Posted on 07/11/2006 2:34:50 PM PDT by spintreebob
CHICAGO — (EFE) A collective lawsuit filed in Chicago seeks to declare a law unconstitutional that will demand proof of citizenship of 50 million Medicaid beneficiaries of throughout the country. The law, which went into effect on July 1, could lead to the loss of medical benefits for millions of low-income residents if they are not able to prove their status by presenting a passport, birth certificate, or other special documents, according to the lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, which names U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt as the defendant, the Federal District Court is petitioned for an immediate hearing to attempt to block the law.
“Many citizens are going to lose their medical benefits for unconstitutional reasons,” lawyer John Bouman of Chicago’s Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law said in a written declaration. He added that the new measures “will cause tremendous harm to people who are not able to present the required documentation, even though there is no question about their nationality.”
Bouman said the complaint was put forward in Chicago because the majority of the plaintiffs live in this area..... “But we also want to bring the issue forward in Washington, D.C. to bring more attention to the subject and to prevent confusion in the debate over immigration, which is the biggest topic of discussion in the capital today,” he explained.
Stephanie Altman, another lawyer involved in the lawsuit, said there is still a period of 45 days after the law goes into effect before services will be interrupted for those who are affected.
The lawsuit claims that anywhere from 3 to 5 million people in the United States could lose their benefits, while an unknown number could see their services delayed or might not receive Medicaid due to missing documents. The deposition also mentions that for more than a decade, Medicaid benefits were limited to U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who had lived in the country for at least five years.
With the inclusion of the law in the Deficit Reduction Act this year, proof of citizenship would be required only of people whose status was in question, but later it would be expanded as a requirement of all Medicaid beneficiaries. “This measure has the perverse effect of penalizing vulnerable citizens,” said Sarah Somers, another lawyer for the plaintiffs.
BUMP!
The Activism sidebar is reserved for Activism, protests, news and business of Free Republic Chapters.
Not this.
Please read the following for FR's posting rules for further guidelines.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1611173/posts
Thanks,
Reflejos? Is that like cornholijos?
Anyway, thanks for posting. I find it shocking that illegals think we owe them free medical care.
Such silliness.
What, they don't give out birth certificates if you are born in this country!?! What a banana republic (/sarcasm)
in other news, it was announced today that in order to purchase alcohol and/or lottery tickets, a birth certificate is required.
authorities report they've been deluged with requests for this documentation..(sarc/off)
Where in the constitution is any type of Medicaid "constitutional" ?
**
Exactly
C'mon up to Nuevo Jerk, where 80% of my property taxes go to pay medicade, medical for illegals, and retiree benifits.
Nuevo Jerk=NY=The Vampire State. Home of Shrillary, Screwmer, and Elliot Spitzonthelaw
Who knew there was a Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law? Why not call it the Sargent Shriver Never Did An Honest Day's Work Center For Self-Loathing Liberal Guilt?
I mean, it's a great title and all, but you KNOW those libs could never remember all that!!
Politically incorrect I'm sure, but I'm still:
ROFLMAOPMP
Really. But I predicted this law would not do much.
susie
It's in the MMXII Amendment, Section 453, Para 289: "Medicaid is Marxist cool."
Just exactly what clause in the constitution requires the government to give financial benefits to anyone (without question) who asks for them?
As to self incrimination, if one fradulently gains financial benefits from the government, then a crime has been committed, but if the government stops someone from committing fraud (by asking for ID) then there is no crime, and therefore no possibility of self-incrimination.
After all.. Mexico demands photo ID to compare with the picture of the voter in the electoral voter book.
How dare we deny benefits to anyone in the world who asks for them. What a horrible nation we are! /Sarcasm
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.