Medical help for illegal immigrants could haunt Mitt Romney

LA Times ^ | 10/23/2011 | Noam N. Levey

[South40]

On the Republican campaign trail, he derides any such public aid. But the healthcare law he signed as Massachusetts governor allows it.

Reporting from Washington— The Massachusetts healthcare law that then-Gov. Mitt Romney signed in 2006 includes a program known as the Health Safety Net, which allows undocumented immigrants to get needed medical care along with others who lack insurance.

Uninsured, poor immigrants can walk into a health clinic or hospital in the state and get publicly subsidized care at virtually no cost to them, regardless of their immigration status.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If I were king, I wouldn’t allow this, except to save a life, unless there was a quid pro quo with Mexico (or wherever they came from).

[lquist1]

Wow! This guy’s got a lot of gall to go after anyone on illegal immigration.

[muawiyah]

Now that's something Perry can exploit ~ just advertise to the illegals in Texas that Massachusetts gives free medical care to illegals so they can all go there.

Revenge is a dish best served cold!

[South40]

Unfortunately there is no quid pro quo. A neighbor and her elderly father were dropped off a cruise ship in Cabo because the man was ill. Four days and $6000 later they released him and they were able to go home.

Mexico extorts and exploits all they can get from their northern neighbor. And we're just foolish enough to let it happen.

[Georgia Girl 2]

In GA the illegals just use the ER like a doctor’s office.

[South40]

Same in CA. That’s why the closest ER to my house had to close years back and why the only one left is so crowded an average visit turns into a 12 hour event.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks South40.

[McGavin999]

Now that's something Perry can exploit ~ just advertise to the illegals in Texas that Massachusetts gives free medical care to illegals so they can all go there.

The Supreme Court says you have to provide education and medical expense regardless of status. Here in AZ we've been complaining about this for years. It's almost destroyed most hospitals, they just go to the ER for whatever ails them. They've even taken to calling an ambulance to make sure they get accepted quicker then the people sitting around with broken arms etc.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The Screams did it with Congress’ legislation. Can the legislation be changed to push back on these abuses?

[TADSLOS]

Now that's something Perry can exploit ~ just advertise to the illegals in Texas that Massachusetts gives free medical care to illegals so they can all go there.

Why should they? Perry's ready to give them bi-national healthcare and a college education, given the chance. Rick simply has no maneuver room when it comes to beating Romney over the head for coddling illegals. A pox on both their houses.

[South40]

[Georgia Girl 2]

The good news here is that since we passed that tough anti immigration bill the illegals are leaving in droves. Its like a miracle.

[pulaskibush]

Both Perry and Romney have been shown to support illegal immigration in the past. The media is forcing us to choose one of these RINOs as the nominee.

[South40]

The media is forcing us to choose one of these RINOs as the nominee.

How so? I'm supporting a candidate who has a real chance of winning the nomination and unlike Perry & Romney he doesn't support ILLEGAL aliens. I'm supporting Herman Cain and the media can't stop me.

[McGavin999]

Sure, all congress has to do is pass a law, but you know how that goes.

[South40]

I am envious. California's moronic leadership is no better than that of Texas. The leftist-lature and Gov. Moonbeam just passed and signed its own version of a DREAM Act that will cost untold millions that the state does not have and the taxpayers cannot afford.

Fiscal irresponsibility is the order of the day in this cesspool of liberalism.

[McGavin999]

Basically they had no business ruling on that at all. There is nothing in the Constitution that says anyone has to pay for education or healthcare. Now, you can’t let someone lay dying in the street, but there is a difference between that and treating everyone and their 10 kids for the sniffles in an emergency room.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Something, doubtless, about whether a Federally funded benefits program can choose between legals and illegales.

[Netizen]

Uninsured, poor immigrants can walk into a health clinic or hospital in the state and get publicly subsidized care at virtually no cost to them, regardless of their immigration status.

Doesn't this happen everywhere, including Texas?