Democrats' budget to increase funding for abstinence only programs.

[Mass]

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/08/dont_ask_dont_do_it.php

Don't Ask, Don't Do It!
James Wagoner
June 08, 2007

...

Back in November of 2006, after the Democrats won control of the House, what kind of odds do you think you would have gotten on the following scenario: With the Democrats in control, the appropriations cycle begins and the first big policy step the Democrats take on domestic reproductive health is to push through a 30 percent increase in abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that prohibit information about condoms and birth control. Oh, and by the way, that increase (to $140 million) is larger than any put forward in the last three years of the Republican-led Congress.

...
So, what the hell happened and why? Apparently, the abstinence-only funding is being used as a sweetener for conservative Republicans. According to CQ :

Lawmakers say the olive branch extended to Republicans increases the likelihood that the bill will pass the House with a veto-proof majority. It also sends a strong signal that Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey, D-Wis., will avoid controversial social policy changes this year in the interest of moving bills.

Let’s think this through. David Obey is willing to increase funding for ideologically driven programs that don’t work and do real harm to real kids in order to increase the political prospects for an appropriations bill. So, really bad ideas get funded so that the process runs smoothly? Sounds a lot like the bridge to nowhere to me. I’m sure it is just what people were looking for when they thought “new leadership.”
...

:wtf: :banghead:

Tell me again. Why did we vote for them?

[monktonman]

1. I think I'm gonna have to stop reading DU

Everyday I read something new that the Dem's are doing and it infuriates me.
Do they think they won by mistake?
What the hell are they thinking?
God help us all.

[polichick]

2. I thought the same thing...

...when Population Connection emailed me about this today! Dems probably keep thinking that if they give a little, so will the Reps ~ but it doesn't happen. It's Charlie Brown and the football every time!

[sandnsea]

3. Tell me again

Why do I bother posting here when the only thing that ever gets any attention is the opportunity to bitch about Democrats.

MAY 19

Abstinence-Only Failure, Enact Responsible Education About Life Act

"..It is imperative that we move quickly to replace abstinence programs with effective sex education in the next school year.

125 organizations; including medical, civil rights, faith-based, family planning, educational, and public health; support “science-based, medically accurate, and age appropriate public health information about both abstinence and contraception”. This program is called the REAL Act, Responsible Education About Life, and has been introduced Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT). There is currently no funding for comprehensive sex education, which is the primary objective of the REAL Act.

The Act also defines the criteria to receive funding. Programs would need to be medically accurate including information about benefits and side effects of contraception, health benefits of condoms to reduce STD’s, including HIV; teach abstinence is the only certain way to avoid pregnancy or STD’s; teach skills to avoid verbal, physical and sexual advances; teach that alcohol and drug use inhibits responsible decisions-making; and encourage family communication about sexuality and choices.

Check and see if your Congressman is a co-sponsor of HR 1653, or if your Senator is a co-sponsor of S 972. If they need some encouragement, send them a letter today."

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?p=89

[Mass]

4. Nice bill. Apparently though, this is not what will be proposed in the House.

BTW, my 2 senators are on board, as is my congressman.

[sandnsea]

10. Yeah, it got ignored

I think this is a case of having to be LOUDLY FOR something, rather than just against the garbage pushed through by the brain-dead segment of the population.

On a brighter note, Oregon just mandated paying for birth control and having emergency contraception in every ER in the state. So that's something I guess.

[beachmom]

5. Kerry: Democrats not elected to be just like Republicans

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/6/8/11114/92623

Not only does that work for global climate change, but on sex education and Iraq, too.

[Tom Joad]

8. and kerry voted just like a republica for the IWR. so the source is a joke too.

[beachmom]

11. Kerry's speech was about global climate change. Name a Republican

who has a voting record on the environment like Kerry has. Only then would your repetitive posts have a point.

[Tom Joad]

15. wars screw up our environment too, and really are a threat to our

earth's survival.

[BobRossi]

6. Suggest name change for DU

To "Democrats in Exile".

[Mass]

9. It's more that some Democrats in the House and the Senate have the feeling that if

they do some concession, the other side will meet them half way. When did it ever work?

You end up having bills that are meaningless.

[Tom Joad]

7. Is this why Democrats don't have children??

[Dhalgren]

12. The Democrats just keep making it harder and harder on the

intelligent wing of the Party.

"...the abstinence-only issue is a marker for the core values of the new Democratic congressional leadership." This is what it is really beginning to look like. I have been nonplussed by the actions of this congress, but i am starting to get the message: "We (the Congressional Leadership) are not really very progressive and we will cater to the conservative agenda, because that is where we see our true advantage." Ok, but count me out of any plans you may have in future...

[madfloridian]

13. The Christian left is already having an influence.

Jim Wallis said:

""The Religious Right and the secular Left both lost on Election Night," Wallis said. The goal now? "We have to hold the new Congress accountable."

And he signed this statement by Father Pavone.

http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/americaweseek.html

[Mojambo]

14. This is why the pandering to the religious (that we saw this week) irks some progressives

It leads to real legislative consequences.

[IndianaGreen]

16. Democratic pandering to the GAWD-squad is what gave us DOMA

Looks like Obey is truly the asshole that we saw in that video when he berated an antiwar protester.

[MadHound]

17. Yay! Equal opportunity pandering to religious interests!

Let's see, which party is not a lapdog for Corporate America?

Which party wants to follow the will of the people and bring the troops home ASAP?

Which party still believes in the Constitution?

Which party still believes in seperation of church and state?

Oh, yeah, that one.

[madfloridian]

18. Confused...The Nation for June 18 says there will be cuts. ?

I have not read all the article yet, but this part jumped out at me.


"With Democrats now controlling Congress, this faith-based feeding trough may soon run dry. At press time, Democrats are poised to cut off one $50 million abstinence-only funding stream, through Title V, which requires renewal by June 30. Henry Waxman, the California Democrat who chairs the House government reform committee, is considering hearings on Bush's abstinence programs--hearings that could expose the conservative pork barrel they've become. Since February--perhaps to avoid those Waxman subpoenas--three ACF directors have resigned. First to leave was Jeffrey Trimbath, who jumped to a fundraising post with the Heritage Foundation. A month later Keroack vacated his post. Then on April 2 Wade Horn announced his resignation. But the revolving door of influence-peddling is still turning. Horn hired on with Deloitte Consulting, where according to a Deloitte statement he "will be a key advisor to health and human services clients of Deloitte Consulting's state government practice." Horn's former boss at HHS, Tommy Thompson, already heads Deloitte's Center for Health Solutions"

http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20070618&s=reynolds

It does not mention Obey, so maybe that is something new. What's up with him?

[madfloridian]

19. According to LifeNews, it is already done in committee

From a Pro-Life site:

House Democrats Increase Abstinence Education, Family Planning Funds
http://www.lifenews.com/nat3173.html

"Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- It wasn't supposed to be this way. When abortion advocates were successful in handing control of Congress to the Democrats after the 2006 elections, their allies in Congress were supposed to use their newfound power to decrease federal funds for abstinence education. Instead, they increased it.
Thursday afternoon, members of a House Appropriations subcommittee voted to increase funding for the Community Based Abstinence Education program (CBAE) by $27.8 million, to $141 million.

CBAE funds groups that encourage students to engage in abstinence rather than promote the use of birth control.

According to Congressional Quarterly, Appropriations Chairman David Obey, a pro-abortion Wisconsin Democrat, said the abstinence vote was an olive branch to Republicans to help get their support for the various spending bills Congress approves annually to fund the federal government.

Other Democrats, such as pro-abortion Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., of Illinois, said they were willing to accept more money for abstinence education to be able to get GOP support for their other spending measures that is increasing the cost of the bills more than the president wants."

When do we start calling? Monday? This really irritates me.

[mckeown1128]

20. Grrrrrr....

:mad: :argh: