Palin Slashed Funding for Teen Moms

[Teacher Mark 53]

By Paul Kane

ST. PAUL -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live.

After the legislature passed a spending bill in April, Palin went through the measure reducing and eliminating funds for programs she opposed. Inking her initials on the legislation -- "SP" -- Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers.

According to Passage House's web site, its purpose is to provide "young mothers a place to live with their babies for up to eighteen months while they gain the necessary skills and resources to change their lives" and help teen moms "become productive, successful, independent adults who create and provide a stable environment for themselves and their families."

Palin's own daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant and has plans to wed.

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," Palin said in a statement released by the McCain campaign. "We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy, as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Earlier today the Associated Press reported that Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, opposed funding to prevent teen pregnancies, a position that Palin also took as governor. "The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she wrote in a 2006 questionnaire distributed among gubernatorial candidates.

Reporters asked McCain in November 2007 whether he supported grants for sex education in the United States, whether such programs should include directions for using contraceptives and whether he supports President Bush's policy of promoting abstinence.

"Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin wrote in her line-item veto changes by hand in this copy of a 2008 spending bill obtained by The Washington Post.

Edited September 3, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[panamania79 2]

By Paul Kane

ST. PAUL -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live.

After the legislature passed a spending bill in April, Palin went through the measure reducing and eliminating funds for programs she opposed. Inking her initials on the legislation -- "SP" -- Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers.

According to Passage House's web site, its purpose is to provide "young mothers a place to live with their babies for up to eighteen months while they gain the necessary skills and resources to change their lives" and help teen moms "become productive, successful, independent adults who create and provide a stable environment for themselves and their families."

Palin's own daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant and has plans to wed.

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," Palin said in a statement released by the McCain campaign. "We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy, as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Earlier today the Associated Press reported that Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, opposed funding to prevent teen pregnancies, a position that Palin also took as governor. "The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she wrote in a 2006 questionnaire distributed among gubernatorial candidates.

Reporters asked McCain in November 2007 whether he supported grants for sex education in the United States, whether such programs should include directions for using contraceptives and whether he supports President Bush's policy of promoting abstinence.

"Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin wrote in her line-item veto changes by hand in this copy of a 2008 spending bill obtained by The Washington Post.

Isn't it ironic ?

[Teacher Mark 53]

Don't ya' think?

[MrsCat 6]

I don't believe everything I read and while I think funding to assist single and teenage mothers is important, is it possible that there was a significant decrease in the need for funding? Perhaps teen pregnancies are on the decline in AK, perhaps this organization didn't expend its entire budget in the past few fiscal years and the 3.5 million was sufficient as an operating budget. On the face of it, it looks harsh, however I'd need more numbers before I judged that decision.

And - I like what she had to say about her daughter and having to learn the harsh reality of having a child, yet still having the support of the entire family. That sounds like a real motherly statement and not a canned and carefully crafted one.

Just my thoughts.

[Teacher Mark 53]

More shall be revealed I am sure.

[MrsCat 6]

More shall be revealed I am sure.

I always trust your advice Buddy Jesus!

[Sprailenes 47]

It doesn't matter to them because Bristol's daughter will be well taken care of I am sure.

[GaryC 7]

Hmmm.... I wonder what the budget for that project was last year? As we all know if last years budget was 3 million and they ask for 5 million then getting 3.9 million is a drastic "slash" in some people eyes.

[MrsCat 6]

Hmmm.... I wonder what the budget for that project was last year? As we all know if last years budget was 3 million and they ask for 5 million then getting 3.9 million is a drastic "slash" in some people eyes.

I've been meaning to say - welcome back Gary!

[GaryC 7]

Hmmm.... I wonder what the budget for that project was last year? As we all know if last years budget was 3 million and they ask for 5 million then getting 3.9 million is a drastic "slash" in some people eyes.

I've been meaning to say - welcome back Gary!

Thanks. To much good stuff going on to keep sitting it out.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Hmmm.... I wonder what the budget for that project was last year? As we all know if last years budget was 3 million and they ask for 5 million then getting 3.9 million is a drastic "slash" in some people eyes.

I agree. The story is a bit sparse.

I know that Alaska would have to be one of the harshest places in America to be a pregnant teen, or any pregnant woman for that matter, with no where to go.

[rebeccajo 14]

Hmmm.

Cutting funding for programs that can help troubled young people get back on their feet?

I'm not liking that.

[HAL 9000 96]

Hmmm.

Cutting funding for programs that can help troubled young people get back on their feet?

I'm not liking that.

I'm sure we can assume the families would be assumed to pick up the slack?

:S

But yes, I'd like to have the actual numbers before making conclusions.

[dalegg 143]

How can you possibly hope to curb teenage sex in Alaska? Its ALASKA! What the hell else are they going to do during the winter???

[Ban Hammer 13,656]

How can you possibly hope to curb teenage sex in Alaska? Its ALASKA! What the hell else are they going to do during the winter???

exactly. it's dark and cold. what else are they supposed to do?