republicans Get A Taste Of Thei Own Medicine

 

Unfortunately, Kansans have never had to consult their doctors about prolonged exposure to a sane Republican Legislature.

But there was a glimpse of sanity yesterday, when Republican men - who seem to like to tell women what to do with their bodies - got a taste of their own medicine.

During a debate on a bill dealing with insurance regulations, Rep. Pete DeGraaf (R-Mulvane) got an amendment added that would require women to buy separate insurance policies that covered abortions.  It passed 73-45.

Assuming what's good for the goose is good for the gander, Rep. Ann Mah (D-Topeka) proposed an amendment that would require men to buy separate insurance policies that covered erectile dysfunction drugs.  She pointed out that many insurance plans don't cover birth control, and asked why it was then fair to have women pay “the cost of Viagra for all the old guys who want to have sex?”

Mah's amendment passed 64-35.  Nineteen legislators who voted on the previous abortion amendment were strangely unable to rise in opposition.  And somewhere, Bob Dole spit out his Pepsi.

Since the House had also added an anti-smoking amendment, the Republican leadership saw it had prematurely lost control of the chamber (that usually only happens on the budget), so Rep. Virgil Peck (R-Technicolor Dreamcoat) proposed sending the bill back to committee, which the exhausted House promptly did.