Low-income birth control bill passes house despite Republican objections

A bill aimed at providing more low-income Colorado residents with birth control options passed the state House on Monday despite objections from House Republicans that the bill will indirectly provide money for abortions.

The bill -- Senate Bill 3 -- was sponsored in the House by Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, and passed by a vote of 41-23 after succeeding in the Senate in late January. It now goes to Gov. Ritter's desk for consideration.

Riesberg said the bill will save Colorado money by expanding how the federal government pays for low-income people who receive reproductive health services, including contraception and sterilization, from health-care providers.

Riesberg said similar bills in Arkansas, Alabama and Florida have saved those states millions of dollars by keeping some unintended pregnancies from happening, though it is unclear how much money, if any, this bill would save Colorado if signed by Ritter.

Colorado pays for half of the services it provides to many such residents. If the bill is signed, it would almost ensure that the federal government pays 90 percent for most such services while also expanding the definition of low-income residents.

At present, residents who make less than 150 percent of the poverty line qualify for Medicaid to pay for such services. The state's bill would increase qualifications for people to those that make less than 200 percent of the poverty line. Under that figure, a family of four with two children would be eligible for the reproductive health services under Medicaid if the family makes less than $42,000 per year combined.

<strong>POVERTY LINE</strong> Under a bill on Gov. Ritter's desk, people making less than 200 percent of the poverty line would be eligible for free birth control services from Medicaid. Here's what the 2007 poverty line is for different groups of residents in the United States: One person younger than 65 years old: $10, 787 Three-person family with one child: $16, 689 Four-person family with two children: $21, 027 <p> <i>Source: U.S. Census Bureau </i>

State Republicans were worried that the bill could free up money at places such as Planned Parenthood for abortions, but Democrats said the Colorado Constitution ensures that no state or federal funds can be used to pay for abortions or for services to undocumented workers or minors.

But Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, said the increased funding for places like Planned Parenthood will still provide money for abortions.

"In an indirect way, this would fund abortion services, and that's illegal," Lundberg said. "This flies in the face of the (Colorado) constitution."