Immigration and Health Care: 2 Hot Topics While Gregoire Visits Yakima

Oct 16, 2007


YAKIMA, Wash. - Immigration, health care and the intersection of the two were the focus in a town hall meeting with Governor Chris Gregoire in Yakima last night.

Bob West of the anti-illegal immigration group Grassroots of Yakima Valley asked why the Children's Health Program was extended to undocumented immigrants.

Gregoire replied that the purpose is to keep children from developing health problems that could be more costly to the state.

On the other side of the issue, immigration advocate Ezequiel Olmedo of Sunnyside pleaded, "Do everything possible so there are no more immigration raids."

Gregoire says she'll keep working to get Congress to approve immigration reform, including secure borders and a guest worker program.

Her appearance was part of a six-stop "listening tour" of the state.

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