Bush Health Budget Hypocritical
Press Release
With the cost of health care continuing to skyrocket, Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) today pressed Health and Human Services Secretary, Michael O. Leavitt, about the hypocrisy inherent in the President's 2009 budget proposal for the Department of Health and Human Services. While chairing the full Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing, DeGette made the point that despite the Administration's claim that they don't want to waste money by funding duplicitous programs or programs that no longer serve their purpose, the Administration continues to fund programs that are not evidence-based' and are ineffective.
"The President's budget slashes funding for many important health programs, such as the Prevention Block Grant and Health Professions programs," said DeGette. "As justification, President Bush states that the programs are not based on evidence-based practices' and evaluations have found that these activities do not have a demonstrated impact.' However, the President fails to apply these same effectiveness standards to the abstinence-only' programs, which are slated for another huge increase of $28 million. Study after study, including a 10-year study commissioned by the President's own Administration, has shown these programs to be ineffective at best, and in some cases actually counterproductive."
An April 2007 report commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services found that there is no evidence that abstinence programs implemented in upper elementary and middle schools are effective in reducing teen sexual activity. Furthermore, the study found that the main objective of Title V, Section 510 abstinence education programs is to teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage The impact results from the four selected programs show no impact on rates of sexual abstinence.'
"The rationale of the Bush Administration to cut programs that the Administration has determined do not have a demonstrated impact' while simultaneously increasing funding for abstinence-only programs is absolutely hypocritical."
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