While several Democrats have declared that Republican predictions that voting for Democrats will lead to Medicare benefits being given to illegal aliens are a lie, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for All” legislation would do exactly that. Sanders asserted that “medical care is a human right that must be provided to all humans regardless of their citizenship. Republican efforts to restrict these benefits to only US citizens is a crime against humanity.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) still insisted that “Republicans are lying. Right now there is nothing in the existing law that authorizes giving these benefits to undocumented immigrants. The implication that our Party would violate the law to give aid to those not entitled to it is a smear tactic.”
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn) echoed Warren’s claim, saying “of course Republicans are lying. Federal law today says health insurance benefits cannot be used by people who are undocumented, who are not here legally. That is the law. There is nothing that we are currently trying to do to change that law.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) said “the claim that Democrats want to provide health care for illegals is a big lie. I want to remind everyone that Sen. Sanders is not a Democrat. He is an Independent. Democrats cannot be held responsible for his ‘Medicare for All’ bill. We may end up voting for it in the next Congress, but it is wrong for Republicans to try to use this future possibility against Democrats in this year’s election to try to scare voters into voting against us.”
The Democrat nominee for US Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, has made “Medicare for All” — including illegal aliens — a major campaign promise. Eighteen Senate Democrats, including Warren, Smith, and Van Hollen are co-sponsors of Sanders’ bill. This evidence seems to verify the Republican claim that voting Democrats into a majority in Congress would lead to enactment of legislation granting federal Medicare and Medicaid benefits to illegal aliens.
In related news, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill) is sponsoring a “Reimagining Safety Act” that would replace the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with a new Department of Community Safety (DCS) and eliminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “It’s time we ended the persecution and put out the welcome mat that former President Biden laid out for the brave individuals who endured perilous journeys to come and share in the wealth our country has accumulated,” she said. Co-sponsors of her bill include Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich), Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz), and Jim McGovern (D-Mass).
John Semmens
