Festivus for the restivus https://www.axios.com/2024/04/10/house-republicans-freedom-caucus-fisa House GOP erupts over “dysfunction” after hardliners kill vote ETA: 3-4 xeets about the same issue without describing it is what's killing modern journalism.
House bill criminalizing common STIs, could turn thousands of Oklahomans into felons TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — House Bill 3098, authored by Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Toni Hasenbeck, could criminalize common STIs and turn thousands of Oklahomans into felons. Instead of reducing the spread of STIs, experts in the field say the bill would make the problem worse. If signed into law, House Bill 3098 would criminalize the intentional or reckless spread of STIs. Violators could face between 2 to 5 years in prison. However reckless is not defined in the bill, which experts in the field say leaves an open door to potential unnecessary lawsuits and prosecutions. Because of the broad language, rather than encouraging Oklahomans to get tested, treated, and reduce the spread of STIs, House Bill 3098 could make the problem worse. Experts fear the bill would deter folks from getting tested for STIs if they fear prosecution. “Oklahoma ranks 11th in the nation for chlamydia, number 5 for gonorrhea, number 4 for syphilis,” Jeff Burdge, with Hope Testing, said. “We know the problem is out there. We don’t want to scare people and make them go underground. We want them to know what their sexual health status is, get tested, get educated, so we stop the spread.” HPV is one of the infections HB 3098 would criminalize. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 85% of Oklahomans will have an HPV infection in their lifetime. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 90% of sexually active men and 80% of sexually active women will be infected with HPV in their lifetime. This bill could turn nearly all Oklahomans into potential felons. Burdge says the solution is education and treatment, not criminalization. This bill passed through the House with 78 votes in favor and only 14 against. Now HB 3098 is waiting on a vote in the Senate. If signed into law, the act would go into effect on Nov. 1. https://ktul.com/news/local/house-b...3098-state-department-of-health-hpv-infection
Also abstinence only sex education has largely proven to be a failure for reducing STI. https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/abstinence-only-education-failure
