Thread: NE-Compromise fails, prenatal debate to hit floor

After compromise fails, prenatal debate to hit legislative floor
StoryDiscussionBy NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 4:27 pm | (9) Comments

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Supporters of continuing Nebraska's prenatal coverage for all low-income women will take their case to senators Wednesday after a compromise failed to get Gov. Dave Heineman's support.

Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln said Tuesday afternoon she asked Speaker Mike Flood to bring the original prenatal bill (LB1110) to the floor for debate, anticipating she will eventually need 30 votes to overcome a governor's veto.

"We will go with the bill that came out of committee and see what happens," Campbell said.

The bill is scheduled for debate Wednesday morning.

Campbell and Flood had been working on a compromise to provide a transition period giving other groups time to find a solution. But Campbell said she was told earlier in the day Heineman would not support that compromise.

Heineman had no public comment on the issue, his staff said. The governor has said he opposes continuing coverage for all low-income women because of the immigration issue.

Earlier this month the state stopped serving a group of low-income women -- including more than 800 illegal immigrants -- after the federal government said the state was not following Medicaid rules.

The bill would create a new program that would provide prenatal care to all low-income unborn babies using other federal funds.

Campbell said senators were getting questions from constituents about providing prenatal care to women who were illegal immigrants.

Some senators have said they are hearing from people who say they are pro-life -- but are against providing prenatal care to these unborn babies, said Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, which supports the bill.

These are not people who are active in the pro-life network, she said.

"I don't know where this is coming from, but it's not from the grassroots," she said.

The group is asking senators to "put babies ahead of borders. Our people know that. They get it."

Nebraska Right to Life supports other efforts to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, but not on the backs of the "most vulnerable," Schmit-Albin said.

Supporters, including doctors who provide prenatal care, and advocacy groups for low-income Nebraskans, have also focused on the babies, who will be U.S. citizens.

They point to the potential cost of providing care for low-weight babies as a result of no prenatal care.

"It is frustrating to see the governor's position on this ... of playing politics with the lives of low-income children and families," said Becky Gould, director of Nebraska Appleseed. "Hopefully the Legislature will respond and pass good public policy for the state."

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.

http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/g ... mode=story

The group is asking senators to "put babies ahead of borders. Our people know that. They get it."

Why? Are babies of illegal aliens more important than the millions of babies aborted every year? If you cannot afford to support your own kids, you should NOT be having them and I do NOT want to be forced to pay for babies of irresponsible people, especially illegal aliens!

If illegal aliens insist of being babymakers, they can damn well pay for prenatal care themselves or keep their pants zipped and their legs crossed!

No one is against these unborn babies having prenatal care; but taxpayers shouldn't be having to pay for it when the mother is in our country illegally.

The actual low-income citizens deserve the prenatal care, but not illegal aliens. They do not pay taxes and should not be here in the first place. I can not believe that doctors are arguing that the children born to these illegal will be U.S. citizens. That is not right. That staus of babies born here should be that of their parents.

I have taught my two sons to pay close attention whenever a politician makes any statement like "It's to protect the children." It usually means one of two things: They want more of your money or to take away one of your rights. It involves both in too many instances.

These doctors are have no guarantee these kids will be U.S. citizens; illegal alien momma just might get deported before she gives birth.

I can't tell you how relieved Ne citizens are that this bill was pulled. The local newspapers are attibuting this to Gov H and the "anti-immigrant" groups - for which I chastised the writer of the article - I told him to NEVER use the term anti-immigrant in relation to Nebraskans Advisory Group again.

We worked so hard and consistently against this bill since it first reared its ugly head at the end of January. Almost everyday the ultra liberal local newspapers ran at least one to two articles in support of this bill. They waited until the night BEFORE the bill was to be debated to run my article opposing it. HERE IS WHO WE WERE UP AGAINST:

The 30 senators who originally supported the bill; Nebraskans United for Life; Nebraska Right to Life; Catholic Bishops; Douglas County Health Commission; Philanthropist Mr. Holland; Ne State Auditor, Mike Foley, Nebraska Appleseed and other pro-illegal alien groups; THE ENTIRE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY;

Nebraska Right to Life had an article saying they would withhold candidate endorsements until AFTER the vote. For Campbell and Coash to say that this issue is not over - and that some of these senators are going to wait until after the elections to bring this up again next year - THEY ARE SADLY MISTAKEN!

We have kept track of every public comment and show of support by every single senator - and we WILL LET EVERY PERSON IN EACH OF THEIR DISTRICTS know of the support for illegal aliens and their intentions. This is what we promised we would do during our phone calls and emails and so we shall.

We also call ICE and asked them to get the names and addresses from NE HHS of the illegal alien women. Then we wrote NE HHS requesting they send their list of these women to ICE. We wrote asking our state auditor Mike Foley to investigate the abuse, mismangement and fraudulent use of taxpayer money that's been used for illegal alien pregnant women over the past 30 years. Oh Yeh!

God bless you all on the ALIPAC nation who helped and supported us through this most stressful time.