Bachmann: "Sex Clinics" In Schools Will Result From Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

UPDATED BELOW

Last night on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) spoke to Congress about "school based health clinics" (SBHC), labeling the clinics discussed in current House health care legislation as "sex clinics."

The conservative congresswoman suggested that if health care reform passes, the nation's schools might begin offering abortions to students. Bachman's interpretation of the health care reform bill holds that the legislation is designed to bring Planned Parenthood into educational facilities. According to Bachmann,

The bill goes on to say what's going to go on -- comprehensive primary health services, physicals, treatment of minor acute medical conditions, referrals to follow-up for specialty care -- is that abortion? Does that mean that someone's 13 year-old daughter could walk into a sex clinic, have a pregnancy test done, be taken away to the local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, have their abortion, be back and go home on the school bus that night? Mom and dad are never the wiser.

WATCH:

Section 2511 of the health care bill referred to by Bachmann, makes no mention of abortion and stipulates,

(i) "SBHC services will be provides in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws governing-- (I) obtaining parental or guardian consent; and (II) patient privacy and student records, including section 264 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and section 444 of the General Education Provision Act;

The concept of "school based health care clinics" was introduced under the notion that students achieve higher academic performance when they are healthy and receive adequate medical attention. According to the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, if implemented SBHCs would give schools access to physicians "so students avoid health-related absense and get support to succeed in the classroom."

UPDATE: The nonpartisan fact-checking group PolitiFact rips into Bachmann's claim, rating it a "Pants On Fire" falsehood.

We see no language in the three main versions of the bill that would allow school-based clinics, which have a long history of providing basic health services to underprivileged students, to provide abortions. Nor would the clinics even be new they have been around for three decades. So we rate the claim Pants on Fire!

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Comments

[JustSayMaybe]

Perhaps the stupidest part is that minors already have the right to private medical consultation and treatment. She's manufacturing every element of this scenario.

Plus, even if the clinics were in schools and provided pregnancy tests and scheduled "follow-ups with specialists" at Planned Parenthood, they WOULD have to get consent from the parents for taking the child off school grounds, especially in a vehicle. Think about the annoying process of consent forms to go on a field trip - parents almost never refuse, it's a liability issue. They wouldn't be able to put a student in a car without a consent form.

[chronic]

This silly woman is a fre@k!

[BossBabe]

Isn't District 6 in Minnesota embarrassed enough yet?

[BossBabe]

Watch her blinking. She lies, and she knows it.

[zooboy]

This "lady" has no shame. She needs to be hooked up to a lie detector on a permanent basis. I used to think that she believed what she said. I don't believe that anymore. I am sure that she knows that she is spreading lies everytime she opens her mouth. She is doing it deliberately. She is pitiful. And what's worse is her constituents are pitiful too. They keep electing her. Aren't there better people in Minnn?

[MMJones]

This woman has the most nonsensical thought processes I've ever read/heard. It is impossible to follow her illogical statements.

[Andrew Carrington]

People like Michele Bachmann and other wingnuts make me think this whole evolution thing is a scam. Also, I wish we had sex clinics in high school.

[sippewissett]

When I see Bachmann's name come up at the top of the H-P Politics page, I cringe. I fear what she has done now. Bachmann is 100% consistent though in mis-reading or reading into legislation whatever paranoia or conspiracy she last read on a Web site...somewhere. Like Palin who prefers reading Alaskan bloggers and PEOPLE magazine, Bachmann lives in the online land of the crazies.

PLEASE, MN, please find another Congressional Rep for the 6th district who will not embarass you and who will actually SERVE the people of her district instead of lurching from one conspiracy to the next.

[MinnBlue]

Michele Bachmann is a disgrace to the USA, MN, and the 6th. If you're interested in getting rid of Bachmann, support democratic candidate Dr. Maureen Reed! You can learn more about Maureen, and donate, at:
http://maureenreedforcongress.com/
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Reed

[vaberella]

Tinkleberg is not running against her again?

[Beth G]

As the former President of the California School Health Center Association, I want to urge you to provide accurate information about school health centers. Among the important points:

1. School-based health centers are part of health care reform because so many members of Congress wisely understand the inextricable link between healthy children and successful students.

2. One of the goals of health care reform is to reduce costs. School-based health centers are a convenient and cost-effective alternative to emergency rooms where many kids end up getting care because they have no other place to go.

3. There is an abundance of data showing that healthier children are able to focus better in class, have fewer absences, have fewer disciplinary problems and have a greater chance at being academically successful.

4. School based health centers take health problems out of the classroom and put them in the hands of medical professionals so that teachers can focus on teaching.

5. School-based health centers provide important basic medical services to children and families who have no other access to medical care.

6. School-based health centers help parents by giving them peace of mind that their children will be cared for at school so they can stay at work.

[joelg69]

FLASH! Michelle Bachman's mother was named Rosemary.. (with apologies to Ira Levin)

[nofriendofrepublicans]

I think anyone's pregnant 13 year old daughter should have to get an abortion. Too bad Michele's mom didn't.

[AnonymousDissenter]

It's astonishing to me that someone this ridiculously deceitful -- or perhaps insane? -- is allowed to do things like legislate.

[SOSTED]

Abortion on demand and free should be a conservative ideology because after all we are racists.

We should promote the idea of free abortions on demand: the more lower income minorities and godless leftists that took advantage of the free service the less Democrat voters and criminals in future generation. (and that would be the majority of recipients)

What a concept!!

Oh wait a minute, darn, we are principled not mere pragmatics.

[stagebandman]

And racist....

[MossyOak]

By now it should be painfully obvious that Bachmann is not the brightest sandwich in the picnic basket. Knowing she plays a role in determining the future health of all Americans makes me queasy.

[ifitwereme]

god forbid the government takes care of your kids healthcare because you lost your job and can't afford any. just shocking. sigh