Gov. Heineman reads from the letter he sent to Speaker Flood on LB 599 during news conference

Gov. Dave Heineman today sent a strongly-worded letter [PDF] to Speaker Mike Flood, criticizing his support for a bill extending prenatal coverage to illegal immigrants and threatening to veto it.

Heineman held a news conference the day after the legislature advanced LB 599, which would extend Medicaid coverage to the prenatal needs of poor women, including those in the country illegally.

Heineman stated that his staff had hand-delivered the letter to Speaker Flood’s office. In it, the governor expressed his disappointed in the Speaker.

“I am extraordinarily disappointed with your support of taxpayer funded benefits for illegal aliens. LB 599 is about illegal immigration.

Taxpayer funds should not be used for illegal individuals. If this bill becomes law, Nebraska will become a magnet for illegal aliens. Nebraska will become the only state in the Midwest providing taxpayer-funded benefits to illegals. None of our neighboring states, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota, provide taxpayer-funded benefits to illegals.”

Heineman also, in the letter, criticized the Speaker for supporting LB 357, a bill that would allow cities to seek an increase in their sales tax.

“Unless you and the Legislature reverse course, the legacy of this session will be one in which illegals were given preferential treatment over legal Nebraska citizens. This will be a session remembered for a tax increase on legal working Nebraska men and women while illegal aliens were provided taxpayer-funded benefits.”

During the news conference, Heineman said the legislature is preparing to spend taxpayer money on people in the country illegally.

“This is about illegal immigration,” Heineman stated in measured tones. “And the legislature is about to pass a bill that would give illegal immigrants taxpayer-funded benefits. None of our surrounding states do that. We’re going to become a magnet for illegal aliens. I disagree with this bill.”

LB 599 would extend Medicaid coverage to about 1,600 poor women, many of whom are illegal immigrants. It would cost approximately $2.6 million annually. Most of the money comes from the federal government. The state’s share would total about $650,000 annually.

Heineman flatly rejected arguments made by supporters in the legislature made during floor debate that extending prenatal coverage to illegal immigrants is a pro-life issue.

“I’m one of the most pro-life governors in America. This issue is about illegal immigration and Nebraskans know that,” Heineman stated. “I receive many emails and (have) conversations with Nebraskans and they’ll say, ‘I’m pro-life, but I’m opposed to illegal immigrants getting taxpayer-funded benefits.’ It’s pure and simple.”

Heineman also criticized the Speaker and the legislature for supporting LB 357, a bill that would allow cities to seek an increase in their sales tax.

Heineman said lawmakers need to listen to Nebraskans.

“We don’t support taxpayer-funded benefits for illegals,” according to Heineman. “We don’t need a tax increase on the working men and women of this state. It’s going to make us less competitive for jobs.”

AUDIO: Gov. Dave Heineman news conference on LB 599 and LB 357 [9 min.]

State lawmakers have advanced a bill that would restore prenatal care to mothers who lost Medicaid coverage two years ago, including illegal immigrants.

Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln sponsors LB 599, saying that Nebraska’s practice of funding prenatal care of the unborn child of poor women should return, including the unborn child of an illegal immigrant.

“The child will be a U.S. citizen at its birth,” Campbell stated in her opening. “Would we not want that child to be healthy? Would we not want healthy babies?”

Nebraska had provided prenatal care through Medicaid until 2010 when federal officials objected. Approximately 1,600 women lost coverage, more than 1,000 were in the country illegally. Under the bill, coverage would be restored at the start of July. The total cost would be $2.6 million dollars annually. The state’s share would total $654,000.

Speaker of the Legislature, Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, told colleagues during floor debate the issue presented a tension between the rule of law and a traditional pro-life position. Flood said because the bill would benefit the baby, the issue tilts toward the pro-life position.

“We are a pro-life state and this is a pro-life issue,” Flood said during floor debate. “We have to balance the interests here. We have to look at the equities on both sides. We’re going to pay for the delivery. We’re going to pay for the birth. That child is going to be an American citizen. Let’s provide the prenatal care for low-income women and let’s be pro-life.”

Others, though, counter that state taxpayers shouldn’t be required to provide medical care for illegal immigrants. They discounted the pro-life argument.

Sen. Tony Fulton of Lincoln told colleagues that the status of the mother does matter.

“On the other side of this, you have this reality that we, by passing LB 599, will be reaching into the pockets of law-abiding citizens to pay for the responsibilities of those who have broken our laws,” Fulton stated. “Perhaps that sounds harsh, but that is what we would be doing.”

Sen. John Nelson of Omaha agreed that it’s excellent to provide prenatal care.

“But the question is, if these are illegal or undocumented people who have come into this country for the purpose of having their children born here and knowing that the delivery and birth is going to be paid for when they go into emergency at the hospital, why is it that we also have to extend that to prenatal care?” Nelson asked.

Gov. Dave Heineman weighed in on the issue prior to the legislative debate. His office sent out an email with a written statement.

“Like many Nebraskans, I am pro-life, but this issue is about illegal immigration. I am strongly opposed to the use of taxpayer funds for benefits for illegal aliens. I support legal immigration, not illegal immigration.

“We should only be using taxpayer funds for legal Nebraska citizens, not for illegal aliens. I am going to fight against LB 599 because it’s not right that government should force legal citizens to pay for benefits for illegal aliens.”

AUDIO: Sen. Kathy Campbell opens legislative debate on LB 599 [5:20]

AUDIO: Speaker Mike Flood speaks on LB 599 [5 min.]

AUDIO: Sen. Tony Fulton speaks on LB 599 [5 min.]