(Medicare) Bill includes $1 billion for immigrant care

WASHINGTON -- Landmark Medicare legislation moving through Congress would give hospitals at least $1 billion during the next four years to cover the spiraling costs of providing emergency services for undocumented immigrants.

The provision would be particularly crucial for hospitals near the U.S.-Mexico border, including hospitals in El Paso.

The House was expected to vote on the Medicare measure today. A Senate vote may not come until Monday.

Kyl is the author of the original legislation to reimburse hospitals, and he persuaded lawmakers to include the money in the $395 billion Medicare bill. He was among a small group of lawmakers who negotiated the controversial bill, which would create a prescription drug benefit for the first time since Medicare was enacted in 1965.

Kyl spent the week fighting off attempts by other lawmakers to remove the $1 billion from the bill.

That battle is far from over. Some House members, led by Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., a vocal critic of immigration policy, have threatened to vote against the bill solely because of Kyl's provision. He called it a "billion-dollar boon for illegal aliens," charging that the provision would encourage more illegal immigration.

A borderwide study released last year found that undocumented immigrants racked up $190 million in unpaid bills at 77 border hospitals in 2000.

No sir,only the ones that are close to becoming legal use those.It took me just one application and 3 weeks to obtain my husbands i.t.i.n. 5 years ago. We had an imigration atty. working for us w/ imigration and so we had no problem w/ obtaining his.On the other hand, I tried atleast 3 applications for his brother,corosponding w/ the I.r.s. (that is who issues the i.t.i.n's) for one year to obtain his.I had so much trouble getting them to believe that he was infact who I said he was.Now, as i said before, they use fake ss cards (i know) to avoid the hassle of going 'round and 'round w/ the Ir.s. to obtain these I.t.i.n.'s (individual identification tax number). the ones who have these are indeed able to not only file taxes, but also recieve a return.It is just easier for them to pay $80. for a fake ss card, report that they have 19 kids so that uncle sam does not take so much tax money out of their paychacks, and avoid the hassle of filing taxes all together.Trust me sir, when I say that I know more on this subject than you, or anyone you know does.As far as how they operate, and how the get away w/ what they do. I know this firsthand and will be happy to answer any questions or curiosities you may have on it.

I am speechless. Not shocked though.
At what point do the American people stand up?

Yes, it's time to fix the problem......time to control our borders.... But.....in the meantime, do we want Americans, legal aliens, illegal aliens, foreign visitors,...pets, cows,...roaming our neighborhoods with diseases like SARS, bird flu, AIDS, mad cow disease, etc? Illegals shop in the same stores that we do, walk the same streets that we do...live in canyons and alleys near us.... That scenario can be much more dangerous and costly than $1 billion. Yes? No? If No, then ignore this post.

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