Here's Why the Dems Will Cave on Verification of Illegals

(Originally written by Mark Krikorian over at NRO-The Corner (aka link-less website). I am posting it in full because I'm hoping Mark is right.)

New from Rasmussen: "83% Say Proof of Citizenship Should Be Required to Get Government Health Aid." They mean "legal status" rather than "citizenship," of course, but you can see why they're so worried about this:

The desire to limit the benefits to U.S. citizens is found across demographic and partisan lines. It is held by 95% of Republicans, 70% of Democrats and 87% of those not affiliated with either major party. It is favored by nine-out-of-10 conservatives and moderates, along with 56% of those who consider themselves politically liberal. But 32% of liberals hold the opposite view.

I can hear the lefties grasping at straws: "At least opposition isn't quite 2-to-1 among liberals!"

In related news, my colleague Steven Camarota has estimated the maximum potential cost if all uninsured illegals who qualify based on income levels (a total of 6.6 million people) were to receive the taxpayer-funded premium affordability credits: $30.5 billion, as opposed to the estimated $4.3 billion a year governments spend now on health care for illegals, mainly at emergency rooms and free clinics.

Having voted down an amendment requiring verification, the sponsors of the health-reform bill are asking us to trust that the regulation-writing process will make sure illegals are barred from receiving benefits.

The check is in the mail. I'll respect you in the morning. Illegal aliens won't be covered by Obamacare.