More U.S. families are struggling economically despite parents being employed, according to a new report issued by the Working Poor Families Project. Analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the research firm reported that an additional 200,000 working poor emerged in 2011. Over 10 million such families now live near poverty.

According to the report, some of the working poor take jobs as maids, cashiers, waiters and work in the fast-food industry. Many of these people are taking these jobs after losing more secure middle class jobs during the recent recession.

The rise in working poor families also affects children. Some of these parents work long hours and night shifts. Getting child care is also a challenge. To read the full report click here.

The Missouri Catholic Conference this year will be seeking to re-establish a tax credit that has expired that helps pregnancy resource centers. The legislature failed to reauthorize the credit last year. Most legislators supported the pregnancy resource credit but it was held hostage as battles raged to reform all of Missouri's tax credits.

This year may offer a better chance to restore the credit. State Representative Eric Burlison (R-Springfield), and State Senator Bob Dixon (R-Springfield), have both filed bills (HB 87 and SB 20) to restore a number of benevolent tax credits, including the one for pregnancy resource centers. Stay tuned for more.

Click here to read House Bill 87.  

Click here to read Senate Bill 20.  

Medicaid currently provides health coverage for pregnant women with household incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The program pays for prenatal visits and supplies such as prenatal vitamins, ultrasounds, smoking cessation, and delivery services, including vaginal and cesarean deliveries. The program also covers postpartum care for 60 days.

Senator Robert Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) has introduced SB 14, which would reduce Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and children and allow the savings from these reductions to be used to raise the eligibility levels for the aged, blind and disabled.  

Click here to read Senate Bill 14.  

Prior to 1987 Missouri only provided coverage for pregnant women up to 40% of the federal poverty level. In 1987 the MCC made expanding Medicaid coverage for pregnant women a major policy priority. The MCC argued expanding this coverage would encourage women to have their child rather than turn to an abortion. The MCC further pointed out the benefits of prenatal care in lowering disability rates and improving birth weights.

The general assembly agreed and passed a law expanding Medicaid coverage to 100% of FPL. In 1993, as part of an omnibus health care bill supported by the MCC, Medicaid coverage for pregnant women was raised to 185% of FPL.

Missouri was not alone in the 1980's and 1990's in expanding its Medicaid coverage for pregnant women. Concerns about increases in infant mortality spurred expansion in states across the country. As of January 2012, 39 states, including DC, have expanded eligibility for pregnant women to at or above 185% of FPL.

Senator Schaaf's legislation will be one of many bills considered this session that addresses the Medicaid program.

Reports are surfacing that Planned Parenthood will stop using the term "pro-choice" to describe it's pro-abortion rights political movement. They claim a desire to use terms describing that abortion is a difficult decision, and one that should be left to a woman and her doctor. Whether that will translate into a snappy new political slogan is yet to be seen.

What has been seen is a shift in American opinion towards identifying as pro-life. A recent Gallup poll indicates that 50% of Americans identify as being pro-life while only 41% identify as being pro-choice. Perhaps Planned Parenthood thinks its pro-choice slogan has outlived its usefulness. Whatever slogan Planned Parenthood uses next, they cannot escape the unavoidable truth that abortion ends the life of an innocent human being who has no choice in the matter whatsoever.

Click here to read the Gallup poll.