Health Plan Should Not Include Illegal Immigrants, President Says
Miri Marshall-Weekend Anchor/Weathercaster/News Reporter

Posted: 5:05 pm MDT September 20, 2009Updated: 8:10 pm MDT September 20, 2009

EL PASO, Texas -- On a Mexican television show, President Barack Obama said undocumented workers should not be included in the health care overhaul plan he's trying to push through Congress.

Speaking on Univision's "Al Punto" show, Obama said that if undocumented immigrants want to buy insurance, that's a matter to be settled with insurance companies. But he does not think they should be able to participate in insurance exchanges set up under the new health care plan.

The health care plan issue has sparked several heated debates across the country, including at town hall meetings hosted by Rep. Silvestre Reyes in El Paso. Some El Pasoans were concerned about the plan covering illegal immigrants, while others were concerned about how it would get paid for.

Obama said children of legal residents should have access to health care.

The president also said that overhauling immigration policy will be hard, "but I think we can get it done." He's not giving a timetable, though.

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