Medicare Part E: Chastity Belts

David Weigel | October 31, 2006

Finally, Congress has found a more futile use of taxpayer funds than the Iraq War: Preventing twenty-somethings from bumping uglies.

"The National Center for Health Statistics says well over 90% of adults ages 20-29 have had sexual intercourse.

But Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the revision is aimed at 19- to 29-year-olds because more unmarried women in that age group are having children.

Government data released last month show that 998,262 births in 2004 were to unmarried women 19-29, the ages with the most births to unmarried women.

"The message is 'It's better to wait until you're married to bear or father children,' " Horn said. "The only 100% effective way of getting there is abstinence."

$50 million is expected to head to the states, so they can make sure irresponsible 28-year old women aren't have unmarried sex. Can government PR wizzes convert the more than 90 percent of adults who do it? Stay tuned!