You Lie!
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is determined to make a liar out of Barack Obama:
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) is putting Democrats in a bind by seeking to let illegal immigrants benefit from the healthcare overhaul.
Menendez, the only Hispanic senator, has considerable leverage with Democrats because he may represent the deciding vote on the Senate Finance Committee set to mark up the legislation next week. He’s also the party’s campaign committee chairman, giving him added influence.
Menendez said he is withholding his support for the bill until his concerns about immigration and other matters are addressed.
His objections come one week after President Barack Obama staunchly disputed GOP accusations that the healthcare proposal would aid illegal immigrants — prompting the now-famous “You lie!” outburst from Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).
The Senate Finance Committee bill, drafted by centrist Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), does not allow illegal immigrants to purchase health coverage over an exchange set up to create competition within the insurance industry and reduce costs.
Menendez is troubled by that language and has joined Hispanic advocacy groups in criticizing the bill for placing too heavy a burden on legal and illegal immigrants.
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September 18th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Funny…Joe Wilson himself has voted for legislation that provided coverage for illegal aliens. So Mendendez maybe has allies on both ends of the spectrum.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
“Funny…Joe Wilson himself has voted for legislation that provided coverage for illegal aliens…”
Interesting….can you provide a link?