7. Washington Watch:

Gutierrez: Health bill's immigration parts enough to vote against

The Hill is reporting that the healthcare bill's immigration provisions are enough to spur Hispanic members of Congress to vote against it, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) said Thursday.

Gutierrez, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) in which he serves as chairman of its Immigration Task Force, said the caucus still has concerns over the extent to which the healthcare bill excludes undocumented immigrants as well as legal residents from receiving benefits in the healthcare plan.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/86317-gutierrez-health-bills-immigration-parts-enough-to-vote-against

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Axelrod: Illegal immigration won't be addressed in health bill

The Hill reports that White House senior adviser David Axelrod made clear that concerns within the Hispanic Caucus about the exclusion of illegal immigrants from the healthcare exchange won't be addressed under the current legislation.

Axelrod said President Barack Obama believes 'this is not the vehicle through which to address our immigration issue.' Under the bill, legal immigrants will be able to purchase insurance through a national health insurance exchange. Resolutions about illegal immigration are for another time, another bill, Axelrod said.

Axelrod said the White House is 'very optimistic' about the health bill's passage.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/86617-axelrod-illlegal-immigration-wont-be-addressed-in-this-health-bill

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