It was just a matter of time I suppose. What with Sen. Barack Obama's popularity with college students and the economy being the number one issue for voters, the media finally have an excuse to put a more youthful spin on the classic food vs. prescription drugs meme. A changing media environment, after all, calls for new angles at the same old bias. Someone had to give it the old college try.
Somewhere out there some college co-ed is making an agonizing decision: textbooks or birth control.
Fortunately for America's college-aged voters, ABCNews.com is picking up the banner on this issue:
Erin McKenna, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, admits that she sometimes has to choose between purchasing textbooks for school and paying for her birth-control prescription.
"I have two jobs and I still can't afford it," McKenna said.
It is the type of decision that more and more college women are facing since a provision in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 ended the practice of drug companies providing birth-control medicines to colleges at a steep discount.
Birth-control advocates call the price increase a crisis, while promoters of sexual abstinence say colleges should be stressing alternatives to contraceptives.
As reporter Julia Hoppock noted in her April 24 article, the issue is complete with at least one B-list celebrity supporter and some powerful Democratic backers:
McKenna and a group of other college students, along with actress Amber Tamblyn, went to Washington, D.C., this week to lobby Congress for passage of a bill that would restore the discounts.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Joseph Crowley D-N.Y. along with Sen. Claire McCaskill D-Mo., and presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., is called the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act. It has been introduced in both the Senate and House, but has yet to be passed.
Before the deficit bill passed, drug companies were allowed to provide discounted birth-control medicines in an effort to forge brand loyalty with women. But language in the act made them unable to continue the practice, which Crowley says was an unintended result of the legislation.
The problem is so bad, it could be a "crisis," Hoppock hinted, finding another co-ed to to hype the issue:
Birth-control advocates worry the price increase could put contraceptives out of reach of some women and lead to unwanted pregnancy.
The price increase is forcing some college students to make tough choices.
University of Nevada senior None Wainwright says the price increase has "really taken a toll."
She was able to get two more months' worth of discounted contraceptives because her pharmacy had stockpiled the cheaper birth control, but when that runs out, she's not sure what she'll do.
"I'm debating what my next move will be," Wainwright said.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
PHHHT!
April 24, 2008 - 22:13 ET by River CityI have had it with whiny Americans. Taxpayers don't owe anyone birth control.
These folks with their hands out for more of our money need to make a decision: do you want an education or a baby? Since there are alternatives to taxpayer funded birth control I see no one in need here. One alternative is wait until you are out of school. If you feel you can't then I would use condoms. These students need to learn that if they chose to have sex they need to weigh the consequences
"We are going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." Hillary Clinton, 6-28-04 San Francisco
I'm sure a judge can
April 24, 2008 - 21:52 ET by MidAmericaI'm sure a judge can issue a ruling that promiscuity is a Constitutional right (pursuit of happiness) therefore the government must provide birth control.
New flash for Ms.
April 24, 2008 - 21:58 ET by motherbeltNew flash for Ms. McKenna....there are student loans to cover not only tuition, but....wait for it......textbooks!! And there's a form of birth control that's completely free....it's called "abstinence."
But how dare we expect that of a young college woman? Isn't it their "right" to have sex?
Let's see...do I abstain, or have sex and take a chance on getting pregnant/
Shame on a society that forces young women to make such tough choices!!
Planned Parenthooh gave out
April 25, 2008 - 08:27 ET by kgPlanned Parenthooh gave out free birth control pills to anyone many years ago. Now they use our tax dollars for expansion and large buildings to they can keep their billion dollar profit machine ruinning.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Given the choice, Ms. McKenna...
April 24, 2008 - 22:07 ET by YahooWatcher...please, do us all a favor and opt for the birth control. Society can probably tolerate one more uneducated liberal like yourself, but another half dozen or so of your offspring will be a burden.
"I'm debating what my next
April 24, 2008 - 22:13 ET by bigtimer"I'm debating what my next move will be," Wainwright said.
Crossing legs and saying no always works....
Get a part-time job in the meantime and work for your own money to get your own contraceptives.... instead of this endless cradle to grave govt. funding that we all pay for.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
HA!
April 24, 2008 - 23:14 ET by DEVILDOCMOMPutting your knees together was my first thought.
Hey Devil Doc... It is funny
April 24, 2008 - 23:19 ET by bigtimerHey Devil Doc...
It is funny to me too...and these are college students?
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Unfortunately, yes
April 25, 2008 - 12:07 ET by DEVILDOCMOMI teach a Clinical RN class...since it is clinical and has a hospital based focus I do not read their papers on a regular basis. The few I have read have made me very pleased at their intelligence AND with others shocked that they are in a baccalaureate program.
Crossing legs and saying no
April 25, 2008 - 12:09 ET by bassndudeCrossing legs and saying no always works.... I hate when that happens:-)
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Morning to you
April 25, 2008 - 12:13 ET by bigtimerMorning to you bass...
I'm LOL... I was wondering when one of you guys would say that....if good ol' Mighty Mouth was here he would of already jumped on that being the rogue he is....heheeee
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Hi BT.. I just couldn't
April 25, 2008 - 13:00 ET by bassndudeHi BT.. I just couldn't let that one pass:-))
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
I seem to recall from
April 24, 2008 - 22:21 ET by bws53I seem to recall from college (same school as Erin, BTW) they either gave the students free condoms or sold them at a discount at the student health service. I never partook in that though so I could be wrong. However, I think we got one or two in our 'welcome back' kit (shaving cream, razor, deodorant, etc, and those always seemed to last me all semester, lol). So, Erin, grab a few before you hit the bars. In my day, Zelda's (long gone), Calico's (Fuel and Fuddle now), and CJ's (some bizarre name now) were my hangouts. If you hang out at Gene's Place (formerly Denny's), tell Gene I said 'hi'.
Maybe they should teach economics
April 24, 2008 - 22:43 ET by GrannyGrump42Keeping your knees together is free. Not to mention it leaves you with a lot more time to study.
Proud
April 24, 2008 - 22:44 ET by ScrapironHer parents must be so pound of their lovely (stupid/insane) daughter.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Losers. The article says
April 24, 2008 - 23:29 ET by ckc1227Losers. The article says the cost for one girl increased from $12 a month to $52 a month. $12 will buy a big box of condoms that should be enough month to month, no tax payer subsidy necessary. Or they could just go to Walmart and take advantage of their discount drug program and get birth control pills for $4-$9 a month.
But, really, should these girls be having sex to begin with? I mean, if they can't afford the birth control, how will they be able to afford the abortion if the birth control fails? That does happen, ya know?
Or, as I said above, they
April 25, 2008 - 05:15 ET by motherbeltOr, as I said above, they could practice abstinence. 100% effective. And free!
but,
April 25, 2008 - 07:26 ET by voodoodaddyno fun.
Celebrity
April 24, 2008 - 23:29 ET by ProudAmerican33Who in the hell is Amber Tamblyn? Why doesn't she buy these sluts some birth control? Yes, this has p'd me off.
PA... Give 'The View'
April 24, 2008 - 23:35 ET by bigtimerPA...
Give 'The View' about a week or so and they will have it all figured out, those brainy whiz-bangs have all the answers.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Suggestion?
April 24, 2008 - 23:50 ET by gfrrmanSHUT YOUR FREAKIN' LEGS, ya SLUT!!! Geez. "I have no responsibility when I do the wild thing". Instant gratification, long term consequences; these whores are typical liberal Democrats with this line of (un)reasoning...WAAAHHHH!...not my fault..WAAHH!!!
"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER
In the long-term, I fully support the birth-control option here.
April 25, 2008 - 00:03 ET by R D Helm...as it will surely curtail the number of our future young who will be eventually corrupted by lefty-oriented textbooks, ultimately resulting, along with abortion, in there being far fewer lefties among us.
Works for me. :-)
Theme for Election '08: Who cares?
Sadly Not From The Onion
April 25, 2008 - 02:14 ET by Intellectual Honesty"Young women face many hurdles in life. To add another financial hurdle makes no sense. We should be making it easier, not harder, for young women to take control of their lives," Tamblyn said in a statement released by Planned Parenthood.
Ms. Tamblyn...meet Mr. Obregon...
"Considering that many students have the funds to purchase alcohol and music for their iPods, why should they get discounted prices to begin with, and why should these discounts be restored?" Obregon asked. "If students have to choose between contraception and groceries, then maybe they should reexamine the reasons why they are sexually active to begin with."
On to...
McKenna says she has taken a second job to afford the pill, which went up from $12 to $52 a month on her campus after the legislation went into effect.
Translation: I gotta work the Hours to get the Minutes.
"My father passed away in February," McKenna said, "and that's not a burden I'm comfortable with putting on my mother right now."
I have a feeling her father (RIP) would not have been comfortable with the mission in general.
University of North Dakota student Katie Ryan says she had to cut back on groceries as well as social activities in order to afford the higher-priced pills.
Dream Job For Katie: Back Room Super Market Prostitute.
this cracks me up two
April 25, 2008 - 02:44 ET by seaniepthis cracks me up
two weekends ago I went to a bit of a college reunion - the rugby team I played on (the Florida State University) had a reunion, so I got together with a bunch of my old rugby buddies and we basically re-enacted our college years
we got drunk and had fun
we laughed for hours about how poorly we mostly did with "the ladies" and really how little we cared at the time because we enjoyed ourselves partying, we all studied and graduated on time, most of us went on to grad school . . . so propose to this young lady that she find the rugby team, those guy will be too busy singing songs after beating the crap out of eachother and then maybe just party a bit too much and not really care all that much
I look back at this and think about the very good looking teachers I see in Florida having sex with their students and sort of wonder where they were when I was there and laugh
where was this girl when I was in college?!?!?!?!?!
I realize how ridiculous her argument is, but it soooooo dumb that I just find it funny
this dumb slut would not populate the world, she would just get an abortion anyway - how can anyone even attempt to deal with this?
A morning musing from........
April 25, 2008 - 04:55 ET by old cronevermind, wrong place
So, who's supports the
April 25, 2008 - 06:00 ET by ThisnThatSo, who's supports the legislation that's proposed to solve this "crisis"? All Dims, that's who -- with a special note to Obama's support.
Do the Dims ever pass up an opportunity to support the moral decay of America? Do they have to step up and and waste the nation's time and resources to support every liberal advocacy position? And finally, how many of these women are going to college on some kind of grant or scholorship, and why do we have to put up with stupid MSM quotes about how their lives are going to be totally destroyed by these events?
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Same chick ten years later...
April 25, 2008 - 06:11 ET by EvilCon555Suddenly realizes that having babies MAKES money...quits BCP's in favor of unprotected promiscuity. Hoping to rake in $500/month/kid. However due to the effects of years of artifical hormones she now is afflicted with blood clots, uterine cancer, and infertility. Not too mention sagging breasts, varicose veins, acne scars, and 45 pounds she cannot loose. So there isn't a guy out there that will help her produce those money makers....
But at least she has the welfare state....where she can get a free college education.....
The circle of life continues....
"All great change in America begins at the dinner table" Ronald Reagan, Jan 21, 1981
Bravo Evilcon...given the
April 25, 2008 - 07:31 ET by taterBravo Evilcon...given the choice between an education or taking pills that would eventually kill me well I think you know the answer (btw I'm a guy so I didn't have to worry about that choice).
It just amazes me why women still take birth control pills (well I know why) but probably don't know the long term ramifications. From a guy's point of view I can't afford a kid right now (well plus I'm not married) so it's a pretty easy decision for me to say no. I can't believe it would be hard for her to say no as well.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
None (of the above) here is some advice...
April 25, 2008 - 07:26 ET by c5thenBuy the text books, spend your time studying and doing your papers and KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED if you go to a party.
I know...I'm a shocking radical.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
She needs to spend her
April 25, 2008 - 07:55 ET by moonjohnShe needs to spend her money on birth control.
cheap birth control
April 25, 2008 - 08:40 ET by candanceActually, girls can use one simple Advil to prevent pregnancy guaranteed.
Take one pill, place it between your knees, and see how long you can keep it from falling.
Works every time.
As for Miss McKenna, if she's really that stupid, she needs to drop out and focus on the birth control. She can always go back to college after menopause.
I smell something fishy
April 25, 2008 - 09:14 ET by CobraMan"I have two jobs and I still can't afford it"
Hay Honey, if you are working two jobs, are attending college, and are actually using your textbooks to study like you're suppose to, when do you find the time to actually NEED birth control pills instead of using the occasional condom (or waiting four years before you give into your primal urges)? Do you schedule half an hour of "sexual release" on Wednesdays and every other Saturday night or something?
I think you're lying to us and just want free birth control so you can have fun at the taxpayer's expense. I know that 25 dollars can buy a lot of makeup, especially when the guys pay for your drinks at the bar anyways. Well, screw you lady, I'm not playing for you to party hardy without worrying about getting pregnant. Now get back to class and stop your whining. College is expensive, deal with it!
I was figuring...
April 25, 2008 - 09:22 ET by sarcasmoThe only way contraception would be that great of an expense is if one of her jobs is the oldest profession and she likes very expensive condoms. That scenario might also, come to think of it, explain the smell. ;)
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
oh, waaah!
April 25, 2008 - 13:30 ET by UndercoverConservativeI wish i had *that* problem when I was in school!
If she needs that much birth control, I bet she's not spending much money on meals...
What's next? whining about choosing between books and beer/weed?
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".