On Tuesday the House of Representatives considered the "Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008." The legislation is intended to put in place safeguards against abuse at residential facilities that treat kids with behavioral, mental health or substance abuse problems. It would mandate minimum standards of care, unannounced inspections by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and establish penalties for violations.

Debate on the measure, however, was cut short after Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann offered an amendment barring such residential-treatment programs from dispensing prescription medications without parental consent. Noting her background in foster care, Bachmann made an impassioned speech addressing the risks of dispensing medication, particularly psychological drugs, to kids without parental consent.

"One thing that I saw firsthand as a foster mother, there were too many children of color, minority children, who were overly prescribed for prescription drugs at a younger and younger age," she said. "This is a very disturbing issue and expressly underscores why parents or their guardians should have a say to actually give consent whether these children are given prescription drugs."

But another aspect of the proposed amendment that Bachmann touched on in her speech is drawing praise from pro-life activists. "In its present form, this bill would allow a treatment facility to prescribe contraception to a child," she stated, "who when properly informed and guided by a parent may have chosen to carry the baby to term, either raising it as their own or contacting an adoption agency, not terminating its life," she stated.

The Family Research Council sent out an email yesterday praising the Minnesota legislator’s actions. "While liberals like to talk about ‘rights,’ it is becoming ever clearer that those rights are only reserved for whomever the Democrats deem deserving," the missive begins. "Men in dresses, homosexuals, and statutory rapists who bring underage children in for an abortion all deserve special rights. However, unborn children, Christians and conservative radio hosts do not."

Oh, those poor, persecuted conservative radio hosts! The conservative advocacy group then applauds Bachmann’s proposed amendment. "House Republicans deserve praise for standing up for mothers and fathers — it’s a shame that the liberal leadership thinks they know better than parents what’s best for children."

No word on when the legislation will be reconsidered