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Ehrlich funds Health Care
for Pregnant Legal Immigrants


Courtesy of HHS
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Staff
07/22/2005

Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., announced Wednesday that four key state programs for vulnerable Marylanders will receive additional funding as a result of the $1 billion Fiscal Year 2005 surplus he announced Tuesday.

Specifically, the Governor announced $1.5 million in health care funding for pregnant legal immigrants, $51,000 for citizenship classes, $1.34 million for an increase in Temporary Cash Assistance, and $880,000 for day care for qualified elderly citizens.

"The Ehrlich Administration's fiscal discipline, combined with a strong economy in Maryland, has turned $4 billion in deficits into a $1 billion surplus," said Governor Ehrlich. "Doing so required making tough fiscal choices over the past two and a half years to balance the budget while holding the line on taxes. The resulting surplus allows us to provide additional funding to results-oriented programs that provide important services to vulnerable Marylanders."

Beginning July 1, the state would have stopped providing health care for pregnant women and children who have been classified as permanent legal residents for fewer than five years.

The cuts were the result of Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich's budget that eliminated de $7 million state Medicaid program that provides health care coverage, including prenatal care, to some 4,000 legal immigrants who reside in Maryland.

Now, according to the Governor's statements, the Governor will provide $1.5 million in funding for health care for pregnant legal immigrants.

Governor Ehrlich will provide $1.34 million in Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits. TCA provides cash benefits to needy, unemployed, under-employed or part-time workers and their families who meet certain qualifications.

Also, the Governor will provide $51,000 in funding for citizenship classes provided by the Department of Human Resources. The funding provides civics and history classes for eligible immigrants who are preparing to take naturalization classes.