La Raza looks to the Senate to claim their slice of health care

Millions of Americans including those in the country illegally are one step closer to getting health care benefits courtesy of the U.S. government and American taxpayer.

The Nation Council of La Raza (NCLR) is seeking their slice of the health care pie in the nation's capitol. When it comes to health care reform the NCLR says, “The Senate needs to complete the task and build on the House effort.”

The largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization inside America, NCLR has declared their support of several key elements in the health care reform legislation Congress passed over weekend.

A major issue the group is standing behind is the “emphasis on preventative care.”

“The House bill would ensure that illnesses and diseases are detected at the earliest possible stages and it takes tremendous steps to improve health care delivery,” a NCLR statement explained.

In an effort to make up inequalities and health disparities of Latinos, the House bill will identify and eradicate unequal access.

Furthermore, NCLR says “roadblocks to insurance must be eliminated by removing excessive verification requirements that raise costs and increase barriers to health care.”

The group also maintains that the Senate must promote an equitable system for all, “restrictions on legal immigrants, access to federal aid such as Medicaid, Medicare and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) must be removed.”

Looking to the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, NCLR applauded the caucus for fending off efforts by some lawmakers to strip the health care bill of unnecessary immigrant restrictions.

However, it is exactly measures like this make reform unpopular with most Americans.

“It is disappointing that despite assurances by President Obama and promises by Senate Democrats, the latest version of the House health care bill still contains loopholes that will allow illegal immigrants to benefit under the plan. When will House Democrats listen to the American people? Taxpayers do not want to subsidize people who are here illegally,” said Rep. Lamar Smith-R TX.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) found that the House bill contains no restrictions on noncitizens, whether legally or illegally in the country to participate in taxpayer-funded health care.


“Even President Obama and Democratic Senator Baucus reject this radical move and oppose participation by illegal immigrants,” said Smith.


However, the NCLR doesn’t mention the fact that an overwhelming number of Americans are not happy about providing extra health care to those in the country illegally.

The latest Rasmussen Reports poll confirms that “83 percent of voters nationwide say that people should be required to prove they are a citizen of the United States before receiving government health care subsidies.”

Finally, something most Americans can agree on.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner