Back in 2005 it seems Congress members forgot to bring their reading glasses to session.
During that time Congress passed a deficit reduction bill, designed to curb out-of-control spending which, on the surface, sounds like an excellent idea.
But two years later, while we still haven't seen any of those promises, one thing we have felt is one of the bill's not-so-rosy consequences.
Through a small oversight, a loophole in the bill killed the incentives that pharmaceuticals were receiving for selling low-cost birth control in low-income areas and college campuses.
Corresponding bills in the House and Senate, however, look to fix that problem. This legislation is welcome news, if not highly overdue.
Since the incentives expired, contraceptive prices have risen up to 500 percent. Prices for NuvaRing at UNC Campus Health Services jumped from $18 to $44 a pop. If you think this isn't a big deal, ask someone who was already struggling to pay for it before the increase.
In fact, in 2006 teen pregnancy rose for the first time in 14 years. We're not trying to imply causation, but that statistic certainly shows there are a large number of sexually active young adults who would benefit from affordable contraception.
Late last year Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., introduced the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, a piece of legislation designed to fix the legal miscarriage that has caused the entire ruckus.
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., presented an identical bill on the Senate floor. Thus far, neither has been met with any organized opposition.
But wait, does this mean your tax dollars are going to pay for that suitemate who keeps you up all night working in the Luv Dungeon? Actually, no.
The program costs Americans nothing. Instead of the incentives taking the form of subsidies, the program gives pharmaceuticals exemptions from certain Medicaid pricing rules, as long as they support certain charitable groups.
The two major charitable groups that this legislation zeros in on are college students and low-income communities, those for whom tight budgets are a fact of life.
At the same time, it's nice to see Obama take some time off from the dredges of the campaign trail to do his day job.
We hope that both pieces of legislation will be met with open arms in both houses and that the solution can take effect, too. And in the future, we ask that Congress try to read the fine print before they sign.
