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Clements, Hinkle call on news media
to expose Democrat health care priorities
Refusal to give legal citizens preference for new
Basic Health Plan slots is 'untold story'
Rep. Jim Clements and
Rep.
Bill Hinkle are incensed by House Democrats’ Friday killing of
Hinkle’s amendment that would allow only legal Washington residents
access to nearly 6,000 new Basic Health Plan slots created in the House
budget.
Clements, R-Selah, wants Washington residents who are U.S. citizens to
be “first in line and first in time” when the door opens for new BHP
slots. “But the Democrats slammed the door, allowing illegal aliens who
have no valid Social Security number nor have filed 1040 forms nor paid
federal taxes nor have legal status to be employed nor are in the state
legally to bump our citizens out of line to receive taxpayer-funded
insurance,” he said.
“If government health care has to be expanded – which I disagree with in
the first place – those slots should go first to people who are here
legally,” said Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. “How can the Democrats complain about
Wal-Mart and other companies with employees who are on the Basic Health
Plan if they’re willing to let illegal aliens sign up first?”
Clements, who feels House leadership last week muzzled Republicans,
supported the media earlier this session by voting for legislation that
would help protect their sources.
“But it seems most of the ‘watchdogs’ in the media, at least on west of
the Cascades, can’t pick up the scent of this story. They’ve got a nose
problem,” Clements said.
Hinkle’s amendment to protect citizens was yelled down on a voice vote.
Clements managed to get an amendment through, on a 64-32 vote, that
would prevent sex changes from being paid for by taxpayers for the
remainder of this biennium. But Clements figures the protection
represented in his amendment will be removed by Democrats or vetoed by
the governor when the final budget is passed this session.
“Are the media going to be hunting dogs and smell out where all the
money is being spent on care for ineligible, illegal aliens or be lap
dogs for Christine Gregoire, DSHS, the Health Care Authority and the
Democrats?” Clements said. “There’s a place in Olympia that trains bird
dogs – the state Auditor’s office, at 902-0360.”
# # #
For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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