Mass. grapples with immigrants' health care costs

By STEVE LeBLANC, The Associated Press
12:32 p.m. July 28, 2009

BOSTON — Massachusetts is grappling with the question of whether to deny subsidized health care to 30,000 legal immigrants living in the state.

The budget approved by lawmakers last month eliminated health care funding for legal immigrants, saving the state an estimated $130 million.
Patrick signed the budget, but asked lawmakers to partially reinstate the coverage by restoring $70 million.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo said the state's fiscal situation isn't getting any stronger, but he is hoping to reach some kind of resolution on the issue as early as Wednesday.

Immigrant advocates say the cut hurts taxpaying legal immigrants and sets a bad precedent for the national health care debate.

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