Two issues stand in the way of Democratic leaders getting their bill passed: abortion and immigration. They seem confident that it will, but they have yet to secure enough votes. Last week, when i posted a similar blog regarding this bill, i possed the question on exactly who would pay for this bill. Although it doesnt really say who will, this still gives a little bit of insight on what it actually entails: " The 10-year, $1.2 trillion bill would extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans with a new requirement that almost everyone get insured, and give subsidies to help lower-income people afford plans. Businesses would be required to cover their employess, and insurance companies would no longer be able to turn people away because of their health status." It is not clear yet as to when the details of the "final language and price tag" on the bill the senators are waiting for will be known but debates on the may not even begin until the week before Thanksgiving.
" Anti-abortion Democrats were circulating language to strengthen prohibitions in the bill against federal funding of abortion. The bill stipulates that people getting federal subsidies would have to use their own money to get abortions, but that division is not clear enough to satisfy some lawmakers. Lawmakers are considering language that would make more straightforward declaration against use of federal funds of abortion." So if you are confused, its basically saying that its position regarding the funding of abortion is not as clear as anti-abortion Democrats would like it to be.
" On immigration, its still not settled whether illegal immigrants would be allowed to shop for insurance within a new purchasing exchange. Some lawmakers say that even if they use their own money to by private plans they would be getting a benefit from the federally established exchange. The White House does not want illegal immigrants to access the exchange, and the Senate bill would keep them out." <-- basically where they stand on immigration.
the link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091103/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul;ylt=AjcTl1nHJVbr_hpf9mLbPrVsaMYA
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Although I think the health care bill's status on abortion is definitely something that needs to be worked out, I feel like the whole illegal immigrants thing is kind of a non-issue. Isn't it kind of already decided that illegal immigrants will not have access to the public health care option? The article itself said "The White House does not want illegal immigrants to access the exchange, and the Senate bill would keep them out." And Obama has said himself that "the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally." Honestly, a bill that provided health care to illegal immigrants would have absolutely no chance of getting passed.
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