LINCOLN, Neb.—Lawmakers on Thursday sparred over whether state dollars should be used to teach students about contraception, with the debate often trailing off into topics such as abortion and even free-speech rights.
But mostly lost in the argument was the fact that the only school-based health clinic that could use the dollars is supported by an entity that opposes contraception: the Catholic church.
“Nothing,” said Cathy Brockmeier, marketing director of St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, when asked what contraception services are offered at a health clinic the Catholic-affiliated hospital helps operate. The clinic is located at Grand Island Senior High School and is the only one of its kind in the state.
The clinic has no plans to teach students about contraception, let alone offer condoms and other forms of birth control or advise students that abortion is an option when unwanted pregnancies arise.
The issue of using state dollars for contraception services arose Thursday when lawmakers debated a bill from Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha. The measure (LB469) would allow the school-based clinic in Grand Island to request money from the state to help run the clinic, but wouldn’t guarantee them dollars.
The same would hold true for any other school-based health clinics that might be built in the future.
The Legislature eventually gave the bill second-round approval after they voted down a controversial amendment. It would have barred the clinics from using the money for “contraception services,” such as handing out condoms or teaching students about contraception.
“I’m not opposed to the birds and the bees,” said Sen. Tony Fulton of Lincoln, who introduced the amendment. “You can still teach about human sexuality … I’m talking about contraception services.”
“I’m saying you shouldn’t use state funds to do that,” he said.
Sen. Philip Erdman of Bayard pointed out that even if the bill becomes law, the Legislature could turn down funding for any future school-based health clinics that wanted to offer contraception services.
But several lawmakers were wary of providing the opportunity to use state dollars for contraception services. Some are worried that Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions, may try to offer information about contraception and abortion at schools in the state.
Sen. Danielle Nantkes of Lincoln angrily responded to Fulton’s introduction of the amendment, calling it “an unnecessary, unprovoked opportunity to take cheap shots” at health care providers.
“Let’s not throw up tired rhetoric with sloppy amendments,” she said.
Sen. Tom White of Omaha, who described himself as pro-life, said Fulton’s amendment was self-defeating. He said it could lead to more unwanted pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted diseases that might be prevented by open discussion of contraception.
“Ignorance is not pro-life,” he exclaimed.
But others argued that nothing in the amendment or bill would limit the types of messages school-based clinics could give about sexuality without the help of the dollars in question on Thursday. The money available to school-based clinics would come from Nebraska’s piece of the massive, 1998 settlement between states and tobacco companies.
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