IL Rep. John Shimkus Questions Why Men Should 'Pay For Prenatal Care'

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 10, 2017 6:41PM

Like many men who are lawmakers, Illinois Representative John Shimkus seems to believe he both knows what’s best for women’s bodies and is very concerned about the plight of men as it relates to healthcare for women.

In one of many lengthy debates taking place in the House, this time in the Energy and Commerce Committe regarding the GOP’s plan to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, Pennsylvania Rep. Michael Doyle asked Oklahoma Rep. Markwayne Mullin to clarify what he meant when he said insurance premiums were “skyrocketing” “because of the mandates from Obamacare.”

“I’m not sure what the gentlemen is talking about when he talks about mandates. What mandate in the Obamacare bill does he take issue with,” asked Doyle, who then referenced preexisting conditions, caps on benefits and letting children stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26.

Shimkus then asked Doyle to yield the floor so he could ask about men paying for prenatal care.

WOW. The #GOP’s reason to object to insurance covering prenatal care? “Why should men pay for it?” Watch: #Trumpcare #ProtectOurCare pic.twitter.com/Q55nG1Un8j

— NARAL (@NARAL) March 9, 2017

“What about men having to purchase prenatal care,” asked the Congressman from downstate Collinsville, which appeared to flummox both Doyle and many other legislators in the room. “Is that not correct? And should they?”

Included among many of the provisions in the ACA Republican lawmakers want to torpedo is a requirement that plans cover “essential health services,” which include pregancy, maternity and newborn care. The GOP’s replacement plan would also defund Planned Parenthood and phase out Medicaid expansions. Current estimates reported by the New York Times and Business Insider say that up to 10 million people could lose their health insurance under the GOP’s plan.

NARAL, which Tweeted out the video of Shimkus, called the new bill “a greatest hits of failed Republican proposals” in a statement.

“The GOP obsession with repealing the ACA and defunding Planned Parenthood is a perilous one that comes with a high cost to the public, and to the GOP’s future in politics. Rest assured that NARAL’s 1.2 million member-activists will stand up to this latest GOP attack on our health care.”

On Thursday Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who has an estimated net worth of between $2 and $8 million, also demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding on how health insurance works—particularly for those struggling the most to afford the costs of care.

But, but this is very literally the definition of health insurance... @CitizenCohn https://t.co/y63B6foI4I

— Joel (@JoelNihlean) March 9, 2017