(The Center Square) – With less than one month before the budget deadline, the debate over subsidizing non-citizen health care continues, especially as Gov. J.B. Pritzker winds down one program.
In his proposed budget released in February, Pritzker cuts the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, which had taxpayers subsidizing the health care for non-citizens between the age of 42 and 64. The Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults, putting taxpayers on the hook for the health care for non-citizens over the age of 65, will still be intact if lawmakers approve Pritzker’s proposal.
Grace Pai is the executive director of Asians Advance in Chicago. During a news conference in Springfield, she advocated for more spending on non-citizens, not less.
“And at a time of intense xenophobia and attacks on federal funding impacting immigrant communities, we think it is really important for the state to step up and meet the need that is there in terms of providing health care for immigrant adults,” Pai said.
The following day, state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, said taxpayers can’t afford it any more and advocated for ending both the adult and senior non-citizen health care subsidies. He has House Bill 1456 to do just that.
“I strongly urge the General Assembly to take up this bill and to repeal this program, this horrible abuse of our taxpayer dollars,” Davidsmeyer said.
When asked how to pay for the HBIA program, Pai said the state needs to change its income tax code from a flat tax to a graduated one.
“We need to be asking corporations and the super rich to pay their fair share and that’s part of why the [Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment] coalition has advocated for progressive revenue in this year’s budget,” Pai said.
Davidsmeyer said Illinoisans are taxed out, and subsidies for non-citizen health care need to end.
“And our citizens will certainly be appalled if they are forced to pay more taxes again to pay for people who are here illegally,” he said.
Earlier this year, an Auditor General report found the programs, which had significant cost overruns and internal reporting errors, cost taxpayers $1.6 billion.
Legislators have until May 31 to pass a budget with simple majorities. They return Tuesday. The next fiscal year begins July 1.
