Abstinence Education Vetoed

November 13~

Creating a virtual monopoly for Planned Parenthood, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) confirmed yesterday that he is eliminating state matching funds for abstinence education. The decision, which affects nearly 15 nonprofit programs, raises the number of states that have rejected federal abstinence funds to 14.

Although Kaine insisted the reasons were largely financial, Virginia’s contraceptive-based, pro-adolescent-sex education programs will not be affected. In fact, most of them stand to profit substantially from the lack of competition.

The most obvious beneficiary, Planned Parenthood, had lobbied for this change since Kaine’s election. “…The governor wants to see us funding programs that are evidence-based,” said Delacey Skinner, the governor’s communication director.

Kaine’s office cited the recent study by Mathematica, whose sweeping conclusions about abstinence were based on data from fewer than one percent of the programs. Many are criticizing the timing of the announcement, which was obviously postponed to minimize the political damage to Democrats during last week’s elections.

The governor’s strategy may work in the short term, but leaders like Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R) say the debate is far from over. He and other social conservatives have promised to make reinstating funding for abstinence education a top priority when the legislature convenes in January.

Theirs will be a difficult battle in a state now moving toward the Democrats, many of whom–like Gov. Kaine–campaigned as moderates. Unfortunately, Virginians are now getting a true taste of what their definition of “moderate” entails.

Tony Perkins is the president of the Family Research Council.