On the eve of Spring Break, State Rep. Daniel LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said he would introduce legislation preventing organizations associated with the UW System from offering emergency contraception in the form of the morning-after pill Plan B. The pending legislation is a response to pressure from conservative groups angry at the advertisement University Health Service ran in both student newspapers that was intended to make students aware of their service. Rep. LeMahieu is out of line to propose such legislation.
We have stated before that UHS has every right to offer Plan B and to make students aware of that fact. UW students will continue to be sexually active. Plan B is a last resort for those who fear their contraception may have failed, and to take away access to it could result in many preventable, unwanted pregnancies.
Rep. LeMahieu contends that his proposal, which he told the Wisconsin State Journal could pave the way for further legislation preventing the university from distributing any form of birth control, would decrease promiscuity. Yet countless studies on abstinence programs have shown they do not have much of an effect on sexual activity, while they do decrease knowledge on how to prevent pregnancy.
In favoring this potential legislation, Rep. LeMahieu is starting needless controversy. He has essentially said that an advisory opinion by Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager stating the legislation would be unconstitutional means nothing. Even conservative groups like Proverbs 31 Women, whose mission is to promote \virtue"" in young women, have come out against it. UHS is correct to offer emergency contraception and other birth control, and Rep. LeMahieu has no right to prevent it from offering that service with such irresponsible legislation.
