Congressman Gutierrez wants Illegal Aliens to have Access to Health Care

One of the most outspoken immigrant advocates in Congress, Illinois Representative Luis Gutierrez introduced legislation yesterday that would expand the Affordable Care Act to cover each and every undocumented migrant in the U.S. 

Gutierrez addressed his fellow congressmen on Wednesday. His dry, impassionate speech began with a tip of the hat to John Boehner and Pope Francis.  

“The goal is to make integration and inclusion real for millions of families that are locked out under current law. As it stands right now, undocumented immigrants are not subject to the individual mandate and cannot buy into health insurance exchanges even if they use their own money. My legislation will change that. It says that we stand for inclusion.”  

Gutierrez’s speech, read verbatim from a few sheets of paper, was delivered next to a big sign that read, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Well as far as I know, Mexico does not offer health care to illegal immigrants. It ships them back home! 

“Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you means moving forward with no restriction in which brother and sister and neighbor we think of as ‘eligible’ or ‘deserving,’” he said, reminding his audience that during his speech to Congress last week, the pontiff urged American lawmakers to follow the Golden Rule.

I agree with Gutierrez that anyone contributing to society should have access to health care, but I fail to see how a person who sneaks into a country illegally and sends money back home is contributing to society. 

Even with a President with a soft spot for illegals, Gutierrez’s proposition doesn’t stand a chance.