"How can you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on contraceptives? How does that stimulate the economy?" 

So asks House Republican leader John Boehner (R-OH) in decrying the inclusion of a provision making it easier for states to expand contraceptive services under Medicaid in the economic stimulus package the House is expected to vote on later this week - and we'd be happy to answer.  

First of all, assisting states with their Medicaid programs is a proven and effective strategy for stimulating the economy in times of economic distress. That's why the stimulus package contains $87 billion to help states with Medicaid costs. One can only assume that Rep. Boehner's singling out for criticism the Medicaid spending for contraception is politically motivated. 

Not only is it politically motivated, it is highly ironic coming from a self-described fiscal conservative who repeatedly says the stimulus package should include spending that doesn't increase the deficit. When the Congressional Budget Office assessed a virtually identical provision in 2007, it found that it would save the federal government $200 million over five years by helping women voluntarily avoid pregnancies that otherwise would result in Medicaid-funded births. An expansion such as the one permitted by the stimulus package could save Rep. Boehner's state of Ohio $1.4 million in 2009 - money that could make a real difference in a hard-hit state that is struggling with significant budget shortfalls.   

Coming from a member who is adamantly antiabortion, Rep. Boehner's opposition is doubly ironic, since publicly funded family planning services significantly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions that occur. Each year, the contraceptive services provided just at publicly funded clinics help women avoid 1.4 million unintended pregnancies, which would result in 640,000 unintended births and 600,000 abortions. Without these services, the number of abortion performed each year in the United States would be 49% higher than it currently is. 

In short, inclusion of the Medicaid family planning provision in the economic stimulus bill is eminently justifiable.  It's classic anti-recession economic policy, it doesn't increase the deficit, and it reduces unintended pregnancies and abortions.  My question to Rep. Boehner is:  What's not to like?