Republicans in Idaho blocked a bill on Monday that provided free menstrual products in public school girls bathrooms, according to the Idaho Statesman.
Two Republicans, State Reps. Lori McCann and Rod Furniss, sponsored House Bill 313 which would have provided funding to install menstrual products dispensers in girls public school bathrooms throughout the state.
Furniss argued that the state already provides funding for toilet paper, paper towels and soap in public school bathrooms, but not for menstrual products.
“Boys and girls have two Ps: peeing and pooping. We know that the proper role of government is to cover the two Ps. Well, surprise, we just figured out in 2023, that girls have three Ps: They have peeing and pooping, and period,” Furniss said. “Now we can hold the first two Ps, peeing and pooping. We can take care of that. But the third P, the girls don’t have a muscle down there. When that happens, it happens. It’s an emergency every time that happens. It’s a basic biological function. Is the proper role of government to cover a basic biological function? I submit to you that it is.”
“Today is a step to preserve womanhood, to give it a chance to start right, to not be embarrassed or feel alienated or ashamed, or to feel like they need to stay home from school due to period poverty,” Furniss added.
The bill failed on a tie vote in the House on Monday.
Thirty-five Republicans, including 10 women, opposed the measure.
“This bill is a very liberal policy, and it’s really turning Idaho into a bigger nanny state than ever,” Rep. Heather Scott (R) said. “It’s embarrassing not only because of the topic but because of the actual policy itself. So you don’t have to be a woman to understand the absurdity of this policy. And you don’t have to feel that you’re insensitive to not address this.”
“What’s gonna be next? Because, we have what? Toilet paper. We have paper towels. And the good gentleman says, ‘Well, they can’t help it, the women can’t help having their periods,’” Scott continued. “Well, what about sweat? We can’t help but sweat. So are the schools now going to be providing deodorant for these kids?”
Another Republican Rep. Barbara Ehardt objected to certain terms used in the bill to describe girls being unable to access menstrual products. She specifically cited “period poverty” and “menstrual equity.”
“These are woke terms,” Ehardt said.
