Panel Votes To Restore Abstinence-Only Education Money

WASHINGTON — A Senate committee voted Tuesday night to restore $50 million a year in federal funding for abstinence-only education that President Barack Obama has pushed to eliminate.

The 12-11 vote by the Senate Finance Committee came over objections from its chairman, Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana.

Two Democrats – Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas – joined all 10 committee Republicans in voting "yes" on the measure by Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah.

The measure would still have to pass the full House and Senate. Hatch said abstinence education had been shown to work, though Baucus disagreed. Obama had proposed in his 2010 budget to direct money spent on abstinence-only education to broader teen pregnancy-reduction programs.

An alternate measure offered by Baucus also passed. Baucus' measure, which passed 14-9, would make money available for education on contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, among other things, in addition to abstinence. Lawmakers will have to reconcile the two measures, both approved during debate on a sweeping health overhaul bill, as the legislation moves forward.

Comments

[lisaman]

This is the same committee that voted no for health care reform. I can't even put into words how pissed I am over this.

http://www.progressive.org/ld100209.html

They know this doesn't work but hey what is 50 million in the whole scheme of things? How much medicine, how many doctors visits for people who are suffering? I am sick, sick of idiots making decisions for us.

[Oonagh]

In a time where money is scarce why, why are we throwing good money after bad money.. just teaching abstinence does not work

[Rollingballafire]

The statistics say that Texas has the 3rd highest rank for teenage pregnancies and they receive more $$ for abstinence only education than any other state.
$50 million is just too much for something that doesn't work. The money would be much better spent on sex education programs.

[ReedYoung]

Orrin Hatch! WHICH abstinence only education programs have ever worked? AS WELL AS safe sex education? You clown!

"Hatch said abstinence education had been shown to work, though Baucus disagreed."

[texfly]

Yah! We Texans know. We spend the most on "Abstinence only" education and I think we're #5 in pregnancies age 15-19 and #2 in live births for mothers age 15-19.

http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/TeenPregStates.htm

[irishgawdess]

Do they not read their own congressional colleagues reports? Rep. Henry Waxman came out with one of his *thorough* reports on this topic a few years ago, which said that abstinence only programs don't work.

Do they not pay any attention to the GOP's rising star Sarah Palin's very own family?? Abstinence only did NOT work for Bristol Palin (hey, Sarah paraded Bristol out in public for all to see, so don't try to tell me "Hey! That's not being fair to bring it up!") Megan McCain doesn't even believe in abstinence-only programs.

Also, the Kaiser Foundation came to the same conclusion... abstinence only programs ARE NOT EFFECTIVE!! Don't Republicans read anything??? Obviously not, unless it suits their own agendas.

What a bunch of maroons!

[Kimmer669]

Quit wasting good taxpayer money on useless INEFFECTIVE programs. We have got to votes these bozos out of office. They ideals defy logic!

[myke3000]

ALSO - they approve funding for a program that is proven not to work, yet they vote down the Public Option which WOULD bring down health care costs.... WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE POLITICIANS???

[myke3000]

They should let their churches provide this, shouldn't they?

I am completely TIRED of these spineless Blue Dogs. They are NOT sincere in their votes and should just call themselves Republicans and be done with it. UNBELIEVABLE.

[gthang91582]

Ask Sarah Palin how teaching abstinence-only worked out for her family!

Are you people real? Seriously....seriously? I have yet to read ANY comprehensive study of this kind of policy that actually has helped to stem the growing rate of teenage pregnancy. In fact, abstinence-only programs do quite the opposite!

Something's gotta change here. This is getting really....sad.

[AmericanDreamWarrior]

Its only obvious why the Republicans (which includes "blue dog dems" let's be honest and call them what they are) keep promoting failed policies such as Abstinence Only education. A teen gets pregnant, drops out of school and spends the rest of their lives working at or below the poverty level. Ignorant poor people are usually not current on the issues, typically don't vote. Now keep them feeling guilty for "breaking faith" with their religious values, which keeps their heads down even more and voila, we've cracked the code on the Republican play book. Its how they've keept sway over power for last 30 years. Someone obviously failed to pass on the memo to these dinasorus that we're on to them!

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Just hand out condoms with Limbaugh or Cheney's smiling face on it. That ought to do some serious abstinence.

[kyosaku]

It is, by now, pretty clear that children who are provided with the facts about sexuality early in life, become sexually active later, have fewer teen pregnancies, and have fewer STDs than youth who are taught abstinence only, while they are denied valuable facts about sexuality.

50 mil so that a group of vulnerable teens can be deprived of valuable knowledge to help improve their lives, to assuage the sexual guilt of the religious right. I would say f--k them but I'll abstain.

[MaryKathO]

All the usual suspects, once again with their 'morality police' mindset, are so eager to throw money at every half-backed 'values' policy that never shows any signs of actually being effective. Without exception, the 'abstinence only' education programs have shown themselves to be completely worthless. Perhaps the members of Congress who just can't say "NO" to funding values will be equally enthusiastic at funding the STD's, HIV infections, Hepatitis B treatment, and of course pre-natal, hospitalization costs, child-care expenses and possible Adoption services for all the unintended repercussions of the ignorance these programs spread. Give me a break...

[shryock]

of course they did. any program that can be proven to not work is a good program for republican funds. makes them look holy to the religious right, and gives them something to complain about when next they want to get re-elected.

[rabrophy]

It's just a pay-off for the Religious Right