MIRA Blog
MIRA advocates for the rights and opportunities of immigrants and refugees. In partnership with its members, MIRA advances this mission through policy analysis and advocacy, institutional organizing, training and leadership development, and strategic communications.
Tweet
Late on the night of Wednesday, April 27, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to fund the Commonwealth Care Bridge program (see previous post for details) at $25 million for at least six months of FY2012, with further funding down the road.
MIRA is grateful for its allies at the ACT Coalition, MLRI and others, and thanks the Governor Patrick's commitment since 2009 when the legal immigrant population was excluded. We are also thankful for Rep. Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford) for his leadership on the floor year after year, for Rep. Tim Toomey (D-Cambridge)'s amendment effort, and for the House leadership.
After the 150-4 vote at 10:00PM, which also included funding for Adult Day health services, Patrick said in a statement: "I am grateful that Speaker DeLeo and his colleagues in the House have recognized the vital importance of restoring funding that provides health care for legal, taxpaying immigrants here in Massachusetts. All of the Commonwealth's residents deserve access to quality and affordable health care, and by protecting this program we can continue to do just that.â€
Related Post
- Health care coverage for immigrants MIRA welcomes the new year with great news — Just as it was about to run out at the end of January, the Commonwealth Care Bridge program has been fu...
- Anti-Immigrant Amendments Defeated! In a major victory, the Massachusetts House of Representatives rejected three major anti-immigrant budget amendments on April 28....
- MA Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Equal Health Care Coverage for Immigrants Immigrant and healthcare advocates today applauded the Massachusetts Supreme Court for ruling that the exclusion of immigrants from the state's univer...
- Immigrant Voters Speak Loud and Clear The results from the pivotal 2010 midterm elections strongly suggests that immigrant voters in Massachusetts and across the nation raised their voices...
- Worcester Immigrants Say No to S-Comm "We blew it," said John Grossman on Saturday afternoon to a Worcester meeting room packed with 150 to 200 immigrants. "And I’m here to apologize."...
- Stop Anti-Immigrant Amendments! During last year's State Senate budget debate, a package of harmful amendments were passed that became the most severe blow to immigrant rig...
- Budget Successes! On Friday, July 1, the Massachusetts state legislature voted to pass the state budget for FY 2012 and submitted the budget to Governor Patrick for his...
- Stop ICE's attempt to force Massachusetts into 'Secure Communities' On June 3, 2011, Governor Patrick announced his decision to keep the Commonwealth of Massachusetts out of the failed and problematic Immigrati...
- Immigrants Once Again Scapegoated in the Name of "Public Safety" Anti-immigrant fervor has reached an unbearable pitch.The introduction of the Anti-Immigrant Bill “Act to Enhance Community Safety,†S.D. 2109 thi...
- Arlington International Film Festival Come join MIRA staff, friends and family at the opening night of the first annual Arlington International Film Festival! In order to kick off this ...