Women legislators turn the tables and introduce bills regulating men's reproductive health

Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner (D) isn't happy with bills that seek to control women's access to contraception and abortion. She has joined a trend across the nation by introducing a bill that would require men seeking a prescription for erectile dysfunction drugs to see a sex therapist, receive a cardiac stress test and "get a notarized affidavit signed by a sexual partner affirming impotency." Sex therapists would be required to present the option of "celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice.” "The men in our lives, including members of the General Assembly, generously devote time to fundamental female reproductive issues—the least we can do is return the favor," Senator Turner said. "It is crucial that we take the appropriate steps to shelter vulnerable men from the potential side effects of these drugs. "When a man makes a crucial decision about his health and his body, he should be fully aware of the alternative options and the lifetime repercussions of that decision," Senator Turner said today. Men will be more easily guided through the process of obtaining treatment for impotence so they can better understand and more effectively address their condition. Sen. Turner isn't the only legislator to introduce a "Viagra bill" or amendments in response to what mostly male legislators have been proposing around the nation. In Illinois, for instance, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D) introduced an amendment to a bill requiring ultrasounds before a woman can get an abortion that would require men to watch an explicit video about the side-effects of erectile dysfunction drugs. And, Missouri state Rep. Stacey Newman (D) introduced a bill that would allow a man to obtain a vasectomy only when not doing so could cause him serious injury or death. Some people may take these proposals as jokes. But the problem they spotlight, the war on women's reproductive rights and privacy, isn't funny at all.

http%3A//www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/12/1073566/-Women-legislators-turn-the-tables-and-introduce-bills-regulating-men-s-reproductive-health%3Fvia%3Dblog_1


Good%20for%20them
• LOL You go girl.

• Loving it!

• That's what this country needs, more get even legislation.

• Except that Viagra is not a contraception issue. Its real purpose is for men who may have prostate issues/cancer.

• R-4, of course it's not a contraceptive issue for men - but it is for heterosexual partners. Although perhaps the main "purpose" of Viagra is for men who have prostate issues/cancer, I'd be interested to know what percentage of Viagra users fall under this category. I know many men that take Viagra and not one of them have cancer or a prostrate problem so in practice the "purpose" of the drug has been lost. Actually, even more reason to control who gets Viagra. If one has cancer or prostrate trouble then and only should they receive Viagra.

• Yes r4 , I'm sure that is what the majority of men take it for.

  Rolls%20eyes

• Love this.

• r5, I have no problem issuing Viagra for only men who have real prostate issues. Just like I have no problem issuing the pill for women who have real medical issues. I'm one who doesn't want to pay for other people's birth control, whether viagra or the pill. So how do these drugs get uncontrolled? Through medical doctors?

  r4

• So, R-4, you do not pay for anyone's medicine. The individual's insurance covers the cost which is something the individual or their employer pays for. Again, TAXES DO NOT PAY FOR BIRTH CONTROL OR VIAGRA.

• R4 I don't have heart disease or cancer, why the hell should I pay for your treatment?

• I love Nina! She is a tough cookie that fights ridiculousness!

  http://mobile.rawstory.com/therawstory/%3Fref%3Dhttp://www.facebook.com/%3Fref%3Dlogo%23%21/entry/50c1775dd7fc7b567091f56f

• God, I wish these would pass!

• Nina Turner is a heroine. I think that stuff like this is the sort of bludgeon that some male legislators need in order to be fully cognizant. I love her.

• What's good for the goose, is good for the gander.

• Some shit the republican men are doing to women, good for her. Maybe it will be a wake up call to the fringe elements.

• Here you can e-mail her and express your support.

  http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate2012/turner/contact

• R8 I don't want to pay for the education of other people's children but I am forced to anyway. I'd gladly pay for their birth control instead.

• I work in the health field and I've always noticed the disparity between men and women's sexual health. During those ridiculous Congressional meetings, I wondered why this wasnt brought up! No one made a big deal about Viagra but birth control was Topic No. 1!

  Viagra%20can%20be%20life-threatening%20