According to the Congressional Budget Office, Medicaid spending would increase by $10 billion from 2008 to 2012 and by $23 billion from 2008 to 2017, under the current immigration bill. (Kaiser Network)
The bill would open the door to allowing millions of illegal aliens to become U.S. citizens. Lawmakers would need to raise taxes to compensate for Medicaid benefits paid out to these new citizens.
The so-called immigration reform bill was a compromise between national Republicans and Democrats but was unpopular among Republican constituents. The bill stalled in the Senate last night after an effort to end debate and vote on the measure failed. (Associated Press)
