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Here is the text that led to the outburst:
President Obama: "There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants. This too is false. The reforms..... the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally."
Rep. Wilson: "You lie!"
So, I had a discussion this morning with my right leaning friend, who is against reform, about what happened and what his opinion was on it.
Pro Reform: "It was plain and simple wrong for Wilson to do what he did. A member of the House of Representatives does not call the president a liar to his face when he's addressing Congress".
Anti Reform: "You're right. What he did wasn't right. But, I tend to agree with his opinion."
Pro Reform: "Why? In HR 3200 there's a section that says that people who are not legally in the US are not eligble to receive financial assistance from the government to purchase health insurance."
Anti Reform: "Yeah, but there's nothing in the bill to prevent illegal aliens from buying health insurance."
Pro Reform: "You mean, buying private health insurance on their own?"
Anti Reform: "Yes. An illegal alien would still be able to buy health insurance. He'd just have to pay for it all himself.
Pro Reform: "But they could do that today. If an illegal wanted to buy insurance today, there's little to stop him."
Anti-Reform: Plus, there's nothing proposed to prevent an illegal alien from buying insurance on the, so called, health insurance exchange."
Pro Reform: "But that insurance is not subsidized in any way. They'd have to pay the market price for insurance, which is what they'd have to do now."
Anti Reform: "But it would give them a place to buy it. And, doesn't Obama claim that his reforms will make private health insurance more affordable for people who want to buy it, and it will eliminate exclusions for pre-existing conditions."
Pro Reform: "Yes, that's the theory."
Anti Reform: "So, that means that private insurance is expected to become less expensive for anyone who wants to buy it. And there will be nothing to prevent illegal aliens from buying private health insurance. That's why I think the president is lying, because there's nothing that restricts this newly affordable insurance from illegal aliens.
Pro Reform: "But that's not what opponents are claiming. They're saying that illegal aliens will be able to get assistance from the government to pay for health insurance. That won't happen. The president's statement was that the reforms he's proposing would not apply to illegals. He's talking about the fact the reforms that would provide assistance for people who can't afford insurance "
Anti Reform: "That's not what he said. He said his reforms would not apply to people here illegally. If they can buy private insurance after his reforms go into effect, and the insurance is more affordable due to these reforms, then his reforms do provide illegals with insurance. If Obama really meant what he said, there would be a section in his reforms stating that illegal aliens would not be allowed to buy any health insurance."
Pro Reform: "Sure, and I can just hear the reaction from conservatives when they'd be told that they have to present proof of citizenship any time they enroll in health insurance."
(At this point we agreed to disagree)
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