Deluge of FOIA requests forced HHS to make public new study lauding abstinence-based sex ed

Washington Examiner ^ | 08/26/10 2:45 PM EDT | Mark Tapscott

[DBCJR]

Officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families were keeping the lid on the results of a new study they funded until they received a flood of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests sparked by the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), according to LifeNews.com.

The tax-funded study found that 70 percent of parents believe sexual intercourse should be delayed until marriage and that parental attitudes on such issues are the most important determinant of how adolescents view them as well. according to LifeNews.com.

The study was discussed at a recent meeting of the American Public Health Association that was attended by researcher Lisa Rue, Ph.D. who specializes in adolescent behavior. She requested a copy of the full report from HHS but her request was denied, as was a subsequent FOIA.

So NAEA encouraged its members to submit their own FOIAs, with a result that hundreds of additional FOIAs were received by the government. At that point, HHS officials relented and posted the study on the Internet. You can read it here.

For more on this interesting illustration of government bureaucrats attempting to suppress the results of a study on an important social issue, go here on the LifeNews.com web site.

[DBCJR]

Thank you for your explanation. I am not sure that I understand but want to explain my response. There are a few people on Freep who do like to police things. They usually post something similar to what wagglebee said, indicating that I or someone else posted something that we should not because a similar article was posted by someone else. I am not sure why anyone, other than a Moderator, would think it their responsibility to do that. It seems to me to be the regulatory antithesis to Freep. It bugs me so I push back.

[little jeremiah]

The way I deal with most stuff on FR that aggravates me (other than leftist trolls) is to ignore it, just my method.

He wasn’t being a “it was already posted” cop, he never does that, it was in response to my asking if either one of us had pinged an article about this yet.

Believe me, he never patrols looking for dupe articles.

(Courtesy ping since I’m talking ‘bout you, wag!)

[DBCJR]

Great. My apologies. Just be aware in the future that there are several jerks who say things very similar. They are very self-righteous and feel like they own the discussion board. I can see that this was not one of those cases.

I don’t think I will adopt your typical response though, little jeremiah, as I really do think such behavior is diametrically in opposition to what Freerepublic is about. I refuse to acquiesce to such behavior here. A principle thing.

Good evening to you both!

[little jeremiah]

Thanks - I have enough heartburn dealing with leftists on FR. The thread nannies I let alone.