One of the three issues that Democratic Party Board member Kelli Wegener emphasized in her recent direct mail piece is reversing a 1990’s County Board decision that prvents the Health Department from giving birth control drugs or devises to minors without their parents knowledge.
That policy, mandated by the Federal government if a local government accepts money under Title X, was revealed in the mid-1990’s when Bernoas Middle School teacher William Saturday groomed a student, ,starting a sexual affair after she entered high school.
He was either too cheap to buy condoms or just wanted more natural intercouse, so he took her to Woodstock to the McHenry County Helath Department on a Saturday for a shot of depra provera, an ovulation supressant.
For more inforaiton see “Mike Buehler Opponent Kelli Wegener Favors Reinstatement of Teen Birth Control Program that Middle School Teacher Used in Sex with Former Student.”
Of course, the campaign literature provides no backgroud informaiton,
The issue is one of three bullet points telling why voters should not vote for incumbent Republican Mike Buehler:
“Refused federal funding for woman’s healthcare, family planning, and birth control–leading women to leave the county or delay these services.”
As with many political charges, this one contains half-truths.
When McHenry County became the only county in the country to kick out Title X, it used local money to pay for the same services to those over eighteen and to minors with parental permission.
So, there is no need for any woman over eighteen to go elsewhere for the services provided under ta Title X grant.
In summary, Wegener favors again seeking Title X Federal birth control grant money which lacks any age-related limitations.
With Wegener’s policy, a 13-year old girl could obtain a depo provera shot while keeping her parents completely in the dark, at least until other issues like sexually transmitted diseases might lead to parental involvement.
