The apologies are out of the way and the offense forgiven. But the underlying policy argument remains, after a Congressman drew fire from both sides of the aisle for his outburst during President Obama's speech Wednesday. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., was criticized for interrupting Obama's address to a joint session of Congress to accuse the president of lying about his health care reform plan prohibiting coverage for illegal immigrants. Wilson quickly apologized, and the White House accepted the apology.
Wilson apologized again Thursday morning, though he also says a massive loophole could wind up in the health care bill: no requirement to prove citizenship for health care coverage.
Among three House committees to pass bills for health reform, only one expressly bans federal funding for proving health coverage to illegal immigrants.
"The Congressional Research Service has indicated that indeed the bills that are before Congress would include illegal aliens," Wilson said. "And I think this is wrong."
Indeed, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service study found that the House health care bill does not restrict illegal immigrants from receiving health care coverage.
House Republican Minority Leader John Boehner amplified the complaint that without proof of citizenship, illegal immigrants could be insured.
"There were two opportunities for House Democrats to make clear that illegal immigrants wouldn't be covered by putting in requirements to show citizenships," he said. "Both of those amendments were, in fact, rejected."
In the Senate, Democrats in the so called "Gang of Six," a group of bipartisan senators on the Senate Finance Committee which is the last panel yet to release its bill, began moving quickly to close the loophole that Wilson helped bring greater attention to.
"We absolutely assure that those who are here illegally would not get the benefit of any of these initiatives," Sen. Kent Conrad said.
House Democrats have left open the option to sanction Wilson for violating a House rule that expressly prohibits members from accusing presidents of lying. But they signaled a preference to move ahead without further distraction.
"Let's not spend time on that," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "Yes, there is a procedure that could have been implemented. I think that the president did the right thing: just continued on from it and didn't give it any more attention than it deserved."
FOX News' Carl Cameron contributed to this report.
As far as Rep Joe Wilson’s outburst… good for him that he apologized; certainly more than Harry Reid did when he called President Bush a liar or Speaker Pelosi did when she called the CIA liars. However Ann Coulter shared that the rule of no shouting out or even calling the President a liar (when he was) goes back to a time when nobody interrupted the Presidents’ speeches with cheering, boos or even clapping. Therefore this rule really no longer applies. You can’t have it both ways.
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Jim DeMint - Joe Wilson was right
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) was right. The President was being dishonest when he said the House health care bill does not providing benefits to illegal immigrants. It does.
- According to the Congressional Research Service, HR 3200 "does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens participating." The system would essentially operate on an honor system by illegal immigrants.
- HR 3200 provides State Medicaid agencies with the ability to set eligibility standards for the low income subsidies. Since States are given a 100% federal match, there is nothing to discourage them from setting loose standards that allow illegal immigrants to be enrolled in the program.
- With the help of the National Council of La Raza, House Democrats defeated two amendments offered to HR 3200 that would have added explicit taxpayer protections to stop benefits from going to illegal immigrants.
Related Resources:
- Rep Joe Wilson – Let’s Move On!!
- Wilson Apologizes But Still Thinks Obama Wasn't Honest
- Fact Check: President Obama Repeats Falsehoods in Joint Session Speech
- Obama… “Will Call You Out”
- ObamaCare Speech: A Bust
- Dems Disregard of American’s Will and Rights: “Blue Dog” Refuses to Let Constituent Videotape Town Hall!
- Be Quiet America, Washington Knows Best
- Video - Jim DeMint to the President: Stop Speaking in Generalities and Defend your Health Plan (Honestly)
- Obama’s Big Political Gamble
- Semper Fi – Now Just Die Obama Pushes Euthanasia on Veterans
- Catastrophe
Posted: Knowledge Creates Power – Cross Posted: Daily Thought Pad
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