Gov. Tate Reeves discusses how Mississippi plans to help expecting mothers

PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – A month after the U.S. Supreme Courtroom ended the correct to an abortion, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves boasted in regards to the state’s function within the choice on the Neshoba County Truthful.

“I’m proud to stay in a state the place persons are not afraid to face up and say that the killing of 63 million unborn People just isn’t acceptable,” Reeves mentioned. “I’m proud to stay in a state the place the final abortion clinic’s doorways are closed and the place our church doorways had been by no means closed.”

The governor has acknowledged for months that Mississippi is getting ready to assist anticipating moms. Now, he’s answering… “How?”

He mentioned throughout a one-on-one interview with WDAM 7 that Mississippi Being pregnant Useful resource Facilities are part of the reply.

Q: “The Being pregnant Useful resource Act that you just signed this summer time, which places $3.5 million of tax credit to being pregnant useful resource facilities, are you seeing that cash in work now? How is that going?”

A: “We’re seeing progress there. I really like to make use of the time period: We’re making progress each day, however no day passes that we make sufficient progress. We’ve acquired extra work to do there, however it’s definitely headed in the correct route.”

Right here within the Pine Belt, the laws already advantages one being pregnant heart, Decisions Clinic of Laurel.

The clinic’s government director, Brittany Sherman, mentioned native companies are making the most of the tax credit score, which implies funds for the clinic.

“We now have already seen that a few of our at the moment supporting companies have elevated their donations to donate extra to us but in addition profit from the Being pregnant Useful resource Act, so it’s a win-win,” Sherman mentioned.

Sherman additionally mentioned the cash would assist the almost 30-year-old clinic to proceed providing being pregnant testing and ultrasound providers and meet staffing wants.

To date this yr, the clinic has helped 400 shoppers and given away 1,700 child objects. Sherman mentioned a good portion of these numbers rose after the supreme court docket’s choice.

“We now have had our busiest months within the historical past of the group,” she mentioned.

Reeves mentioned there’s extra work that may’t occur straight away and takes work from lawmakers.

“Clearly, the secure haven legal guidelines in Mississippi proper now; the secure haven regulation is as much as seven days,” Reeves mentioned. “It must be longer than that. It wants to provide these mothers the chance to say, ‘You understand, I’m simply not ready for this.’ So, let’s determine a method to give this child a without end house. That’s why we have to make adoptions simpler. We have to make the adoption tax credit score higher and simpler to entry.”

Q: “What do you say to the those that say, ‘Effectively, the reply to that is, now that the set off regulation is in impact for the State of Mississippi, is to increase Medicaid protection for moms.’ What do you say to individuals who say that’s the reply?”

A: “I’ll let you know we’re wanting on the information now as a result of there was, beneath the provisions handed by the federal regulation throughout COVID, there was prolonged Medicaid protection for these moms who had infants out to 1 yr. What we’re doing now, we’re within the strategy of gathering information, and we’re taking a look at precisely what meaning and precisely how the statistics modified or improved or didn’t enhance. It’s going to be a data-driven choice with respect to that.”

Reeves additionally mentioned the Dobbs case is a good victory and a possibility to have a look at each angle to assist mothers and infants within the state – from legislative periods and enterprise incentives to calling on the religion group.

WDAM additionally contacted Govt Director Karen Sims of Hope Clinic in Hattiesburg. Sims mentioned the clinic is within the planning phases of reaching out and educating companies in regards to the tax credit score.

Reeves additionally issued a name to motion to church buildings. He inspired the church to undertake a being pregnant sources heart to assist employees these facilities and guarantee they’ve the sources to assist anticipating moms.

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