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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublican Bill Will Reduce Benefits for Women Who Cannot Prove They Were Raped
Pennsylvania Bill Would Reduce Welfare Benefits For Women Who Cannot Prove They Were Raped
By Tara Culp-Ressler on Oct 24, 2012 at 3:35 pm
A Pennsylvania House bill seeks to limit the amount of TANF assistance that low-income women receive based on the amount of children they give birth to while covered under the program.
Despite the fact that low-income women who give birth to children would logically need increased assistance to care for their larger family, Pennsylvania lawmakers State Reps. RoseMarie Swanger (R), Tom Caltagirone (D), Mark Gillen (R), Keith Gillespie (R), Adam Harris (R), and Mike Tobash (R) dont want their states welfare program to provide additional benefits for that newborn. If a woman gives birth to a child who was conceived from rape, she may seek an exception to this rule so that her welfare benefits arent slashed, but only if she can provide proof that she reported her sexual assault and her abusers identity to the police:
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http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/10/24/1083101/proposed-bill-food-stamp-benefits-raped/
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)One state says it is god's will and another says it is not ............
One state says that one can not get pregnant from rape, another says not so
Is there one republican that knows how children are created??
napkinz
(17,199 posts)We could fill BINDERS with these kinds of bills the Republicans have introduced in the states and in the House of Representatives.
lalalu
(1,663 posts)A backhand way of discouraging abortion? These people are nuts.
I do feel benefits should not increase each time someone gives birth while on welfare. There should be a flat amount of benefits for every family on welfare and it should be a livable amount. Choosing to increase the family size and extension of resources is a personal choice they should deal with.
No working person gets a raise if they have another child. It is an individual decision to have more children and whether or not you want to stretch your pay by adding another member to the household. Families on welfare should also have to pause and think before adding another kid.
At the same time there should be increased access to health centers, birth control, and family planning. Which in an ironic twist these same people want to cut. What a tangled web they weave.
Initech
(100,104 posts)MadrasT
(7,237 posts)while already on assistance. All women no matter how they get pregnant.
If you can "prove" your baby came from rape, they will magnanimously grant a waiver and increase your assistance.
If your baby was any other kind of baby, too bad so sad, suck it up and stretch your check farther.
I'm sure they are increasing availability to contraception and abortion to go along with this.