PM PDT by concentric circles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
Everyone should remember that when the RNC comes calling for donations!

or send em a peso...

65 posted on 05/18/2004 4:57:51 PM PDT by glock rocks (Please pray for our patriot armed forces in harm's way - and the families awaiting their safe return)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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.


66 posted on 05/18/2004 5:02:59 PM PDT by johnfrink
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

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


67 posted on 05/18/2004 5:33:32 PM PDT by Theodore R. (When will they ever learn?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

Its a bipartisan crime racket... our elected representatives could care less if hospitals and clinics close due to uncompensated health care costs. The worst part of this vote is that they deny to Americans what they guarantee to those here in violation of our country's laws: free health care. And here you have so called conservatives voting for Canada style health care for everyone but Americans. Think about what that means the next time you witness Americans being denied health care they can't get cause their local hospital shut it doors. Its un-American, according to the House Of Representatives, to require foreigners to pay for the full costs of their treatment even though every other country has such a requirement. Ask a sick American treated in Mexico if he can get free health care while there.


68 posted on 05/18/2004 6:05:04 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
Without either of them embracing illegal alien amnesty and bending over forwards for Vicente Fox, a hell of a lot more Republicans would have voted yes and not worried about going against the sentiments of the President.

You are making excuses for the R's in congress but not for the president.

Each politician is responsible for their own vote.

69 posted on 05/18/2004 6:08:40 PM PDT by FreeReign
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: NYC GOP Chick

>>But why do it to a kid at that age?!<<

Because the kid refused to keep himself clean.


70 posted on 05/18/2004 7:42:39 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Lady I only speak two languages, English and Bad English!" - Corbin Dallas "The Fifth Element")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: glock rocks

send them a peso.


That's what I did, 2 of them.


71 posted on 05/18/2004 7:44:48 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Lady I only speak two languages, English and Bad English!" - Corbin Dallas "The Fifth Element")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP

My brother used to work in collections at a hospital. When he called someone, he could see on his screen oodles of personal information, from which he could glean whether or not the person could afford to pay the bill. I remember him telling me of at least one illegal who could pay the bill, but was refusing. My brother threatened to report him to INS. It's amazing how quickly people will start cooperating when given a little motivation.


72 posted on 05/18/2004 7:56:33 PM PDT by Thane_Banquo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ed Thomas

Its called taking the path of least resistance. To its everlasting shame, the House of the people couldn't be counted on to stand up on behalf of our country's national interest.


73 posted on 05/18/2004 8:03:35 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
Good. This is not appeasement.

Enforcing immigration laws is the job of Homeland Security, not surgeons and nurses and radiologists. Let's not pass the buck, please.

74 posted on 05/18/2004 8:22:33 PM PDT by AM2000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
And just when the hell did health care become a "right"?

When there were enough liberals electing people who believed it was a right and imposed this 'right' on the rest of us....unfortunately.

75 posted on 05/18/2004 8:32:32 PM PDT by Lizavetta (Savage is right - extreme liberalism is a mental disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Lizavetta

But not for Americans. We're not deserving enough to get that free health care. <sarcasm


76 posted on 05/18/2004 8:34:56 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: StoneColdGOP
David Drier, point man for Schwarzenegger, votes NO.

The moderates (Republican) in California will rue the day they voted for Schwarzenegger and his buddy Dave.

77 posted on 05/18/2004 8:38:43 PM PDT by Amerigomag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ed Thomas

We're flexible. Would you prefer 'Quisling'?


78 posted on 05/18/2004 8:40:52 PM PDT by skeeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: AM2000
Enforcing immigration laws is the job of Homeland Security, not surgeons and nurses and radiologists. Let's not pass the buck, please.

That dog may bark on a Republican forum which is were I suggest it be exercised.

When the Republican Party comes for the you, don't even think about glancing to your right for help. Look to the surgeons, nurses and radiologists.

79 posted on 05/18/2004 8:49:43 PM PDT by Amerigomag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: AM2000

"Enforcing immigration laws is the job of Homeland Security, not surgeons and nurses and radiologists. Let's not pass the buck, please."


===

Finally, the voice of reason -- I was getting worried, reading this thread.


80 posted on 05/18/2004 8:56:17 PM PDT by FairOpinion (If you are not voting for Bush, you are voting for the terrorists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 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