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I think it’s time to revisit a twist on the “those people” meme as to what ails our fair city. The twist in this related meme incorporates the national debate on illegal immigration to conflate the issues of illegal immigration and social welfare programs such as food stamps provided to “those people”. The key narrative to this meme centers on deligitimizing the standing of those people and hence any benefits accorded to those people. In short, if you can push the perception that “those people” are illegal , it allows you to sell your ideology against social welfare much more easily. Plus it allows you to deflect blame for what ails the city away from the longstanding cronyism, institutional paralysis and backroom deals that contributed to our current situation. Funny how power works– the politically marginalized must bear the fault while the entrenched political class gets a skate.
Like most local memes on food stamps, a sliver of reality is encrusted with misinformation, propaganda, ignorance and willful deception.
Let’s see how this works.
First we have the constant local drumbeat on the airwaves and at the coffee shops against social programs as corrupt enterprises serving the even more corrupt recipients. I dispensed with two memes already – that Montgomery COunty is most generous on food stamps (false) and that only “those people” get food stamps(false)-- but these memes often work in tandem with the broader meme of illegal immigration. Regardless of the demagogue, the intent with this complex, difficult debate is not to illuminate or clarify the underlying issues or get to sensible policy–not at all– the intent is quite opposite: conflate, muddy and intertwine the issue. The objective is to advance ideology above a principled policy and to the extent that their audience cannot discern the outlines of the key issues, that is all the better to advancing ideology and finding a scapegoat. That is precisely what we have here.
Health care policy for undocumented pregnant women
So what do state and federal policies say about benefits for pregnant women who are in Rhode Island illegally?
First, they are eligible for health insurance under RIte Care, the state’s health insurance program for low-income families, according to state officials.
And federal law dictates that they must be given a choice between providers, Alexander said. Until just a few weeks ago, those choices included Neighborhood Health Plan, UnitedHealthCare, or Blue Cross & Blue Shield. In August, Blue Cross announced it would no longer participate in the program. (This is the sliver of reality in the argument — pregnant women receive free health care during pregnancy per Federal law– reasons below)
Women who are pregnant are not required to declare their immigration status when enrolling in RIte Care, assuming they meet the income eligibility requirements.
The way Alexander and federal officials explain it, the rationale is this: because the child will be born in the United States, he or she will be an American citizen and therefore eligible for health benefits. Prenatal care is considered an extension of those benefits.
“It’s not based on the mother, it’s based on the child who will soon be a citizen. If we don’t give [the mother] prenatal care, something could happen to the child,” leading to even greater costs for the state, said Alexander, who was appointed by Governor Donald Carcieri, a Republican. (Note the justification for the policy — to reduce total costs to the state. Funny I never hear that caveat; apparently ‘liberal dogooders’ think like conservative dogooders)
Even if the DHS did not offer health benefits, state law would still require hospitals to provide emergency care to anyone, Alexander added. The mother’s health benefits end three months after delivery. (Important point, benefits end after 3 months)
[snip]
Cash assistance policy
Next Palumbo says undocumented pregnant women get “a card with $400 a month on it” that they are “allow[ed] to spend [on] anything but food.” (Sounds like the awfully familiar claim in the 12010)
Sounds a bit like a state gift certificate to us, but Palumbo says he was referring to cash assistance welfare benefits. Again, he said Alexander told him that every undocumented pregnant woman who seeks state help gets $400 a month.
Not so, said the DHS secretary, who said he couldn’t imagine where Palumbo could have gotten such specific figures. Pregnant women who are in Rhode Island illegally are not eligible for welfare benefits and even if they were, how much they get would depend on their income, said OHHS Associate Director David Burnett. (Same as here: figures from rumor and anecdotes with no hard data)
Under the Bush-administration’s Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, anyone seeking cash benefits or other federal assistance must provide identifying documentation proving their legal status, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (Pretty explicit on the rules)
Food stamps policy
The same is true for the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, more commonly known as the food stamp program. Despite the figures Palumbo cites, undocumented pregnant women are not eligible for “$250 a month or $275 a month,” or any other amount. (Again same rubbish claims here)
Under the federal Deficit Reduction Act, without proof of citizenship, they can’t receive the benefit. Once born, their children will qualify to enroll in the SNAP program. According to the University of Rhode Island’s Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America, the maximum is $200 a month per qualifying member. But the subsidy will not cover the mother.
[snip]
Finally, there is a clear implication in Palumbo’s statement that Rhode Island’s benefits are more generous than those in other states. At one point in the Van Susteren interview, Palumbo suggested that undocumented pregnant women from elsewhere are “headed to our state” to take advantage of these programs. (Deja vu– I thought everyone was heading to Montgomery County — curse you Rhode Island!)
Federal law now dictates that undocumented people — pregnant or otherwise — are not eligible for either welfare assistance or food stamps here, or anywhere. (Pretty clear yet again)
By the same token, undocumented pregnant women in Rhode Island are eligible to receive health care benefits, but that is also true in some other states. While federal law won’t cover undocumented people, in general, it gives states the option to use federal CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) to cover prenatal benefits.
To imply that Rhode Island is the only state where this is the case is not correct. (Or Montgomery County)
Flippin’ here. Lest you accuse me of being naive — blissfully unaware of fraud, waste, blackmarkets, crime, et al within public programs– I assure you I am not. I think to look at our local area with 9 plus percent unemployment, low growth, a comparatively less educated workforce, below average incomes and conclude that the problems are exclusively and completely due to laziness, lack of moral character and racial illegitimacy nee’ inferiority is not only naive but something altogether different. Or to advance the argument that under those scenarios people “need to find jobs ‘cuz I saw a job posting in the paper” is total rubbish — who is then naive to expect plummeting unemployment in a recessionary economy or that demand for social assistance should decrease during economic downturns? That is naive.
Finally, do facts even matter? How do you govern and implement policy when you choose to remain woefully ignorant and misinformed on cost/benefits and economic tradeoffs as a matter of principle? As always ideology trumps policy or its close relative: it must be true because I have a right to say it ever more loudly and frequently.
You betcha’!
