Much can be learned about the Palin Administration’s family values from reviewing their spending priorities. Former Chief of Police Irl Stambaugh included forensic rape kits (up to $1,200 per kit) in his budget requests. He was fired by Palin in 1997. In her termination letter, Palin wrote, “…I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment. . . ” Staumbaugh headed the police department since it was created in 1993. Before that, he served 22 years with the Anchorage Police Department rising to the rank of captain. Sarah Palin hired Charlie Fannon as the new Wasilla Chief of Police and said it was one of her best decisions as mayor. Fannon eliminated the forensic rape kits from the budget. Though the number of rapes weren’t reported, Fannon claimed it would save Wasilla taxpayers $5,000 to $14,000 a year.
I think an ad based on this would be a very good idea.
But why would someone want rape kits to be denied? Hekebolis on Daily Kos makes a very strong argument that it has to do with emergency contraception, something which was provided with the kit. Disgusting.
2 comments:
Those kits collect evidence needed for a prosecution. Can we imagine a victim needing to put up the money for a police investigation?
A friend sent me this today -- I can't believe I haven't seen it before, it rocks:
McCain Health Clinic for Women
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