Citizens of other countries are coming to Oklahoma illegally just to have babies and the federal government is forcing Oklahoma government to pay for their medical expenses.

Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, has filed a bill to stop the state from funding to provide healthcare to illegal aliens under the Soon-to-Be-Sooners Program.

The STBS program is under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) authority.  CHIP’s Maintenance of Effort provisions were set to expire on September 30, 2019, but Congress passed and the president signed a resolution in January extending the program through September 30, 2027.

More than 6,200 illegals are getting free service under this program which is costing Oklahoma more than $91 million.

Scott said Oklahoma should do a better job of providing for pregnant women who are citizens. This program also discourages illegal immigrants from seeking citizenship. 

“Why would they go through the hassle of seeking citizenship or returning to their home country when we’re providing them free services,” asked Scott.  “It makes no sense.  If they can fill out paperwork for free medical care, they can fill out paperwork to become taxpaying citizens and pay for their health services like other Americans and Oklahomans.”

According to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the STBS program covered 9,856 individuals in FY’18: 3,629 were Oklahomans and 6,227 were non-citizens/undocumented immigrants.  The program cost just over $15.74 million with the federal government providing $14.8 million and Oklahoma paying nearly $907,000.

Americans and Oklahomans are compassionate and we want to help those in need, especially pregnant women. But this is another liberal giveaway program that siphons important funding from healthcare for citizens.