The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined how the issues of abortion rights and immigration have clashed in the debate over a withdrawn Nebraska bill (LB 1110) that would have allowed low-income women who do not qualify for Medicaid coverage -- including undocumented immigrants -- to receive state-funded prenatal care. For decades, Nebraska allowed undocumented immigrants to receive prenatal treatment through Medicaid, mistakenly violating a federal rule that prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving Medicaid benefits. Federal officials recently told the state that it must discontinue the prenatal coverage for roughly 850 pregnant women.

In response, a group of lawmakers drafted a bill that would have provided prenatal care for the women through the state's version of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Supporters of the bill called it a "pro-life and pro-child issue," the Times reports.

The measure drew an unusual coalition of supporters, according to state Sen. Jeremy Nordquist. "I've never seen the kind of coalition built before -- faith groups, pro-life groups, health care providers, community organizations," he said.

According to the Times, although Nebraska "long has regarded itself as a staunchly antiabortion state," opposition to the idea of providing taxpayer-funded benefits to undocumented immigrants proved too strong. Gov. Dave Heineman (R) opposed the bill, saying, "The key issue is whether illegal immigrants should be receiving taxpayer-funded benefits." The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Kathy Campbell, withdrew the bill Wednesday but said she might pursue the matter later.

John Hibbing, a professor of political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said, "What makes this fascinating is the usual conservative confluence of anti-immigration and pro-life is being pulled apart. People are having to make a choice on those things." He added, "I don't think we've ever had to pick before."

Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, said her group disagrees with the governor. "We don't accept that borders should be put ahead of babies," she said (Correll, Los Angeles Times, 3/22).

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