I have heard rumor of a congressman introducing legislation that would sterilize welfare moms.?

Question

Apparently, women on welfare having too many babies would be forced to be sterilized. Does anyone know anything about this? If it's true, which congressman is proposing this?

Oh wait, I guess it's involuntary birth control, not sterilization. But still, any details?

Answer 1

While, I suppose, it is feasible that a member of Congress could introduce legislature to form a bill that would force welfare mothers to undergo a sterilization procedure, it is not likely that one would take that step even if said Congressman/woman would take such steps.

Though some who post may say that the act is illegal, hypothetically, Congress has the power to overturn laws and make it legal, but it would require a tremendous amount of effort. As in, it would probably take overturning "The Right to the Pursuit of Happiness..." . Although, it should be noted, that the right to privacy is NOT protected by the constitution (which is why abortion is such a hot debate).

Legality aside, it is even more unlikely that such legislation would be introduced because should it be, the Congressman/woman would never win the battle it took to get it to pass. The Congressman/woman, in all likelihood, would not get reelected in subsequent elections after that. It would be morally and ethically wrong to force someone to undergo such procedure that would result in sterility (however, that is not to say that some groups of society [e.g. Social Workers] have not hinted at contemplating becoming sterile). The forced sterility would serve to remind people of past historical medical blunders on behalf of humans such as testing on Jews in World War II by the Nazis and the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments between 1932 and 1972.

In other words, some Congressman/woman COULD do it, but it would be detrimental to their career as a politician.

Answer 2

I haven't heard about this for a while. However, many states are trying to and have a limit on how long someone can receive public benefits. Most are 5 yrs in a lifetime. Other states are trying not to support the newborn child. Welfare recipients live on an income well below the poverty level, so if that isn't forced birth control, then I don't know what is.

Answer 3

This is either a rumor or the congressman in question is out of his mind. As much as many people would like to eliminate welfare babies, forcing women to practice any type of birth control would be unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection clause.

Answer 4

As long as the Supreme Court holds reproductive freedoms as a fundamental right, such a law could never survive constitutional challenge.

But if they overturn Casey (1992 case, which itself partially overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision), then such a law would be possible, because if reproductive rights are not protected, the government would final say over who could and could not be or remain pregnant.

It's terrifying to me that there are still people out there who think that's acceptable in a nation that claims to be the land of the free.

Answer 5

Worry not about it. There's ALWAYS some idiot congressperson desperate to get attention for his district- who goes off the deep end like this- & causes all manner of general alarm. It's not going to happen. Politicians WANT more babies- because they WANT more people to vote for them. They're NOT going to do something that's counterproductive to their best interests.

Answer 6

Its about damn time