perfidy

From an ABC news piece on an audit of Medicaid in New York State:

[New York State Comptroller Alan] Hevesi asked Michael Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in a letter Sunday to "take immediate action to ensure that sex offenders do not receive erectile dysfunction medication paid for by taxpayers."

What? Yes, that's right...

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.

Gaaaaaaah. One thing you can count on... whenever a story like this breaks, the politicians will descend like ants to lap up the publicity. Senator Chuck Schumer: come on down!

"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..."

Thanks, Chuck. That really clarifies the issue for me. I though it was about cutting government waste: I'm relieved that you've twigged to the notion that giving boners to babytouchers is not in anyone's best interest. Although I do have to wonder: why is the government subsidizing Viagra for anyone? What sense does that make. (Well... as much sense as requiring soldiers to surrender their nail clippers to TSS, but letting them hold on to their M-16s and bayonets, but I digress.)

Hat tip to Reason's Julian Sanchez, who goes where I dare not in his choice of headline.