Saturday, February 23, 2008

The Feb. 17 Metro article "Montgomery Program for Uninsured in Uphill Battle" omitted important facts about the Montgomery Cares clinic program. The article didn't mention that many of the facilities are in elementary schools in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. These schools need renovation to provide a better educational environment, not health clinics for a growing illegal immigrant population. Instead, the Montgomery County Council put precious tax dollars into these unnecessary facilities.

While the reporter correctly noted that illegal immigrants and their families would use already financially stressed hospital emergency rooms if these clinics were not available, this misses a key point. Federal law requires only "emergency medical care" for illegal immigrants, not full-service clinics with dental and mental health care.

There is a better solution. Demand IDs and proof of citizenship of all those who request services. Use the savings in lower clinic usage to upgrade our schools.

-- Brad Botwin

Rockville

The writer is director of Help Save Maryland, a citizens group opposed to illegal immigration.