We have been working on welfare reform since August, and what we want is a thoughtful process that we can review where the public can have the input and advise the governor and the Department of Health Services to implement a program that takes into consideration the health of the mother and the health of the child. Mothers, who are the bearers of those children, need prenatal care. And it s short-sighted to say we can just cut people off, when we know they re going to be here. Born at low birth weight, born addicted to a substance, born with alcohol, born with other diseases, the conditions that would be identified if there were prenatal care. And we can prevent these conditions if the care is adequate.
Prenatal care is very beneficial to the mother and the child.
Pete Wilson has been one of the chief proponents of promoting the affordability and the availability of prenatal care in California, and, indeed, I would argue has a stronger record than any other governor in the nation on this. That really is the question. And Congress made it very clear, that there s a compelling government interest in reversing the incentives provided by the availability of public benefits for illegal immigration. That really is the broad policy that was established by Congress. But if that person is illegal, I cannot tell that person that the taxpayers of California are going to pay for that care.