Medicaid extension for new moms advances amid abortion discussion
House Bill 4 has been a topic of speculation since it was approved by the
Neiman held back the sole bill expanding Medicaid eligibility, HB 80, and let it die as the Monday deadline to consider bills in the
Rep.
The agreement was kept as the bill was called up after lunch. It was among the last 73 bills and joint resolutions left on general file in the House chamber, and followed a long debate and passage of a bill that would restrict abortions further in the state.
"I am pro-life, and I do support this bill," said freshman Rep.
Discussing the pros and cons of postpartum coverage didn't take up as much time as the "Life is a Human Right Act," but more than an hour was still dedicated to hearing arguments.
Legislators in opposition voiced their concerns that the program would continue to grow in costs and maintenance of effort, women might not be taken off the program in the allotted amount of time, or there would be unintended consequences to the social framework of society.
Rep.
He also said it was a matter of personal responsibility.
"I understand we want to take care of kids. We want to take care of moms, no one's saying otherwise on that. We have programs in place that are doing that," he said. "But this is just going to continue to instigate this mentality that, 'Hey, you know, what? We'll let the state take the bill.'"
Other lawmakers spoke out against the bill, saying there are other organizations to support parents, or that women need help with diapers and formula, not health care services months after birth.
"Being pro-life does not necessitate taking one person's money by force, that's what taxes are. And giving it to another person is not the proper role of the government. To administer entitlement programs, that is the proper role of charity, whether churches or other organizations," said Rep.
Despite this pushback, there were still other lawmakers who said it was time to step up and provide support for mothers who decide to give birth. Rep.
Freshman Rep.
"My goal is not to make abortion illegal. My goal is to make it unthinkable, and then unneeded," she said. "And it is bills like this that open that lane up."
Harshman backed her, and said they were trying to prevent abortion.
He said nearly 31% of babies in
This program would specifically impact mothers who make
"It's just like the old days when we used to raise each other's barns, right? And maybe build just roads for our little community," he said. "That doesn't happen anymore. So, we pay a little bit of taxes to really help out when something really bad happens to us."
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