Axelrod: Illlegal immigration won't be addressed in health bill

White House senior adviser David Axelrod made clear Sunday that concerns within the Hispanic Caucus about the exclusion of illegal immigrants from the healthcare exchange won't be addressed under the current legislation.

Responding to the concerns of Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and others when asked by host Candy Crowley on CNN's "State of the Union," Axelrod said President Barack Obama believes "this is not the vehicle through which to address our immigration issue."

Axelrod stressed that legal immigrants will be able to purchase insurance through a national health insurance exchange.

Resolutions about illegal immigration are for another time, another bill, Axelrod said.

"This is not the place for this nor is this the place to resolve dipsutes over abortion," he said, referring to the continuing dispute with Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and his coalition. "I believe as the week those on these issues will clarify themselves."

And then immigration reform could be next, he said.

"We have to resolve the larger question, which is the status of undocumented workers in this country," Axelrod said. "We can't solve it in the context of this debate."

Axelrod said the White House is "very optimistic" about the health bill's passage.

"We've come to the realization that this is the moment and if we don't act now there will be dire consequences," he said.

Axelrod said that people in this country like elements of the health bill and would be more favorable to the bill as they see results after its passage. He criticized Republicans for saying Democrats would take a beating in midterm elections if they force the bill through.

"Mitch McConnell, John Boehner have been generous in giving advice to Democrats about how careless this vote is," Axelrod said wryly.

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