Changing tactics
Lawmakers who want to extend health coverage to illegal immigrantswill not block the passage of the final health care reform bill so longas the White House offers a substantive promise to start pushingcomprehensive immigration legislation this year.
Democrats who want a comprehensive bill that reforms immigration law but also offers a pathway to citizenship have threatened to vote against health care if illegal immigrants aren’t included in the new system, making immigration one of the sticking points as Democratic leaders negotiate the final details.
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The Senate’s health care bill bars illegal immigrants from any sortof coverage, a provision embraced after Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted”You lie!” during Obama’s address to Congress when the president saidthat illegal immigrants would not be able to get health care under thelegislation.
Those familiar with the talks say any immigration legislation willinclude various amnesty provisions to allow for health care coverage.