R.I. governor becomes voice of GOP governors on health care

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, October 2, 2009

By Steve Peoples

Journal State House Bureau

Governor Carcieri was a key player in dueling conference calls with national media outlets Thursday, serving as the Republican National Committee’s newest voice in its fight against congressional Democrats’ push to overhaul the nation’s health-care system.

Speaking at the request of the GOP’s national office, the Rhode Island governor told reporters from across the country that illegal immigrants are responsible for the ballooning number of the state’s uninsured.

“A large portion of the uninsured, it’s true nationally, but probably even a greater proportion in our case, are illegal immigrants, they’re immigrants, OK, many of whom are illegal,â€