California is “leading the nation” with a radical new plan to provide pregnant people with greater economic stability and access to resources, or at least that’s the claim.
Launched in early 2021, the Abundant Birth Project is a $35 million program designed to support expecting families, with a focus on Black people.
The program will provide monthly stipends of up to $1,000 to eligible individuals over 12 months, depending on which county they live in. To qualify, applicants must be in their first or second trimester of pregnancy and have a household income of less than $100,000 per year. Participation in the study is voluntary.
The Abundant Birth Project is being led by Expecting Justice, in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the Alameda County Public Health Department, the Richmond Rapid Response Fund, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and the Riverside Community Health Foundation.
Republicans are outraged by the state’s decision to give away money as they believe that the money could be better spent on programs that benefit all citizens, instead of just a select few.
Critics of the program also point out that it only benefits certain people, namely pregnant women of color. They argue that it’s unfair to provide money to a select group of people, as this money could be better spent helping those in need regardless of race.
Furthermore, conservatives are concerned about the long-term implications of the program. They worry that the program could become a long-term expense for the state, as it may encourage women to have more children than they can financially support. They also fear that this could lead to an increase in welfare spending, which could be a burden on the state’s budget.
Finally, Republicans are concerned about the precedent this program sets. They worry that it could become a model for other states to follow and that it could lead to more government spending, resulting in higher taxes.