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    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    S.D. - Bill providing prenatal care to illegal immigrants passes House

    51 minutes ago • Bob Mercer
    rapidcityjournal.com


    Members of the state House listened to the debate Friday over legislation that would provide prenatal care to illegal immigrants in South Dakota.

    PIERRE | Legislation that would provide prenatal services to pregnant women who are illegal immigrants narrowly won approval Friday in the state House of Representatives.

    The 39-28 vote turned on the strength of support from women and a bipartisan coalition that didn’t follow the normal conservative-liberal lines.

    House Democratic leader Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton is prime sponsor of HB1214, which now goes to the Senate for consideration.

    “It is about healthy babies,” he said.

    Fourteen of the 15 Democrats present Friday voted for the bill. Among Republicans, the support was split nearly evenly; 25 Republicans voted for it and 27 opposed it.

    Women provided the decisive margin. Twelve women voted for the bill and six opposed it. The bill passed with only three votes more than the minimum 36 needed.

    House members rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Betty Olson, R-Prairie City, seeking to require state officials to report names and addresses of the women to federal immigration and customs enforcement agency.

    “I would just as soon have this lady sent back to the country of origin for prenatal care,” Olson said.

    The bill’s purpose is to direct the state Department of Social Services to provide medical services for certain fetuses, depending upon a pregnant woman’s citizenship status.

    South Dakota doesn’t offer Medicaid coverage for fetuses or illegal immigrants.

    Fifteen states currently offer the services to illegal immigrants under a 2009 federal program, including Minnesota, Nebraska and Wyoming.

    All bills sponsored by House members were supposed to have cleared the House by the close of business Wednesday, but the illegal immigrant bill was held for an extra two days, which was within the Legislature’s rules, for completion of a fiscal note requested by Rep. Lance Russell, R-Hot Springs.

    The Legislative Research Council used an analysis prepared by Social Services. It showed potential costs for the first year at $241,777 in state funds and $286,119 in federal funds, assuming the current Medicaid match rate of 54.2 percent of federal aid.

    Russell tried Friday to limit the program to pilot status, meaning it would have required approval again at a later date to continue and tried to attach an appropriation, which would have required a two-thirds majority for passage.

    But Hunhoff received a big push from Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, who said it was time to make a yes-or-no policy decision.

    Hansen said that without prenatal care he and his wife might not have their three children.

    “There is no question to human cost of inaction,” he said.

    One amendment that was added wouldn’t allow assistance for abortions except when medically necessary. That came from Rep. Steve Hickey, R-Sioux Falls, a supporter of the bill.

    Rep. Brock Greenfield, R-Clark, tried to rally opposition among conservative Republicans by pointing out the bill’s lead sponsor in the Senate.

    Greenfield never mentioned the name of Sen. Stan Adelstein, R-Rapid City, but provided a string of comments about Adelstein’s history of supporting Medicaid expansion.

    Hunhoff countered that Adelstein’s other attempts weren’t related to the illegal immigration matter.

    Greenfield spoke several times to urge House members to oppose the bill.

    “This is a foot in the door. There will be an expansion,” Greenfield predicted. “This is going to blow up to huge proportions.”

    The fiscal note didn’t contain an actual number for the estimated women who would be helped, but several legislators used the figure of 180 during the debate.

    The Daugaard administration didn’t take a public position on the bill during its House hearing Feb. 13. The House State Affairs Committee endorsed the bill that evening 13-0.

    Three of the committee’s Republicans — House Speaker Brian Gosch of Rapid City, Mike Verchio of Hill City and Kristin Conzet of Rapid City — switched sides and voted against it Friday.

    Bill providing prenatal care to illegal immigrants passes House
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  2. #2
    Senior Member Kiara's Avatar
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    "Hansen said that without prenatal care he and his wife might not have their three children."

    More anchor babies and they'll probably have more. No good!

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    Senior Member hattiecat's Avatar
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    Very clearly, non emergency care is given to illegals every day all over the country through prenatal care and then at the local hospital for the birth. Most of these people dont just show up at the hospital for emergency deliveries; rather their records are forwarded there after receiving months of taxpayer funded prenatal care. The child is then born in the U.S. and likely on taxpayer support for years. Giving non emergency prenatal care to illegal aliens, no questions asked, is what is changing this country so fast.

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    Senior Member SicNTiredInSoCal's Avatar
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    Stupid stupid STUPID! Look how they all have "R"'s after their names too! Really disappointing!
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

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