Thread: Bill affecting Texas indigent care for legal immigrants

Bill affecting Texas indigent care for legal immigrants headed to governor

Associated Press
Posted: 05/16/2011 02:57:05 PM MDT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas legislature has sent to the governor a measure requiring legal permanent U.S. residents to provide additional proof they are impoverished before qualifying for state indigent care services.
Passed Monday in the House 100-37, the bill allows individual counties to check the financial resources of the U.S. citizen who sponsored a permanent resident's entry into the country before allowing the green-card holder access to indigent care services.

If the sponsor has the resources to finance treatment, the person they sponsored wouldn't be eligible for indigent care.

The measure largely restates existing federal law. Still, supporters say it will help Texas counties safeguard their indigent-care coffers.

Approved in April by the Texas Senate, the measure sparked debate in the House from opponents who called it immigrant bashing.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18073802

The problem is not LEGAL immigrants gaming the system, the problem is ILLEGAL ALIENS doing it. So they doing something about that???

Originally Posted by miguelina

The problem is not LEGAL immigrants gaming the system, the problem is ILLEGAL ALIENS doing it. So they doing something about that???

I agree, but didn't legal immigrants promise to be self-sufficient before moving here? If they're legal, does that mean the law isn't racist?

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

I agree, but didn't legal immigrants promise to be self-sufficient before moving here? . . .

YEP. That's why they are going after them.
People bring their sick and old relatives here and want the U.S. taxpayers to take care of them.

Originally Posted by miguelina

The problem is not LEGAL immigrants gaming the system, the problem is ILLEGAL ALIENS doing it. So they doing something about that???

I can assure you, from first hand knowledge, LEGAL residents are doing this. Many of them refuse to buy health insurance, even if they can afford it, and simply go to the emergency room when ever necessary. They claim they can't pay. Some of these individuals work in the healthcare field and simply understand how to "game" the system.

Some of these people also repeatedly declare bankruptcy.

Originally Posted by miguelina

The problem is not LEGAL immigrants gaming the system, the problem is ILLEGAL ALIENS doing it. So they doing something about that???

Exactly, this is a worthless bill. Let's send bills to Austin that cut illegal aliens out of the free ride system.