Barack Obama Backs Health Care Verification Revisions

Today, I called President Barack Obama at the White House, but I think he may have been golfing. I called (202) 456.1414 and left a message with a White House volunteer staffer thanking him for backing the Health Care Bill, H.R. 3200 that would require verification provisions to ensure that only American citizens receive taxpayer-funded health care subsidies. I also requested that he pressure Congressional Democratic leadership to support these provisions needed in any health care reform bill. In addition, I added that I am opposed to any BROAD AMNESTY for illegal aliens what-so-ever. I asked the volunteer if President Obama actually gets any of these comments that are left by citizens. She politely stated that he is given a detailed list of daily opinions received. I also added that I would like to see revisions allowing for prosecution and/or deportation of individuals who submit false Social Security numbers and falsify paperwork to illegally obtain health care.

Unfortunately, H.R. 3200 - the health care bill will allow illegal aliens to receive free health care services. Currently, the Democratic leadership team in Congress, specifically, Henry Waxman (Dem. California), is actively preventing verification measures to be added to the bill. On September 11, 2009, President Obama remarked and confirmed that a verification provision should be included in any health care bill. The President said:

1. Undocumented immigrants would not be able to buy private insurance on the exchange. Those who are lawfully present in this country would be able to participate.

2. Undocumented immigrants would be able to buy insurance in the non-exchange private market, just as they do today. That market will shrink as the exchange takes hold, but it will still exist and will be subject to reforms such as the bans on pre-existing conditions and caps.

3. Verification will be required when purchasing health insurance on the exchange. One option is the SAVE program (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) which states currently use to make sure that undocumented immigrants don't participate in safety-net programs for which they are ineligible.

4. There would be no change in the law that requires emergency rooms to treat people who need emergency care, including undocumented immigrants. There is already a federal grant program that compensates states for emergency room costs associated with treatment of undocumented immigrants, a provision sponsored by a Republican lawmaker.

I left my phone number and asked the volunteer to please have President Obama give me a call back at his earliest convenience. I stated that I know he is a busy man and cannot return every call to every citizen that requests one, but I am one very important individual and want to endsure that my voice is heard. I can probably expect a call within 72 hours right?

If you want change to come, you cannot sit on your duff and hope for the best. You must be proactive and call or write the people in charge. Get the numbers and addresses to your Governor (or Governator in our case), your Senators and Congressmen and your President. You elected them! You have every right to contact them.