Immigration Issues Impact Healthcare Debate
Although immigration reform has taken a “back seat” to healthcare reform and the economy, immigration is impacting how some in Congress view the bill being pushed by President Obama and Democrats. House Democratic leaders are telling their members to dig in for a legislative battle over health care and are suggesting that the fight could last through next week.
In the past few days, four additional rank-and-file Democrats have announced their opposition to Obama’s healthcare plan being pushed by Democrats. Reps. Ben Chandler of Kentucky, Luiz Gutierrez of Illinois, Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin of South Dakota and Heath Shuler of North Carolina now are indicating that they will vote against their party’s health care plan. The plan could be subject to an “up or down” vote late next week or later.
For a few Congressmen, immigration issues are having a huge impact on the healthcare debate. “At this time, I am a ‘no’ vote on health care,” said Gutierrez in a written statement. “It’s no secret that I have been critical of proposals that would exclude our nation’s hardworking immigrants from the health care exchange, and I would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to vote for any measure that denies undocumented workers health care purchased with their own dollars.”
Immigration advocates met with Mr. Obama this week and are planning rallies later this month in Washington, D.C.
