The Congressional Research Service is the division of the Library of Congress dedicated to providing nonpartisan research to members of Congress. And here’s what it says about the administration’s health care legislation (H.R. 3200): “Under H.R. 3200, a ‘Health Insurance Exchange’ would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option … H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitizens — whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently — participating in the Exchange.”

Could the Congressional Research Service be lying or inaccurate? I don’t think so. In short, the bill contains no verification mechanism. This is like putting a speed-limit sign on a road, then setting a policy that prohibits police from patrolling the road. Masses of noncitizens — whether legally present or not, here permanently or temporarily — will be speeding right by to grab those health care services, at your expense.

Dennis Olson

Albert Lea