18th hopefuls spar on health care vote.

Byline: Donna Boynton

UXBRIDGE - Incumbent state Rep. Jennifer M. Callahan, D-Sutton, demanded a retraction last night from her Republican challenger for the 18th Worcester District, Ryan Fattman, saying his campaign literature falsely states she cast a vote that allowed health care for illegal immigrants.

The heated exchange occurred during a debate sponsored by the Uxbridge Taxpayers Association. The firestorm centered on a flier sponsored by the Committee to Elect Ryan Fattman that states Ms. Callahan "supports immigrant health care benefits" by voting in 2006 to override then-Gov. Mitt Romney's veto of the health care provision, thereby enabling illegal immigrants access to healthcare benefits.

Mr. Fattman refused to retract the statement on campaign literature distributed throughout the district, brandishing an AFL-CIO Health Care Reform Study that he says proves otherwise.

"Read this report. Facts are stubborn things. This bill gave illegal immigrants access to health care," Mr. Fattman said, adding that illegal immigrants received $40 million in primary health care. "I won't retract it."

"I stand here indignant about this and will not have someone impugn my record when they know it isn't true," Ms. Callahan said. "I encourage you to retract that statement ASAP. ... This is politics as usual; campaign gimmicks and fabrications designed to hide his inexperience. This is gutter politics."

Ms. Callahan brought with her a letter from James J. McGlynn, assistant counsel in the Office of Counsel to the House of Representatives, that stated the law allows health care for legal immigrants only.

Earlier in the evening the candidates for the 8th Worcester District - incumbent state Rep. Paul Kujawski, D-Webster, and Uxbridge Republican Kevin Kuros - debated.

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