Thread: Senator Hutchison Blames Illegal Immigrants

Senator Hutchison Blames Illegal Immigrants

Bill Zeeble, KERA News (2009-07-24)


DALLAS, TX (KERA) -

At a Dallas press conference, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison blamed illegal immigrants for making Texas the national leader in uninsured residents. But hospital officials and state statistics don't back her up. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more.

At the trauma center in Dallas' Parkland Hospital, Senator Hutchison was joined by local hospital executives in denouncing President Obama's health care reform plans before Congress.

Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured. When asked how she would solve that problem, Senator Hutchison blamed illegal immigrants.

Hutchison: We have the highest number of uninsured mostly because of the illegal immigrant population.

State hospital officials say that's wrong. Ann Ward is a Vice President with the Texas Hospital Association, in Austin.

Ann ward: People say illegal immigrants are a large part of the uninsured population but the studies I've seen by the Texas Department of Insurance, it's less than 20 percent of uninsured are illegal immigrants. And one thing we know, many of the people who come to hospitals for care. They pay, they pay cash.

Ward blames the state's high uninsured count on many low wage workers who cannot afford private insurance. She also says Texas has a lot of small businesses which don't offer employees health insurance.

www.publicbroadcasting.net

Ann ward: People say illegal immigrants are a large part of the uninsured population but the studies I've seen by the Texas Department of Insurance, it's less than 20 percent of uninsured are illegal immigrants. And one thing we know, many of the people who come to hospitals for care. They pay, they pay cash.

Humming tune " I got some... ocean front property in Arizona"

Yea and when you give them heathcare, they will all start going to the doctor for free.

Ann, you're full of it and so is the TX Dept of Insurance. Texas is a state that speculates since they don't document when illegal aliens recieve services. You know, a bill was presented to the legislator this session to account for illegal aliens but it got no where.

Basically, they are just making up numbers and they really don't know and they don't ask either.

Dixie

ANN you might see the so called reports, but how many of the illegals by insurance for ONE MONTH and only pay that one month on a six month policy??? give me a break you stupid woman

Ann ward: People say illegal immigrants are a large part of the uninsured population but the studies I've seen by the Texas Department of Insurance, it's less than 20 percent of uninsured are illegal immigrants. And one thing we know, many of the people who come to hospitals for care. They pay, they pay cash.

Oh really? If illegal invaders are so solvent and pay cash for their treatment, they why are hospitals closing their doors all over this country?

Less than 20% of the uninsured are illegal immigrants? Unfortunately, uninsured American citizens cannot walk away from their medical bills like illegals can.

Ann Ward needs to be replaced by someone who isnt afraid to state the facts. Illegal aliens are the reason why insurance rates are so high.