[StBernard] Fighting Against Health Benefits for Illegals

[Westley Annis]

Dear  Friend,


	

As President Obama  tries to sell his trillion-dollar health care proposal
to the American people, he continues to claim that illegal immigrants will
not  receive free coverage under the proposal. 

	

As this CNN story
<http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/27/health.care.immigrants/  >   states,
the non-partisan Congressional Research Service  found that federal
subsidies to  obtain health coverage would be restricted to U.S. citizens
and legal residents,  but it also noted that the bill does not  specify a
citizenship verification.  Because of this omission,  liberals have created
a huge  loophole in the bill that could allow millions of people to
fraudulently claim  those benefits. 

	

Two separate amendments  were proposed that would have required individuals
who receive federal health care  subsidies to verify that they are here
legally, but both amendments were rejected on party-line votes.

	

I firmly believe that  any health care reforms should not punish
hard-working American families while  rewarding those who are here illegally
by giving them free benefits.   Regardless of the president’s rhetoric, I
will continue fighting in the U.S.  Senate for what is best for Louisianans.



Sincerely,
David Vitter
U.S.  Senator