Senators reject GOP's Papieren, bitte amendment on health bill

If health reform passes, you will not be required to show your papers when applying for coverage.

Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said his amendment would have helped cut fraud in health care programs for low-income people. It would have required applicants to present a government-issued ID when applying for Medicaid or the children's health care program.

But Democrats said unscrupulous medical providers — not beneficiaries — are usually the ones responsible for fraud. They said current ID requirements for beneficiaries are strong enough. The vote was 13-10, against the amendment.

I remember when conservatives used to think that a national ID requirement was a bad thing.

But, as with so many of their so-called principles, that was then.