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Lawmakers spar over using state money for contraceptives

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BY NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 - 05:24:47 pm CDT

Senators spent two hours covering familiar ground during a debate Thursday over whether the state should provide money to school health clinics. 

Although it wasn’t a traditional pro-life-pro-choice debate, there was a hint of it — some bashing of Planned Parenthood and some concern about teenagers and contraception.

“We will have Planned Parenthood in the schools handing out their brand of services,” said Lincoln Sen. Tony Fulton, who wanted to make sure no state funding is used for contraception services in school-based clinics.

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Supporters of the bill (LB469) said Fulton’s attack was misguided.

“This is not about contraceptives. It is not about abortion. It is about giving information,” said Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, sponsor of the bill.

The bill would allow the state to give grants to school-based clinics from tobacco settlement money now used for other health-related programs. Current law prohibits the money from being used for the clinics. It also specifically bans money being used for abortions and abortion counseling or referral.

The debate came on an amendment by Fulton that would have banned using any of the state money for “school-based contraception services.”

Fulton said his amendment was in part a response to fear that Planned Parenthood would become involved in school clinics.  He said he had received voter literature from Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska saying why they endorse in local elections.  The literature said school board races are important because local school boards determine whether to establish school-based clinics and what services are permitted, he said.

He suggested senators go to a Planned Parenthood Web site called Teenwire.com to see what that group believes reproductive health services should include.

“I think it is inappropriate for teens and inappropriate for public funds,” he said of the information on that site.

Sen. Cap Dierks of Ewing, who supported Fulton’s amendment, said he had heard horror stories about Planned Parenthood’s teaching examples.

“I can’t even repeat them on the floor,” he said.

But supporters of the measure said ignoring contraception is not appropriate and Planned Parenthood isn’t the issue.

“I am pro-life,” Omaha Sen. Tom White said.  “If you are seriously opposed to abortion, the most dangerous thing you can do is promote ignorance.”

White contended the Fulton amendment promoted ignorance.

“Ignorance causes abortions,” he said.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Nantkes said she was disappointed opponents were trying to make the bill a pro-life-pro-choice issue when it is not.

“Contrary to conventional wisdom, support remains strong for comprehensive services. What we are talking about here is access to information,” she said.

She called the discussion about Planned Parenthood an “unnecessary, unprovoked cheap shot about quality health-care providers.”

Since there is only one school-based health clinic program, run by the Sisters of St. Francis in Grand Island, the debate was primarily symbolic. Nuns involved in that health clinic asked senators to change state law so their program could apply for state funding.

Senators eventually rejected Fulton’s amendment and gave the measure 36-8 second-round approval.

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.


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bill wrote on April 10, 2008 3:01 pm:
" oh no! not...condoms! Yeah and maybe a few lives could be saved in the process. What a shame this is even a debate. I could care less what the catholic church wants or stands for and I'd wager many of us nebraskans don't subscribe to the voodoo that is the catholic church and are tired of them presuming to run our lives. "

 Parent wrote on April 10, 2008 5:14 pm:
" I don't think the state should be passing out condoms to 14 year olds in school. What exactly are schools for again? "

 Walk the walk wrote on April 11, 2008 10:24 am:
" To Parent: the school didn't hand out condoms to a little 14 year old girl in my neighborhood who got pregnant, gave birth at age 15, and had a second kid at 18. Now she's got a meth problem and the kids are living with other family members. You and I are paying taxes for ADC, health care, food stamps, etc. to support these children. All for the lack of a condom. You're sure your kids will never get knocked up? So were her parents. "

 M wrote on April 11, 2008 6:05 pm:
" I find it sad that the same people who are anti-birth control and anti-choice are also the ones who often want to cut funding to the children who are born to un-willing parents. I compleatly agree with Walk the Walk. Prevention is the best plan. Give them a condom and maybe you can save their lives before they create a new one. You can also save your tax dollars. I am fairly sure that a pack of condoms is cheaper than the state paying for a child for 18 years. "

 john wrote on April 11, 2008 9:13 pm:
" Sen.Nantkes comments are coming from a liberal Demo. That has never had children.
Why should the taxpayers pay for birth control when there are others doing the same job?
If this bill is for information ONLY. then do it. Get it! ONLY for information and NOT free Birth control.
PS to Walk the walk Were were her parents to guide her?
Yep, It's society's fault, "

 To John wrote on April 12, 2008 2:07 pm:
" Obviously her parents were not around enough to teacher her about protection, but if we as a society don't want to pay a lifetime for her and her kid, then we need to step up where her parents have failed.

Please note, this comment is not in anyway meant to detract from teen parents who do go on to lead productive, welfare free lives. I know it does happen, and I applaud you for working to support your own kids. Sadly though, you are in the minority and most teen parents are not able or willing to move forward from state aid. "

 kmc wrote on April 13, 2008 9:28 am:
" I sure wish they had given information, etc., in schools when I was in school. Then, maybe I would have not gotten pregnant at 17 and had to give my child up for adoption. Granted, she has had an awesome life so far, but had I had information in school, I may have taken a different path! "

 kim wrote on April 13, 2008 10:42 pm:
" Seriously, teens who choose to be sexually active are going to do so, whether condoms are passed out or not. Tax payers paying for condoms is going to be much cheaper than welfare, medicaid,etc. that they young parents may have to go on if they get pregnant at a younger age. As for catholics who don't believe in birth control, premarital sex is a sin too!! "

 Mr. E wrote on April 14, 2008 1:27 pm:
" The state needs to stay out of this discussion. This is ridiculous. These days, some kids will choose to be sexually active...condom, or no condom. The schools should not be promoting a six-lane expressway to sexual activity. This isn't just about catholics. This isn't anti-choice, it's part of being pro-life. If kids are going to choose to be sexually active, then they need to be held accountable and need to accept the consequences that come with it. That doesn't mean that they need to be shunned, but bailing them out by offering contraception is not the message to be sending. Those who support that view are the ones acting in naivete, at best, and ignorance at worst...regardless of what Sen. Tom White says. "

 Mike McDermott wrote on April 14, 2008 1:57 pm:
" This article mentions that the school based health clinic program in Grand Island is run by the sisters of Saint Francis of Grand Island. I think that the program is run by St. Francis Medical Center, a Denver based Catholic Health Initiatives sponsoree. St. Francis Medical Center just built a $65 million "patient tower" expansion out of their own pocket, which effectively rendered the "old" 30 year old hospital obsolete. Why would they be concerned with changing the law to obtain public financing? Did they run out, finally? "

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