Senate health bill restores abstinence-only education funding.
Senate health bill restores abstinence-only education funding.
President Obama’s FY2010 budget eliminated funding for abstinence-only education and school districts are increasingly moving away from such programs because they have proven to be ineffective at reducing teen pregnancy. However, Newsweek reports that the recently released Senate health care bill restores some funding for abstinence-only programs, inserted by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), which seems to be “a slight concession to the Senate’s social conservatives”:
Their provision would restore a program called Title V, which, since the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, has allocated a yearly $50 million in grants to abstinence-only education programs. Obama let the program lapse in June, leaving some abstinence-only groups in dire straits. So in September, Sen. Orrin Hatch offered an amendment to restore Title V via heath-care reform, which (much to the outrage of liberal groups) just squeaked through the Senate Finance Committee with a 12–11 vote. A similar amendment, offered in the House by Rep. Terry Lee from Nebraska, died in committee.
If the Senate language survives reconciliation, the Title V program will be extended through 2014. This will not, however, bring abstinence funding back to the levels of the past decade. In 2008, Title V grants accounted for just under 25 percent of the federal abstinence budget (the rest of the budget came from other abstinence-only funding sources not restored in the Senate bill, including Community Based Abstinence Education Grants and the Adolescent Family Life Act).
Funding for comprehensive sex education is also in the bill. Sec. 2953 also provides “$75 million per year through FY2014 for Personal Responsibility Education grants to States for programs to educate adolescents on both abstinence and contraception for prevention of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.”
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We may need a law requiring Senators to actually read bills before voting for them.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:34 pmIt’s just a free bee as we see Bristol Palin wasn’t interested in such a program. Now Carrie PreJean was doing her best to fight the system of self respect while using God’s name. Most of the GOP will continue to preach the word to the young girls while having sex with young girls. At lease we know who the dirty old men are now.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:37 pmIt didn’t work in Uganda, when we pushed it there, it didn’t work down south especially, and it’s not going to work now…it is totally unrealistic…kind of like praying away teh gay or relying on star wars to protect us from incoming missiles…
I pray for the day when we will relieved from basing our foreign and domestic policies on mythology and wishful thinking…
November 19th, 2009 at 4:38 pmTeaching only abstinence as part of a sex ed program is similar to telling driver’s ed students “just don’t drive” and you’ll never have an accident. Knowing more than one way to PREVENT an accident is much more informative and productive.
We can say “just say no” all we want, but if you are realistic, you must acknowledge that teenagers must be informed and knowledgeable to help combat the hormonal rise that accompanies adolescence.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:05 pmWhy don’t they just pile $50 Million in hundreds on the steps of the Capitol and set it on fire……..would be just as effective as being spent on “abstinence only” programs.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:09 pmDid anyone ever ask Senator Hatch to prove that Abstinence Only Education works? More importantly, will he vote for the final version of the bill if it has this in it? If not, then why bother watering down the bill to please the Republicans if it won’t get any Republican votes?
When are the Democrats going to understand that the Republicans have not been negotiating in good faith? Why haven’t they figured out that caving into them will only get you a weaker bill that they won’t vote for anyway?
Stop ruining our best shot at health care reform to please a bunch of lying hypocrites who won’t vote for it anyway, no matter what you do?
November 19th, 2009 at 5:10 pmWhat a waste of money.
If the GOP really wants to scare teenagers away from having sex, just post pictures in all classrooms of a naked Mitch McConnell and Virginia Foxx getting it on. That should severely damage their little psyches for a looooooong time.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:14 pmOhhhhh, lokidog!! My eyes, my eyes!!!! Aarrrggghhhhh!!
November 19th, 2009 at 5:15 pmglogrrl says:
Ohhhhh, lokidog!! My eyes, my eyes!!!! Aarrrggghhhhh!!
See? It’s working already!
November 19th, 2009 at 5:16 pmAnd where are all the trolls moaning about the burgeoning deficit…Mr. Duke? Where are you great pumpkin?
November 19th, 2009 at 5:19 pmKnowledge is power, so if you keep the ignorant ignorant, maybe they’ll produce more ignorant, and you can stay in power.
Anti-science strikes again. Who’s going to add funding to cure women of ‘the vapors’?
November 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pmA program that has been PROVEN a failure gets funding. Our congress is f@#$’n insane!Do they think talking and advice will stop pubescent hormones? It hasn’t to this point and the Bible Belt States are the biggest failures.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pmFunding for comprehensive sex education is also in the bill. Sec. 2953 also provides “$75 million per year through FY2014 for Personal Responsibility Education grants to States for programs to educate adolescents on both abstinence and contraception for prevention of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.”
that makes Title V useless, not needed at all.
what is it with these delusional creeps and their make-believe “abstinence”?
the whole right wing seems to not be based on reality at all…
but, as long as the stupid stupak provision is not in the bill, i’ll go along with abstinence fantasies… for a while, and a pittance…
November 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pminserted by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) – his parents should have used abstinence.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:25 pmMaybe they should insert a similar bill directed to the “values” rethugs living in the “C” Street house. Hypocritical zeaalot thugs.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:25 pmDARE doesn’t work either but it makes the adults feel good.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:30 pmKeeping generations on welfare hasn’t worked either but we still do it.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:37 pmRidiculous. I guess it’s okay to waste another $50 million on abstinence education, which is a proven failure, at the same time people complain about the deficit. To continue to make overtures toward conservatives (whether Republican or Democrat, especially Republicans) who are unlikely to vote for the final bill at all anyway (especially if it has a public option) is just plain stupid. Use reconciliation, get the strongest public option possible, which would include people who are insured via their companies the right to choose IT). The public option is only projected by the CBO to have far fewer participants than hoped because of restraints put on those who could join. More conciliatory gestures for those who probably won’t vote for the final bill anyway. I’m sick to death of the spinelessness of the Democrats when they have the majority in the Senate, House and hold the White House. If they can’t get a really robust health care reform done NOW, it will never happen.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:38 pmI just sent both my senators a letter protesting this use of tax dollars – for a failed program? What’s going on up in DC – this is now a good use of tax-payer money.
Additionally – it seems they simply can’t write legislation right now that does not in some way injure or back-hand women.
I’m sick of it.*
November 19th, 2009 at 5:57 pmOooooops – above should be “this is NOT a good use of tax dollars”
November 19th, 2009 at 5:58 pm*
It’s depressing that anyone actually takes Orrin Hatch seriously.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:10 pmIt’s depressing that anyone actually takes Orrin Hatch seriously.
BTW, I just received a 503 error. That means the server is unable to respond. Is TP that popular or is this some sort of “denial of service” attack?
November 19th, 2009 at 6:12 pmIt’s depressing that anyone actually takes Orrin Hatch seriously.
BTW, I just received a 503 error. That means the server is unable to respond/being crushed. Is TP that popular or is this some sort of “denial of service” attack?
November 19th, 2009 at 6:13 pmWait, I thought Republicans were against government waste. Then again, they seem to be very selective when it comes to their values. For example, they always cry about government interfering in our private lives (taxes) but don’t have a problem regulating who fu(ks whom in the privacy of the bedroom…
November 19th, 2009 at 6:14 pmOkay, so now everyone knows that I build my comments in stages. They usually only go out in their final form, though.
Sorry for the dupes.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pmIt will be interesting to see if Hatch votes for this bill.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:33 pmBecause “Just say no!” sure ended the war on drugs fast.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:37 pmSo, let the idiots have their way and in 30 days, let the president eliminate it again.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:40 pmOr issue a signing statement disallowing that portion.
So, assuming you have a 50-minute class hour, what do you teach for the other 49:49 after you’ve said “don’t have sex?”
Likewise, in “creation” class, except it may take up to a half-hour to explain the world was created in 6 days, woman from a rib, etc. Then you can get into the latest fossil finds that finally confirm the missing link.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:52 pmI guess they spend the next 49:49 “s1ut-shaming…”
November 19th, 2009 at 7:08 pmIf only Larry Craig were still around to cast a yea or nay on A-O after giving an impassioned speech from the floor.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:14 pm@1
I agree. If representatives are voting on bills without reading them, then why do I need them to represent me? I could vote on something without reading it too. I want them to make an educated decision. :-\
November 19th, 2009 at 7:27 pmWhen I was a lad, we did not have abstinence-only sex education. The boys were shown the effects of either not doing it or not using protective devices. I do not know what the girls were shown, but it did limit our options – not to say we did not take “safe” risks.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:49 pmWhen I was a lad, we did not have abstinence-only sex education. The boys were shown the effects of either
November 19th, 2009 at 7:52 pmnotdoing it or not using protective devices. I do not know what the girls were shown, but it did limit our options – not to say we did not take “safe” risks.If I had to take a bet on abstinence or teenage hormones, I would take the latter.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:05 pmtoo bad Sen. Orrin Hatch’s mom didn’t abstain…
November 19th, 2009 at 8:57 pmok, that was mean to Sen Hatch. i’m sorry
November 19th, 2009 at 8:58 pmIt a sad day when our tax dollars go to teach children sex ed and abstinence. Why in the heck don’t parents do their job?
November 19th, 2009 at 9:34 pmone cannot govern sex–tho sex sure seems to govern some! sounds like a rehash of don’t ask, don’t tell–what’s next– president palin? :)
November 19th, 2009 at 9:38 pmLeave it to the party that complains the most about wastefull governmental spending to insist we spend $50 million on an ineffective federal program.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:32 pmMaybe Sarah Palin should be the spokesperson for abstince only. Look at what a great job she did with her own family on that subject!
November 19th, 2009 at 11:35 pmAre you kidding me? What is wrong with the Right? They are simply hell bent on destroying the Obama administration no matter how much money is wasted, how many lives are lost, or how far down the economy goes.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:12 pmAnd these goons want us to believe they are opposed to government waste?? Never mind, it’s just another phony obstacle they are throwing up to impede progress. Sorry, guys, this time we are gonna win….
November 20th, 2009 at 3:04 pm“Obama let the program lapse in June, leaving some abstinence-only groups in dire straits.”
Let them pray for the $$.
November 20th, 2009 at 4:37 pm