Sunday, May 22, 2005

In the "Paved with Good Intentions" department...

This story on Yahoo news:

N.Y. Audit: Sex Offenders Getting Viagra

ALBANY, N.Y. - Scores of convicted rapists and other high-risk sex offenders in New York have been getting Viagra paid by Medicaid for the last five years, the state's comptroller said Sunday.

Audits by Comptroller Alan Hevesi's office showed that between January 2000 and March 2005, 198 sex offenders in New York received Medicaid-reimbursed Viagra after their convictions. Those included crimes against children as young as 2 years old, he said.
Said Hillary Clinton:
it was "deeply disturbing and runs contrary to the purpose of Medicaid, which is to provide health care coverage for uninsured, low-income individuals." Clinton, a Democrat, urged Leavitt to look into the matter, and said she would explore legislative options.
The esteemed Chuck Schumer:
...said at a press conference in New York City that he hoped the issue could be resolved without a bill, but he's prepared to offer one if needed.

"While I believe that HHS did not do this intentionally, when the government pays for Viagra for sex offenders, it could well hurt many innocent people," he said.
It is said, and indeed has been proven since time immemoriam that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. This is just another in an unending series of those proofs. But take heart, readers on the left, Chuck & Hillary are merely following Step 10.