Poor, Bristol Palin. The abstinence ambassador's recent publicity blitz didn't sway the president's position on sex education. Today, Obama unveiled nearly $17 billion in budget cuts, including the elimination of funding for several abstinence-only education programs. Politico highlights the relevant passage in the monolithic budget:
The 2010 Budget proposes a new Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative to support community-based and faith-based efforts to reduce teen pregnancy using evidence-based and promising models. In addition, a new Strengthening Communities Fund will help build the capacity of non-profit organizations and State, Local and Tribal entities to better serve low-income and disadvantaged populations. This Budget also proposes funding for (1) a new child welfare initiative, and (2) a human services case management system for Federally-declared disasters. This Budget eliminates funding for Community-Based Abstinence Education, the mandatory Title V Abstinence Education program, the Compassion Capital Fund, and Rural Community Facilities.
What's more, the budget proposes $164 million for teen-pregnancy prevention programs. An enthusiastic "yay" and a "woo-hoo" are definitely in order -- but, be warned that 25 percent of that budget would be available to abstinence-only programs, according to the Wall Street Journal. Luckily, they'll have to fight with other programs just to get a piece.
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