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First our political leaders said health
care reform would cover everyone.
Then they said undocumented immigrants
would not be covered. "It's too politically explosive," explained
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus.
Now we hear the Senate committee is
considering barring legal immigrants from subsidies enabling low and
moderate income families to secure affordable coverage under the Heath
Insurance Exchange, the signature new feature of health care reform.
Under pressure to reduce the price tag
associated with the bill, senators are looking for "easy targets" to
cut, and a bulls-eye is turning to immigrants.
Sound familiar? A similar dynamic
occurred a decade ago when the Newt Gingrich Congress funded welfare
reform on the backs of legal immigrants, restricting their eligibility
for services. Immigrants and the state and local governments that
host them are still struggling under that discriminatory legacy.
Our task is to ensure that Congress hears,
loud and clear, that immigrants are not, in fact, "easy targets."
Our political leaders must understand that creating new barriers to
health care for legal immigrants would also be "too politically
explosive," sparking opposition from constituents and jeopardizing the
prospects of health reform's passage.
Please contact your two senators with this
urgent message:
"Legal immigrants and citizens should
be treated equally under health reform. The same rules should
apply when it comes to affordable health insurance through
subsidies, or through Medicaid."
Legal immigrants pay the same taxes as
citizens, and have a right to use the programs and services their tax
dollars pay for. It would be unacceptable to welcome people to
come to this country as lawful permanent residents, collect their taxes,
and then refuse to let them buy affordable health insurance through the
new exchange. All Americans deserve health care they can afford.
We simply cannot afford half-measures and unfair exclusions in health
reform that leave out millions more.
To reach your senators, call the U.S.
Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, and say the name of the senator you
are trying to reach.
For the names and direct contact
information of your Senators, search here:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt
In addition, we encourage organizations to
endorse a
letter, which calls on the Senate Finance Committee to ensure that
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All legal immigrants have access to
subsidies in the Health Insurance Exchange;
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The five year waiting period
preventing legal immigrants from participating in the Medicaid
program is eliminated; and
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Medicaid is available to all
low-income children and pregnant women, regardless of immigration
status.
A quick turnaround is required.
Organizations wishing to sign on should inform
Bill Daley by noon Eastern
time, Monday, July 27.
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