This week, a new study confirmed old news: abstinence-only programs don't work. Yet the Ohio legislature continues to allow school districts to cheat students out of a complete education. Lawmakers with common sense, however, are proposing that all sex education must be comprehensive sex education to close the knowledge gap about how to prevent unintended pregnancies. Ohio House Education Committee Chair Brian Williams is part of that effort, and we thank him for scheduling hearings on House Bill 316.

The new study we mentioned? The Guttmacher Institute released their report "Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health." It confirms what we already suspected: between 2005 and 2006, the rate of teen pregnancies increased 3%. A teenager that becomes pregnant will likely face serious setbacks in her educational progress and her career opportunities. This rate increase also comes with a massive cost to taxpayers.

By scheduling hearings on HB 316, Rep. Williams will provide committee members with the opportunity to learn how comprehensive sex education will help to prevent unintended pregnancies and save taxpayers’ money.


There's something we don't trust about legislation that uses sarcasm. That's why we became skeptical when we read Senator Jones' Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 and came across the word reform in quotes, as in Health Care "Reform."

Instead of working on ideas to improve public health in our state, Senator Jones wrote an ineffective resolution telling Congress to reject any legislation that includes abortion care as an option for women under health care reform. She is using her seat in the Ohio General Assembly to voice support for federal policies that would restrict a woman's access to safe and legal reproductive health services. She would surely fit in with the likes of U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) and Representative Bart Stupak (D-Michigan).



-Gabriel