A story in today's New Mexican notes that six states are refusing to participate in the federally-funded program for abstinence-only education. They point out that some programs offer inaccurate information to young people and that abstinence education does not play a big role in preventing unwanted pregnancies and STDs.
Some experts within New Mexico's Department of Health have been arguing for years that the state should reject that money, saying the programs hamper the public health goals of preventing STDs and teen pregnancies. It will be interesting to see if there's any change of heart on this issue with the Gov's run for president. Will it help him to take the money and whatever appeal it could give him to conservatives? Or to hop on the bandwagon with other states and look like he's rejecting the current administration's policies, thereby offering a "change." After all, don't all candidates for public office promise change? And how often do we get it?
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