An anti-abortion Republican lawmaker is proposing sweeping investments in the state's social safety net.

State Senator Whitney Westerfield says the pro-life movement should be about more than just birth and should also advocate for supports for struggling families.

Our June Lefler has more in tonight's legislative update.

During my time working with the crisis pregnancy center in my hometown, I've met a number of women spoken to them.

He's heard from pregnant people that they worry about their economic and general well-being if they were to have a child now.

I can't have a child and get this car that I need to get to work.

I can't go to work and have a job and be a mom.

I can't go to school and be a mom.

And those fears are rational.

Women are worse for where if they want an abortion and can't get one.

According to the lead researcher of the turnout study.

We compared people who wanted abortion, those who were able to get an abortion to those who were turned away, women who are denied abortions were more likely to fall below the federal poverty level, not have enough money for basic living needs, not have enough resources to take care of the children they already have, and they were more likely to rely on public assistance.

But it wasn't enough to keep the family from being poor.

Westerfield says the same government that took away abortion as an option can and should curb the negative outcomes of unintended pregnancies.

I have co-sponsored co-sponsored bills up here that are aimed at stopping abortion, which I disagree with and I believe in properly and horrifically terminates a life.

It kills a life that I believe should be protected.

But we haven't done enough from a state policy standpoint to invest in those women before they make that decision.

And after Senator Westerfield introduced the advancing lives for pregnancy and healthy alternatives or Alpha Act, to make those investments, which could cost the state half a billion dollars over the next two years, Most of that money would pay for child care for low income families.

The bill also hopes to expand free college health insurance enrollment options and rental assistance for low income families.

It wants to ease the process for people to get and keep public benefits.

And the bill calls for more supportive housing for those with intellectual disabilities.

Just like we invest in pensions and infrastructure and income tax reduction.

This is something we need to be focusing on.

Advocates on either side of the abortion debate are backing this bill.

So what can we do with four moms to help them continue their education?

Help them along.

Give them a leg up, so to speak.

I often say not to just not give someone official the time to teach them to fish so that they're improving their lives and the lives of their children in their families.

The provisions in the bill are really good and long overdue, but they don't really address maternal health.

Like there is no provisions for birth control, for for know accessing comprehensive sex education for STI screenings.

However, this would be a great step for Kentucky families who need access to education, who need access to work.

These social services are desperately needed, and I hope to see this bill move forward.

Westerfield, Senate Bill 34, currently sits in the Senate's Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm June Leffler.

Thank you, June.

We discussed the Alpha Act Monday on Kentucky tonight, as well as Hadley's law, a bill that would alter Kentucky's current abortion ban by allowing exceptions for rape and incest.

Senate President Robert Stivers talked about how a woman in that situation could benefit from the Alpha Act.

I haven't seen Senate Bill 34, so I'm not sure about the details.

But if you're talking about wraparound services for that young woman and maybe older woman, but the woman, those services need to be provided in assistance.

This is a tough time.

Half a billion dollars again over the next two.

Services in the in the in the quantification of the numbers, I haven't seen and didn't know who was going to file that was just filed.

I haven't read through it.

The four leaders of the Kentucky General Assembly talked about a wide variety of topics, including the budget, education and public safety.

You can see the full conversation online on demand at Katie Dawgs K-Y.

Tonight's.