Thread: MA: GOP loses bid demanding immigration review for benefits

GOP loses bid demanding immigration review for benefits

The Boston Herald

November 2, 2011 Wednesday

GARY J. REMAL


Beacon Hill Democrats beat back a move by House Republicans yesterday that would have forced Bay State officials to check the immigration status of anyone seeking state health, housing, college education or most other publicly funded benefits, after a freshman GOP lawmaker forced state officials to reveal the state spent $93 million on health care for illegal aliens last year.

'It is important to show Massachusetts taxpayers that some legislators are interested in protecting their hard-earned dollars from being misspent,' said state Rep. Daniel Webster, (R-Pembroke). 'This is only the tip of the iceberg. If $93 million is spent annually on MassHealth benefits for illegal aliens, one can only imagine how much money in all other state sponsored benefits is being given away to those who are in our country unlawfully.'

The vote followed efforts by state Rep. JamesLyons Jr., (R-Andover), who forced the Patrick administration to release figures showing spending on health care for illegal aliens spotlighted in Saturday's Herald.

GOP House members tried to attach the requirement as an amendment to a $92 million supplemental state budget largely providing funds for state housing programs.

All 33 House Republicans voted in favor of the measure along with 11 Democrats, Webster said. But a majority vote by Democrats shuffled Webster's amendment off to the House Post Audit Committee, where it will likely die, he said.

'It was sent to oblivion and never to see the light of day,' Webster said. House Democrats and the governor could not be reached for comment.

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Mass. Senate: Tighten immigrant access to benefits

Thursday, November 3, 2011

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Senate has approved a Republican-backed amendment requiring the state to take steps to deny benefits to illegal immigrants.

The amendment was adopted Wednesday as part of a supplemental spending plan and requires the Patrick administration to draft measures to ensure that those who are not lawfully entitled to benefits don't receive them.

Passage of the Senate amendment comes after the administration said one percent of Medicaid spending in Massachusetts during the past fiscal year had gone to services for immigrants who couldn't prove their legal status.

That translates into $93 million out of $9.6 billion in Medicaid spending.

The report found the vast majority of Medicaid spending, about 94 percent, covered expenditures for citizens. Another five percent went to qualified immigrants or legal immigrants not yet qualified.

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