The Democrats in the New York Senate have voted in favor of a bill to provide low-cost healthcare to illegal aliens living in the crime-infested state.
According to the New York Post, the decision was made after the federal government agreed to allocate funds for the initiative, easing concerns about the financial burden on the state.
Led by Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx), Chair of the state Senate Health Committee, the legislation gained support on the Senate floor with a vote of 41-21.
However, it still needs approval from the Assembly before it can become law.
”We are already spending over a billion dollars without giving any type of regular care to these folks,” Rivera said.
”So these folks are already here. They get sick. They catch flus They get colds. They break legs … What we’re suggesting here is that we have a way to get federal money so it does not cost the state anything,” he added.
According to Rivera, the yearly expense to the federal government amounts to at least $1 billion.
The bill’s sponsor in the Assembly, Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens), remained silent about what might happen to it in her chamber.
The bill has encountered both support and opposition, Inciting controversy among lawmakers.
Opponents of the bill raise worries about the possible burden on the state’s resources. They argued that giving priority to healthcare for immigrants might redirect funds from other vital services and burden taxpayers.
These opposing views have led to a spirited debate within the legislature.
”The fact that the money’s coming from the federal government doesn’t mean that it’s not coming out of taxpayer money, because the federal government gets their money from the same place,” Sen. Steven Rhoads said before voting against the bill.
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