A bill to expand a contraceptive program that has won Colorado awards for significantly reducing teen pregnancy rates died in the GOP-led State Senate today, even after one GOP member congratulated the program on winning the award. The program funds long-term contraception, like IUDs.
Despite the savings in Medicaid costs from reduced birth rats, significant reduction in abortions projected by the program, the bill was killed because … well … some religious people got twitchy about it.
'“Coloradans oppose the imposition of these kinds of mandates on us as individuals. There are religious reasons,” said Michael Norton, an attorney representing Colorado Family Action, who once served as the U.S. attorney for Colorado. “These contraceptives are abortifacients, that is they cause the demise of an implanted or fertilized human embryo.”'
Sigh.
Yeppers, the GOP asshats strike again.