CNN Panelists Clash Over Federal Funding For Illegal Immigrants

Republican Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter and Democratic Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell clashed Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” over whether federal funds are being used for illegal immigrants’ healthcare.

Since the government shutdown began Wednesday, Democrats denied Republican accusations that they are blocking the GOP-led bill in order to provide healthcare for illegal immigrants. Citing a poll by The Washington Post showing 47% of voters hold Congressional Republicans more responsible for the shutdown, CNN host Jake Tapper asked Carter for his response to Americans “blaming you guys.”

“Well, and they shouldn’t be, because this is clearly the ‘Schumer Shutdown.’ This is a shutdown that the Democrats instigated, all in the name of trying to get healthcare for illegals,” Carter said.

“If you say they’re not trying to do that, that is erroneous. They are wanting to reverse what we did in the Working Families Tax Act. What we did was to make sure that illegals are not going to get Medicaid — ” Carter added before Tapper jumped in.

Tapper noted the availability of receiving Medicaid in a hospital would be limited to emergencies, with which Carter agreed. Dingell, however, pushed back on the Republican lawmaker’s argument, asking if he was suggesting someone who is dying shouldn’t receive care.

“If someone’s dying, they shouldn’t be able to get medical care. Is that what we’re saying?” Dingell asked. “The only thing it allows is if someone is in bad shape and they go to an emergency room, but they are not covered by Medicaid, they are not covered by Medicare already in the law.”

“The Supreme Court has already ruled on that, and we know we have to do that. But the point here is you’re trying to reverse what we did — ” Carter responded as Dingell interjected.

Under the Reagan administration, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) was