Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Obama's Budget

Before he was elected president, Barack Obama made it clear that he would cut abstinence funding.  True to his word, he has followed through with his promise.  His new budget eliminates all federal funding for abstinence only education and replaces it with sexual education.  

The budget eliminates Title V Abstinence Education Programs, while calling for at least $164 million dollars for contraceptive only education.  This money includes competitive grants, research, evaluation and authorization for $50 million in new mandatory condom grants to states, tribes and territories.

Leslee Unruh, President of the Abstinence Clearing House, stated, "The Obama decision is a Hollywood failed old approach that only increases teen pregnancies and damages America's greatest resource, our children.  I believe there will be a political backlash for those who oppose these life saving abstinence programs.  The enemies of sexual integrity programs will feel the heat from the army of youth who have seen the light through these programs as they approach voting age."

I hope his health care reform package includes funding for the great rise in STD's and mental health problems that comprehensive sex education programs bring.     

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