I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
ALBUQUERQUE — As NMI reported last week, President Obama’s proposed 2010 budget would cut virtually all federal funding for abstinence-only sex education, replacing it with a $110 million teen pregnancy prevention initiative using “evidence-based” programming.
By requiring that sex-ed programs be “evidence-based,” the White House was sending a clear message that it would not support abstinence-only programs that several major studies have shown to be ineffective. But now abstinence-only groups are pushing back, saying they have evidence their programs work and they hope to be considered for some federal funding.
Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association told USA Today on Tuesday that a 2007 government-sponsored study showing abstinence-only programs were ineffective was “an early study about early programs,” and insisting that “things have changed.” The NAEA has been working to persuade congressional aides that their programs are, in fact, evidence-based.
And if they can make a persuasive argument that their programs work, abstinence groups would be eligible for some of Obama’s proposed sex-ed money, Melody Barnes, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, told the paper.
There is also the possibility that supporters could convince Congress to change Obama’s proposed budget to include some funding directly to abstinence-only programs.
But New Mexico’s senators and representatives are not likely to champion those efforts.
Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, both Democrats, are strong supporters of comprehensive sex-ed.
“Overall the Bush administration approach has proven unsuccessful,” U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan said through a spokesman. “We need comprehensive, appropriate education and information that helps our students and families.”
Rep. Heinrich, too, expressed his support for Obama’s decision to defund abstinence-only programs in an e-mailed statement. “President Obama’s budget invests in helping young people make responsible, healthy, and safe decisions about relationships and sexual activity.”
“Federal funding should go towards teen pregnancy prevention that is driven by science and demonstrated success. New Mexico teens deserve adequate and accurate information to make important life decisions…We know that abstinence works, but abstinence-only programs do not,” Heinrich said.
Rep. Harry Teague, who represents a more conservative district in the southern part of the state, did not respond to a request from NMI for comment on the issue.
But money may play a role in the decisions facing Congress as members debate the President’s proposed budget.
If Obama gets his way, abstinence-only requirements would be removed from $50 million in funding that goes directly to the states. That’s money that New Mexico — and dozens of other states — have rejected because they didn’t want to have to use it for programs that didn’t teach comprehensive sex-ed.
New Mexico Secretary of Health Alfredo Vigil has said the state would be eager to apply for federal money that could be used for “complete and accurate communication of critical information.”
And New Mexico could see an influx of grant money coming from Washington if local groups take advantage of some of the funding allotted for the new teen pregnancy prevention initiative. Planned Parenthood, which never applied for grants to teach abstinence-only sex ed, is one group that says it’s interested.
But abstinence-only groups aren’t giving up.
“I think the people who are involved in this in New Mexico are very motivated and feel this is the healthiest choice for New Mexico youth and they’ve had very encouraging results,” Laurel Edenburn of the New Mexico Abstinence Education Coalition said last week.
