March 23, 2010 6:32 PM

GOP Amendment: No Viagra for Sex Offenders

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Health Care
(Credit: AP)

As part of their effort to slow (or even stop) passage of the bill that would make changes to the health care legislation signed into law by President Obama Tuesday, Senate Republicans have vowed to introduce hundreds of amendments.

One part of that strategy is to offer amendments on which Democrats would be hard-pressed to cast a "no" vote. If the Senate makes any amendments to the legislation, it has to go back to the House -- a possibility that Democrats are hoping to avoid.

GOP Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma (pictured) today released a list of the nine amendments he has filed, and right at the top is a clear illustration of the strategy -- an amendment entitled "No Erectile Dysfunction Drugs To Sex Offenders." Here's how it's described:

"This amendment would enact recommendations from the Government Accountability Office to stop fraudulent payments for prescription drugs prescribed by dead providers or, to dead patients. This amendment also prohibits coverage of Viagra and other ED medications to convicted child molesters, rapists, and sex offenders, and prohibits coverage of abortion drugs."

By opposing that amendment, Democrats are, at least in theory, opening themselves up to charges that they support using government money to provide sex offenders with Viagra -- surely an unpopular position if ever there was one.

Other amendments on Coburn's list are designed to undercut Democrats' claims about what the bill will do - see amendment #5, "If You Like the Health Plan You Have, You Can Keep It." Coburn's third amendment says simply, "Congress Should Not Lecture Americans About Fiscal Responsibility."

Senate Democratic leaders are pressing their members not to break ranks and support Republican amendments (or introduce amendments of their own) in order to get the bill passed as soon as possible. In a statement, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka made that same argument.

"Any amendment offered during this process is nothing more than a poison pill," he said. "A 'NO' on amendments is a 'YES' on health care."

More Coverage of Health Care Reform:

Washington Unplugged: Stupak Says "It Was Worth It"

Photos: Obama's Road to Health Care Reform

Photos: Health Care Debates and Protests

Nine Events That Led to Health Care Reform

Analysis: Health Care Debate Shows Ideological Split

Health Care Bill Passed the House, But Battles Ahead in Senate, Court

Washington Unplugged: Obama's Next Task Is Selling the Health Care Bill

Health Care Reform: Which Party Comes Out on Top?

"Baby Killer" Remark Came From Randy Neugebauer

House Passes Health Care Bill

Health Care Bill: What's In It?

Rush Limbaugh: "America is Hanging by a Thread"

Palin: Health Care Vote a "Clarion Call" to Action

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care


Add a Comment See all 40 Comments
by paulzand April 4, 2011 9:02 AM EDT
What is the problem with them?
Seems like they are in favour Viagra for sex offenders who are suffering from sexual problems. This what bills says. I guess we need to open recruitment for serious law maker.

Paul zander,
Pharmacist and Researcher
http://www.realviagrarx.net/
Reply to this comment
by ge205 February 12, 2011 5:49 PM EST
If I'm understanding the article correctly, if the amendment was passed, then the entire legislation has to go back to the HOR?

Is that correct?
Reply to this comment
by Mike4476 September 27, 2010 12:37 AM EDT
My wife is in a complete delight! Cheap viagra! High-quality preparations for the improvement of sexual functions for men!Guarantee, rapid delivery, stand manner of payment! http://healthreorder.com/pill/Viagra?ref_id=5831
Reply to this comment
by Mike4476 September 27, 2010 12:36 AM EDT
My wife is in a complete delight! Cheap viagra! High-quality preparations for the improvement of sexual functions for men!Guarantee, rapid delivery, stand manner of payment! http://healthreorder.com/pill/Viagra?ref_id=5831
Reply to this comment
by zeyancya April 23, 2010 1:17 AM EDT
No Erectile Dysfunction Drugs To Sex Offenders ? This amendment would enact recommendations from the Government Accountability Office to stop fraudulent payments for prescription drugs prescribed by dead providers or, to dead patients. This amendment also prohibits coverage of Viagra and other ED medications to convicted child molesters, rapists, and sex offenders, and prohibits coverage of abortion drugs. (Note: the creation of exchanges could allow sex offenders to receive taxpayer-funded Viagra and other ED drugs unless Congress expressly prohibits this action.
http://www.womenhealthcenter.net/
Reply to this comment
by thebob-bob March 25, 2010 4:24 PM EDT
As long they prohibit coverage of Viagra for adulterous Republican Senators and Congressman. Don't they sell it at the C street Fellowship club house?
Reply to this comment
by aeleiram March 24, 2010 5:39 PM EDT
val_lee - Thank you for sharing that. I can only imagine how difficult it is to be in your shoes, and coming from anyone without your experiences, your statements can so easily be disregarded. Please know that you are respected and appreciated for speaking out. Know that you are supported, and these amendments carry no weight with me, either.

When it comes to child molesters, there should be only one sentence: life imprisonment without parole. Period - no ifs, ands, or buts. Unless we are talking the death penalty. I could live with that as their alternative.
Reply to this comment
by wayward4now March 24, 2010 3:32 PM EDT
Nor is there any mention of what flavor of sex-offender is referred to. Let's face it, if someone is pathologically recognized as a danger to society, then the Mental Health facilities that were closed need to be re-opened and these afflicted people put there. If they are not a danger to polite society, then this action is clearly and aggressively punitive. I don't think we need knee-jerk pandering to Tea Bagging Joe Lunchbucket types by those in public office. We watched way too many Westerns in the '50's and '60's. My soul is sickened by the actions of these people.
Reply to this comment
by msimamaji March 24, 2010 11:11 AM EDT
A woman is brutally gang raped and beaten. She is imprisoned in a cargo container, denied food and water until she agrees not to press charges against her assailants.

No.

This was not an atrocity committed by the Taliban. It was committed in Iraq by the employees of Kellogg, Root, and Brown, a subsidiary of Halliburton, Dick Cheney's favorite defense contractor.

Senator elect, Al Franken introduced an amendment protect female employees of defense contractors from this sort of brutal gang-rape . The US Chamber of Commerce opposed the Franken Amendment, and every male Republican Senator voted against it.. That includes Tom Coburn
Although the victim of this savage attack will finally get her day in court. She may never be able to obtain health insurance because almost all health insurance companies would consider rape and the trauma that occurred a "pre-existing" condition.

This is only one example of the discrimination that women endure from the current health care system. pay as much as 48% more in health insurance costs than men, if they can get it If women were subjected to domestic violence. If they have had a C-section, they may be pressured by their insurance carriers to sterilize themselves to avoid further health care costs.

And these are abuses that Tom Coburn wants to perpetuate. According to the latest report published by the Harvard University Medical School, our dysfunctional health care system kills more Americans than we lost on 9/11. In terms of killing American and abusing women, the GOP, including Tom Coburn, is on the same page as the Taliban.
Reply to this comment
by msimamaji March 24, 2010 11:08 AM EDT
Let's set the record straight. I checked out Center for Responsive Politics. And here's what I discovered

Tom Coburn gets donations from Big Pharma, the insurance industry, and for-profit hospitals and nursing homes. Top individual contributors include Purdue Phrama, the Oklahoma Heart Hospital, the American Surgical Hospital Association, and Koch Industries, who also bankroll the Tea Party Movement.

Tom Coburn is simply a prostitute for corporate interests and Wall Street. He has no concern for the American people or for the millions of people who do not have health insurance.
Reply to this comment
See all 40 Comments
.

Follow Political Hotsheet

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...