CO Rep. Swalm's Plan For Ending Poverty: No Bastard Kids

Is this a new thing for Republicans to show off what they really think about poor women? Be honest and let it all just hang out there? Following on the heels of South Carolina's Lt. Governor Andre Bauer who recently compared people whose children receive free and reduced-price school lunches to "stray animals" we now have Colorado state Representative Spencer Swalm, who wants you to know he has a plan for ending poverty.

"Don't have kids out of wedlock," said Swalm from the House floor. "If you're married, if at all possible, try to stay married. Those are ways to lift families out of poverty."

In an interview afterward, Swalm pointed out that "intact families do better than dysfunctional or broken families" but said he was not advocating people stay in abusive marriages.

"Those children are almost guaranteed to be in poverty. You don't want kids in poverty? Don't have kids out of wedlock," Swalm said. "Better yet, get a high school degree. That doesn't cost a dime."

Of course what inspired Rep. Swalm's remarks was discussion about a tax credit for cash-strapped families (something most Republicans would normally support).

The legislation, House Bill 1002, would give a family of four earning $41,000 or less a state earned-income tax credit once the state collected enough in income-tax revenue to begin giving refunds under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. Right now, a surplus of that size triggers a refund to taxpayers regardless of their incomes.

So don't have kids out of wedlock, Rep. Swalm? So I guess that means you are for free access to birth control and vigorously support poor women's legal access to abortion? I bet you are against the Hyde Amendment too. Because otherwise what else are you suggesting women who get pregnant do, especially if you don't seem to be willing to help them?

Do you even want to know that Swalm didn't vote to protect birth control should Colorado ever pass something like a state constitutional amendment to redefine "personhood" beginning at contraception, like the failed attempt in 2008?

Do you even want to know that Swalm not more than a week ago was pushing against a bill that would have created more equity in health insurance plans, reducing gender discrimination against women?  Why? Because he thought "men are having the toughest time finding work, so this is going to make it even harder for them to pay for insurance."

Considering it's Colorado at least he refrained from calling unwed mothers "sluts."