In the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s 27-hour marathon debate yesterday over Trumpcare, there is one comment that has left social media agasp: Why should men have to pay for prenatal care?
The question came from Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), who took issue with some of the requirements across the Affordable Care Act. When Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Penn.) asked him to clarify what ACA mandate he had problem with, Shumkus replied, “What about men having to purchase prenatal care?”
At this point, you can see people in the room started to shuffle and mumble, according to video of the hearing.
“I’m just…is that not correct?” Shimkus continued. “And should they?”
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
— Reproductive Freedom for All (@reproforall) March 9, 2017
While Doyle went back to arguing with Shimkus about healthcare not being an a la carte deal, the internet was not ready to let his comment slide, quickly pointing out that prenatal care is a universal concern, seeing that we all used to be babies and men are somehow involved in the process of conception.
"Why should men pay for prenatal care?"
— Brian Michael Scully – brianscully.bsky.social (@brianscully) March 10, 2017
"MOTHERFUCKER, WERE YOU BORN?" https://t.co/vAJmuhqS2m
https://twitter.com/torreypeters/status/840207036042362880
Do you want to tell the GOP where babies come from, or should I? https://t.co/s0j23RPjF3
— Summer Brennan (@summerbrennan) March 10, 2017
I’m just going to say this once: if you don’t support paying the full cost of prenatal care for all pregnant women, you are not “pro-life.“
— Max Leibman (@maxleibman) March 10, 2017
Male GOP lawmaker doesn't know why he should pay for prenatal care..hey if women are just the "host" they shouldn't pay for it either.
— Amy The (@AmyThe3) March 10, 2017
In case Shimkus is worried about taxpayer-healthcare equality, he need not worry. Under the ACA, the American public pays for prostate exams and other preventive care measures that only apply to men. Some insurance companies even pay for Viagra.
H/T Washington Post