U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., brought out the “Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act” this week and is facing fire from the right as one of her Republican opponents insists she is trying to change the focus from her support of Planned Parenthood.
Graham showcased the bill at a media event on Tuesday. The proposal ensures more coordination between the federal government, state governments and health-care professionals to look at Medicare outcomes for pregnancies and infant care.
"The Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act identifies and measures areas where health care for pregnant women and outcomes for infants on Medicaid can be improved," Graham said. "This is a simple bill that could dramatically improve health care for pregnant women and infants.
"As a mother of three children, I can't imagine the pain a family feels when they lose a child," Graham added. "This bill is an important first step in identifying and implementing solutions to improve care and save lives in North Florida and across the country."
The bill is being sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. The Senate Finance Committee voted to pass the bill without opposition. Graham expects to launch the bill with a Republican sponsor next month.
Even with congressional redistricting still up in the air after a special session of the Florida Legislature failed to come to a final agreement, Graham is expected to face a tough re-election contest next year. Under the base map used by the Legislature, Graham would have faced a district where Republicans had a solid advantage.
Tallahassee attorney Mary Thomas, who is running for the Republican nomination, dismissed Graham’s support of the bill as a political gimmick. Thomas ripped into Graham’s record on abortion, including receiving the support of Planned Parenthood.
"This legislation is nothing more then a cynical, political attempt by Congresswoman Gwen Graham to cover up her gruesome pro-abortion record,” Thomas said on Thursday. “Not only has Rep. Graham taken over $5,000 in Planned Parenthood campaign funds, which I called on her to return over three weeks ago, but she has also remained silent as it was revealed that Planned Parenthood was harvesting and selling baby body parts. What's worse is, Rep. Graham supports late-term abortions of babies greater than 20 weeks old, and she supports taxpayer-funded late-term abortions. Rep. Graham's record shows a consistent pattern of siding against life, and Florida voters won't be fooled by this electioneering stunt."
Thomas is competing with Dr. Neal Dunn, a surgeon based out of Panama City, for the Republican nomination. Dunn played up his medical credentials earlier in the week when former state Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Destin, announced he was backing him.
“North Florida is important to me – this is where I have practiced as a surgeon for the last 25 years and where my wife and I have raised our family,” Dunn said. I am passionate about serving my home district and serving as an unapologetic conservative with specific ideas addressing three very important issues to me – health care, the economy and national security. I look forward to discussing these important issues on the campaign trail with my fellow neighbors.”
In the meantime, Graham sent out an email on Thursday offering her take on redistricting which continues to loom over her efforts for a second term.
“Over the past few weeks and months, there’s been a whole lot of talk about Florida’s congressional maps,” Graham wrote. “Ultimately the Legislature had one job, and they weren't able to do it. Unfortunately I don't have an answer as to how this will end. With this rudderless, leaderless crew in Tallahassee -- crippled by ugly partisanship -- there's really just no way to know. But I firmly believe there’s no sense in speculating about ‘what-ifs.’
“When I was sworn in last January, I promised to bring ‘The North Florida Way’ to Washington,” Graham added. “I promised to put aside partisanship to get things done. I promised to find common-sense solutions to problems facing families in the 2nd District. That's a promise I'm going to keep. Maybe the Legislature will get its act together. Maybe the governor will force them to do their job -- or more likely, we all wait for the courts to figure it out. As long as you give me the honor to serve you, I’m going to keep working as hard as I can to improve the lives of North Florida families.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
