Neonatal Care for the Undocumented

Gov. Pete Wilson signed a $68-billion state budget last week, ending an acrimonious partisan legislative process that began nearly eight months ago.

Exercising his line-item veto authority, Wilson cut about $27 million in Democrat-sponsored funds earmarked for prenatal health-care services for undocumented women and other immigrants’ services.

Advocates of the budget cuts say taxpayers should not have to fund services for people who enter the country illegally and that these services lead to welfare dependence. Opponents argue that money spent on prenatal care is both cost-effective and humane.

Should the state fund prenatal health care for undocumented women?

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar):

“I think someone should fund [it]. The fact that the federal government has dropped that responsibility and put it back on the states gives us the responsibility of doing so. . . . It’s unconscionable that any society would turn its back on prenatal care for any woman or child. That child will be a citizen and will have every right to health care. Prenatal care is one of the most efficient means of holding down health-care costs. It behooves the government to provide [it].”

Ron Prince, chairman of Save Our State:

“By giving prenatal care to illegal aliens . . . we’re talking about a training program for welfare. These people who are purportedly unable to pay for even the minimal prenatal care are certainly not going to be able to pay for care for the baby after it’s born. One argument for prenatal care is that it doesn’t cost as much [as after the baby’s born]. That’s probably true. But if they can’t afford [the care], then after the baby’s born they go on welfare. . . . And we know from experience that once they’re on welfare, they don’t get off.”

Mandy Johnson, executive director, Community Clinic Assn.:

“This is one of the most important and cost-effective public health programs there is. For every dollar spent, there’s $3 in savings. The long-term cost of not providing this care is simply staggering. The children are born with birth defects and other complications that result in high neonatal costs and . . . support services that may go on forever. If there’s an unfortunate birth outcome that results in permanent disability, we’ve lost the productivity of a U.S. citizen by not providing $1,700 to the mother when she was pregnant.”

Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley):

“I have mixed emotions about [funding care]. On the one hand, we’re always talking about prenatal care, that we should protect the woman and the child. It’s less costly to take care of the child before it’s born than after it’s born. On the other hand, these are people who should not be here. They did not get here through the proper channels; they entered the country illegally. Some people say they come here just for the services. If we could find a way to screen the people who are here illegally and get them through the process to become legal, that would be OK. I just don’t want them here to get the free services.”