Right now in Wisconsin pharmacists cannot prescribe any drug, but a number of Republicans continue to push for pharmacists to be able to prescribe one thing: certain contraceptive devices and drugs. In a public hearing held Tuesday on the most recent version of the bill, the authors, Republicans Senator Mary Felzkowski and Representative Joel Kitchens argued that allowing pharmacists to write these prescriptions will significantly help reduce poverty, in particular generational poverty.
In my opinion, this bill has several problems supporters don’t want to deal with. But arguing that this bill will reduce poverty is almost laughable. If there’s a silver bullet that will reduce poverty, it’s marriage; it’s not allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraception. Lawmakers who are truly serious about reducing poverty will find ways to promote and incentivize marriage.
