Prenatal compromise stumbles

LINCOLN -- Gov. Dave Heineman has rejected a proposed compromise to the controversial resumption of government-paid prenatal care for low income women, including hundreds here illegally.

That was the word Tuesday afternoon from State Sen. Kathy Campbell, who had attempted to seek a middle ground to the political storm that had pitted pro-life and medical organizations against anti-immigration groups and Gov. Heineman.

"I'm disheartened," said Campbell, of Lincoln.

The future of her proposal, Legislative Bill 1110, is unclear.

As originally drafted, it would have restored government-funded prenatal care in response to a federal directive that, as of March 1, ended such services for about 1,500 pregnant women, including about 800 illegal immigrants.

On Monday, Campbell had floated a compromise that would allow women that are currently pregnant, or those who signed up for services by April 17, to continue to receive prenatal services until their deliveries.

It was viewed as a fairer end to the services.

Advocates for the prenatal care have said that unborn children will automatically become U.S. citizens upon their birth, even if their parents are here illegally, and that it makes sense to spend money on prenatal care to avoid more expensive deliveries, premature births and birth defects.

Heineman and other have argued that those here illegally should not receive taxpayer-funded benefits.

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