Updated September 10, 2009
Rep. Wilson Outburst Leads Senate Dems to Close Loophole in Health Reform Bill
FOXNews.com
In the Senate, Democrats in the so called "Gang of Six," began moving quickly to close the loophole Rep. Joe Wilson helped bring to light with his outburst during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night.
The apologies are out of the way and the offense forgiven. But the underlying policy argument remains, after a Congressman drew fire from both sides of the aisle for his outburst during President Obama's speech Wednesday.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., was criticized for interrupting Obama's address to a joint session of Congress to accuse the president of lying about his health care reform plan prohibiting coverage for illegal immigrants. Wilson quickly apologized, and the White House accepted the apology.
Wilson apologized again Thursday morning, though he also says a massive loophole could wind up in the health care bill: no requirement to prove citizenship for health care coverage.
Among three House committees to pass bills for health reform, only one expressly bans federal funding for proving health coverage to illegal immigrants.
"The Congressional Research Service has indicated that indeed the bills that are before Congress would include illegal aliens," Wilson said. "And I think this is wrong."
Indeed, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service study found that the House health care bill does not restrict illegal immigrants from receiving health care coverage.
House Republican Minority Leader John Boehner amplified the complaint that without proof of citizenship, illegal immigrants could be insured.
"There were two opportunities for House Democrats to make clear that illegal immigrants wouldn't be covered by putting in requirements to show citizenships," he said. "Both of those amendments were, in fact, rejected."
In the Senate, Democrats in the so called "Gang of Six," a group of bipartisan senators on the Senate Finance Committee which is the last panel yet to release its bill, began moving quickly to close the loophole that Wilson helped bring greater attention to.
"We absolutely assure that those who are here illegally would not get the benefit of any of these initiatives," Sen. Kent Conrad said.
House Democrats have left open the option to sanction Wilson for violating a House rule that expressly prohibits members from accusing presidents of lying. But they signaled a preference to move ahead without further distraction.
"Let's not spend time on that," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "Yes, there is a procedure that could have been implemented. I think that the president did the right thing: just continued on from it and didn't give it any more attention than it deserved."
FOX News' Carl Cameron contributed to this report.
Latest Politics Video
Most Active In Politics
Most Read
Most Commented
-
Reid Compares Opponents of Health Care Reform to Supporters of Slavery
December 07, 2009 1,529 comments
-
Gibbs Scrawls Grocery List on Hand in Jab at Palin
February 09, 2010 1,524 comments
-
Brown Scores Upset Victory Over Coakley in Massachusetts Senate Race
January 20, 2010 1,186 comments
-
Palin to Join Fox News as Contributor
January 11, 2010 1,147 comments
-
House Passes Health Care Bill
November 08, 2009 1,138 comments
Real Clear Politics Poll
| Job Approval | Approve | Disapprove | Spread |
| Obama | 48.0% | 46.4% | +1.6% |
| Congress | 23.0% | 70.3% | -47.3% |
| Direction of Country | Right Direction | Wrong Track | Spread |
| RCP Average | 35.3% | 58.2% | -22.9% |
-
Obama, Republicans Seek Accord
February 10, 2010
-
Union-Backed Nominee Blocked in Senate
February 09, 2010
-
Gridlock in Senate Fuels Frustration
February 09, 2010
-
Washington Builds a Snow Mountain
February 10, 2010
-
Reid Hopes to Complete Jobs Bill This Week
February 09, 2010
-
One in Five Mortgages 'Underwater" in 4Q
February 10, 2010
-
Trade Gap Widened By More Than Expected in December
February 10, 2010
-
Home Loan Demand Drops Despite Dip in Rates
February 10, 2010
-
Euro Zone Holds Intensive Talks About Greek Rescue
February 10, 2010
-
Senate Jobs Bill Includes Tax Incentives for Hiring
February 09, 2010
-
Narrative Preaching 2
February 10, 2010
-
Seminary Re:mixed
February 09, 2010
-
Linday Lohan = Jesus Christ?
February 09, 2010
-
Incredible time lapse of "Snowmaggedon"
February 09, 2010
-
Atheism and our inhuman nature
February 09, 2010



recommend

Subscribe to Comments







