Birth control measure vetoed by legislators

An attempt to reinstate state spending on birth control was rejected by Missouri House members Wednesday by a 96-59 vote.
The funding was in the budget until about four years ago when Republicans gained control of the Missouri General Assembly. While I understand the argument that providing birth control to the poor would be writing a blank check for promiscuous sex, I can't help but wonder if it would not also reduce the number of abortions in the state and meet the goals set by pro-life legislators. The legislation would have avoided doing this through Planned Parenthood, which as my old readers from The Carthage Press and the Lamar Democrat will recall, has always been one of my favorite punching bags. Instead, the birth control items would have been distributed through county health departments.
Among those voting against the funding were area legislators Ed Emery, R-Lamar, Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, Ron Richard, R-Joplin, Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho.