In MN, Does Political Posturing Trump Teen Pregnancy Prevention?
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Some health education advocates are dismayed that Minnesota passed up more than $850,000 in federal funds for comprehensive sex education – money that was available without requiring matching state dollars. It came about due to an executive order signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week directing state agencies not to apply for the grants, which are linked to the Affordable Care Act. He said such programs are “an intrusion by the federal government into personal health care matters.” However, the governor does support a federal grant promoting abstinence-only education that requires a 75-percent state match. Brigid Riley, executive director of the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP), disagrees with the governor’s position. “It seems to me, because he said yes to accepting ‘abstinence-only until marriage’ funding, that this is much more about politics than it is about pregnancy prevention. It seems really unfortunate that kids
