Lamborn vs. The "Morning After Pill" (Again)

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by: Colorado Pols

Plan B.

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn has reintroduced legislation aimed at banning "morning-after pills" from school clinics. The bill would prohibit federal funding to schools whose clinics provide emergency contraception, which is currently available on drugstore shelves to anyone who wants to buy it.

In a press release, Lamborn argued that school clinics should not carry the pill, citing various risks. The pill has long been targeted by conservatives who claim it can cause a fertilized egg to abort…

More from Rep. Doug Lamborn's press release:

"Schools should not be giving these powerful drugs to our children. In addition to the emotional and behavioral risks associated with these drugs, these drugs can do serious physical harm. The manufacturer of one of these drugs warns of the increased possibility of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. Parents must be involved in important choices like this for their children, and school-based health clinics exclude parents from the decision. [Pols emphasis]

"This is outrageous and must stop. We owe it to our young people to protect them from exposure to these dangerous drugs."

…The bill would prohibit federal funding of any school that distributes or provides emergency contraception (such as the "morning-after" pill) or a prescription for such contraception on the premises or in the facilities of an elementary or secondary school.

While Rep. Lamborn seeks to crack down on availability of the so-called "morning after pill," the FDA announced in June that the medication will be made available over-the-counter–the end of a long battle over expanding access to the drug. Although conservatives warn of health effects, the primary objection according to most public health experts has always always religious in nature–concerns based on the religious concept of "life" beginning at conception, and supposed erosion of personal morality standards in the face of easy contraception.

Lamborn's press release notes that this is the fourth time he has introduced this legislation, so much like the perennial backers of the "Personhood" abortion ban initiative in Colorado, his arguments are well-rehearsed! Unfortunately for Lamborn, the prospects beyond the GOP-controlled House for this bill aren't much different.

10 thoughts on “Lamborn vs. The “Morning After Pill” (Again)”

mamajama55 says:

August 7, 2013 at 2:29 pm

I understand the objections to this, but only when I have my "Mom hat" on. As the parent of a daughter, I I would want to know if she got emergency contraception.

On the other hand, (when it came down to it), I did know, and took appropriate action. If a teen's communication with their parent(s) is so poor that she has to go to strangers for help, then strangers, including her school health clinic, is where she should go.

I'm just saying I understand the wishful thinking of parents here.

And again, for abortion prevention, nothing beats free/cheap emergency contraception. You really would think right to lifers would get behind this.

If I put my nostalgic teen hat on (it's covered with peace symbols, flowers, "Free Abortion on Demand!" and "Stop the War NOW!" buttons), I remember the days when 1/3 of the girls who would have graduated, didn't, because of unplanned pregnancies. The young girls would just disappear. Most of them went off to have their babies, or adopt them out. There were no schools for pregnant or mothering teens. There was only shame and denial, for the girls at least. No one asked about the boys who were presumably involved.

We tried to get our school clinic to pass out condoms, and they said, "No. – Any young ladies who ask can get referral from the nurse." So my young hippie self, precariously balancing on platform shoes, sees the school clinics dispensing emergency contraception, and declaims: "It's about damned time!"

My teacher self, wearing sensible shoes and reading glasses, and who could teach the rest of her life without seeing another pregnant 14 year old trying to squeeze her belly into a school desk, couldn't agree more.

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1. Craig says:
  
  August 7, 2013 at 2:47 pm
  
  Anti-choicers believe that the morning after pill is an abortion.
  
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  1. mamajama55 says:
    
    August 8, 2013 at 1:53 am
    
    Anti choicers beleive that basically every hormonal birth control is abortion. So again, if logic ruled, they should like gay sex, because no babies get conceived, hence no possibility for abortion. But hey, who listens to me? Just a voice crying in the wilderness.
    
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Half Glass Full says:

August 7, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Why do you even bother to post this story? So what … Lamebrain introduces a bill for the fourth time, along with a self-serving press release. Next you'll be quoting his press releases every time he votes to overturn Obamacare: vote no. 41, 42, etc.

He's the epitome of a do-nothing, back-benching Congressman who is now hard to topple because of his name recognition. Tom Tancredo without the charm.

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1. MapMaker says:
  
  August 7, 2013 at 3:17 pm
  
  It's important to bring this up because it reminds us of what the right has in store for us. Remember “legitimate rape?
  
  It also serves to illustrate that the right to life moment has never been about fetuses. As mamajama points out, if you want to reduce abortions, make contraception freely available. In addition, real sex education (not the ignorance only kind) has been shown to reduce unwanted pregnancies. Planned Parenthood, with its emphasis on pre and post natal care, has been shown to produce healthier and wanted children.
  
  No, the aim of the right has always been to hold out pregnancy as punishment for girls and women having sexual intercourse in violation of their “morality”. This is also seen in the flap about the HPV vaccine. It wasn't even subtle. There were preachers actually coming out and saying that they hoped the threat of cervical cancer would serve as a deterrent to sex outside of marriage.
  
  We need to confront Doug Lamebrain and his ilk with what they actually say and keep reminding people of the kind of world they have in mind for us.
  
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Craig says:

August 7, 2013 at 2:48 pm

increased possibility of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke? Really, half the non-prescription drugs contain this warning or worse. So he want's to eliminate them too? As usual, Lamebrain can't help showing himself as the inconsistent zealot which he is.

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1. Davie says:
  
  August 7, 2013 at 3:09 pm
  
  I was stunned while watching the TV ad for Celebrex, an arthritis drug. The voice-over mentioned the possibility of serious side-effects, including death!
  
  But to your point, hypocracy has never been an obstacle for promoting FUD by the GOP.
  
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2. bullshit! says:
  
  August 7, 2013 at 8:25 pm
  
  No ibuprofen or Viagra for Douggie? Never! That would violate his raaaghts.
  
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dwyer says:

August 8, 2013 at 6:59 am

I think that having the school clinics dispensing the Morning After Pill is far safer that having it available OTC. I presume that the school clinic will have a nurse who can review the use of the pill with the student; monitor the student, and be available if problems develop.

On the major problems, as I see it, is that the pill has to be taken within the prescribed time and it can not be taken BEFORE unprotected sex. These are precisely the kind of guidelines that middle school students, in particular, and high school students could have problems with.

Don't women ever get tired of all these chemicals being promoted for them and their daughters? I have often wondered why there is no broad based demand for a male contraceptive…the plumbing seems much simplier…

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1. Irish Patti says:
  
  August 8, 2013 at 8:43 am
  
  Those chemicals allow a woman to choose when it is right for her to have a child. I am happy to have charge of my own reproductive rights.
  
  The school nurse is pretty overwhelmed as it is, and having it OTC removes the stigma.
  
  I am very happy that it is avaiable OTC.
  
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