March 7, 1986
By Margaret Owen
of the cardinal staff
Condoms. The hood of promiscuity or the umbrella
of safety?
Some Madison legislators are arguing about whether condom vending machines will encourage teenage immorality or promote health care.
Gov. Anthony Earl will sign a bill legalizing these machines this month, according to his constituent relations assistant, Lynn Haanen.
The condom vending amendment is a provision to a pharmacy examining board bill which the Senate passed Tuesday.
“The amendment legalizes condom machines everywhere except in elementary and secondary public schools,” said Stephanie Case, administrative assistant to state Rep. Thomas Loftus, D-Sun Prairie, who backed the amendment.
“Private businesses will be able to place machines in bathrooms, in gas stations, bars and restaurants,” she said.
State Sen. Donald Stitt, R-Port Washington, is opposed to legalization because he said, “I will place unsightly machines all over the state.”
Stitt’s legislative aide, Nick Hurtgen, said: “This provision is unwise, impractical and bad public policy. It seems typical of Madison Democratic legislators.”
Hurtgen criticized condom vending as an improper way to deal with teenage pregnancy, he said, it may encourage immoral behavior.
“It is typical of Madison mentality not to consider the moral aspects,” he said.
Hurtgen suggested that “We have to encourage parents, teachers, churches and civic organizations to teach their children to behave in a moral fashion and to realize that their behavior has important consequences.”
Haanen agreed that the solution to teenage promiscuity is to teach thoughtful decision-making and responsible behavior.
But she opposed what she called the “common belief that not allowing adolescents to use birth control prevents them from being sexually active.”
Haanen said the governor is receiving phone calls from people who believe that having access to birth control encourages pre-marital sex.
“A lot of people are attaching moral and religious significances to bill and I don’t think the governor has that perspective,” she said. “Earl appreciates the feedback but is simply viewing this as a way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.”
Haanen said, “Condoms are sold in vending machines in many other states without a big deal being made of it.”
