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House liberals' wish list for government health plan: no citizenship requirements, triggers or opt outs and more subsidies
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
11/03/09 6:50 AM PST
The most liberal factions of the House sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, telling her that the House health care bill must strengthened to ensure the government-run insurance plan is not subjected to triggers or an "opt out" mechanism.
The letter was signed by the chairs of the Progressive, Black, Hispanic, and Asian-Pacific Islander caucuses, whose combined membership is more than 100 members of the 256-member Democratic caucus.
The group is also demanding language be added to the bill that would ensure subsidies are great enough to help those who can't afford insurance and they want a provision added to guarantee that no citizenship or residency verification is required for purchase of insurance in the health Insurance exchange that would be created under the House bill.
Most of the demands in the letter directly conflict with the dominant Senate bill, which allows states to opt out of the public option and bans illegal immigrants from buying insurance included in the government exchanges.
The liberal faction did not threaten to oppose the bill, but they might try to block a House-Senate compromise bill, which will likely have some kind of opt out or trigger provision.
The House is on target to vote on a health care bill this week.
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