Dan Besse, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, today called for adoption of new rules to ensure that state-funded teen pregnancy prevention programs include comprehensive, medically accurate information.

"For state-funded teen pregnancy prevention programs to work, they must be complete and accurate," said Besse.  "We can't allow our tax money to finance misleading or inaccurate programs that put our young people's health at risk."

The Progressive Democrats of North Carolina (PDNC) voted overwhelmingly at their annual meeting December 8 to endorse Dan Besse for Lieutenant Governor.  After reviewing candidates' responses to a 20-part written questionnaire and hearing from the candidates in a head-to-head forum, the PDNC membership selected Besse by 72%, with 28% voting for other candidates.  PDNC was organized in 2004 to work for economic, environmental, and social justice in North Carolina through the democratic process.  It has multiple county chapters and members around the state.  Three of the four announced Democratic candidates for Lieutnenant Governor participated in the PDNC's candidate forum on December 8 and sought the group's endorsement.  This endorsement takes on special significance as the first organizational endorsement in this contest following a direct comparison of the candidates, their positions, and their records.

"We have to stand up as Americans for the health of all our children," said Besse.  "President Bush's veto of health care for children whose families' can't afford private insurance was a profoundly immoral act. "  

Besse explained that the Bush veto, if not overturned, will undercut North Carolina's efforts to cover more of the over 250,000 children in our state with no regular health care coverage. 

Dan Besse calls on Senate to approve 'Voter-Owned Elections' pilot bill.

Dan Besse calls on North Carolina's state government to help block a dangerously ill-advised site choice for a new Navy practice landing field near the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Beaufort and Washington counties.