Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding up renewal of the primary federal law that battles HIV/AIDS, the 1990 Ryan White Act, causing a rift among activists on the subject and threatening approval of the legislation this year.
Clinton (D-N.Y.) said she opposes the measure because it would lower funding for her home state. But some AIDS groups also see broader political motives at work. Other states that would lose out include California, Florida and Illinois — all places Clinton would need to win if she seeks the presidency. Her critics also note that many of the states that would receive higher funding under the new formula are rural and Southern, which tend to vote Republican.
Sen. Clinton was the sole vote against the Ryan White Act reauthorization bill that passed the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in May. Ever since, she and other senators have been negotiating to find a consensus that would allow the measure to pass by acclamation before Congress’s scheduled adjournment at the end of September. But a compromise has not been found.
Via: Washington Post
15 Comments
+ at 8:59 am
Hillary is playing politics with a segment of our society least capable of fighting back and who need the most help. S.T.U.P.I.D B.I.T.C.H.
+ at 9:49 am
Funding for HIV care isn’t anything to play politics with — Mrs. Clinton has never been particularly comfortable around gay issues, so it’s not a surprise to me that she would play her hand in such a way.
+ at 2:20 pm
In the 5 burroughs of NYC live 150,000 Americans who are either HIV-positive or have AIDS. This represents the largest HIV population in the USA. Many are women of color and children.
While Sen. Clinton’s actions are intended in the long-run to shake out more money for New York state’s Ryan White fund, what happens in the interim? Medicaid is already under enormous pressure to trim enrollment and reduce costs. Ryan White is the funding source of last resort for ADAP and if the money runs out, then who picks up the tab?
As with many of Sen. Clinton’s policy positions, this one seems woefully shortsighted and not in the best interests of New York’s large HIV community or the providers who deliver care to those patients afflicted with the virus.
+ at 2:29 pm
Did I say I hate Hillary? Good, now I have.
+ at 2:46 pm
Vico Daniel,
I didn’t know the number of AIDS patients in New York is that large. That’s a staggering number of people and I am saddened and angry. Saddened that so many Americans are suffering from this dreadful disease and angry that their representatives are using them for political expediency.
+ at 5:23 pm
Sign the God damned bill Hillary, before no state, including your own, can get a dime of Federal money to treat the epidemic. Tweak it later, add appropriations to other bills, but get the God damned Federal money now before Bush spends every last cent in the US Treasury on Iraq!
+ at 5:28 pm
What is the Gay Men’s Health Crisis thinking by supporting her? These silly queens must be swept away by the Cult of Hillary, just as they are by the Cult of Barbra, Liza, Cher and Mariah.
Time to wake up, gay America! Hillary Clinton is NOT our friend. Never has been and she never will be. Hillary takes care of Hillary.
+ at 5:37 pm
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) waiting lists have been an ongoing challenge for people with HIV/AIDS in many states. On June 23, 2004 President Bush announced the availability of an additional $20 million for HIV medications for the 10 states that had ADAP waiting lists at that time. The Initiative began distributing medications to eligible individuals last month.
ADAPs are federally funded to provide medications to people with HIV/AIDS who cannot get them elsewhere. Each year, approximately 135,000 people receive services from ADAPs, representing about 30% of people estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in care in the U.S.
ADAP Watch reports that 954 HIV-positive people were on lists in 10 states as of Jan. 18, 2006.
Sen. Clinton’s decision to block the renewal of the Ryan White Act will undoubtedly result in this number increasing. Not only are her actions in my view criminal, but potentially lethal as well to patients of last resort who access medications through ADAP.
+ at 6:35 pm
Thanks, Gregg. This is critical information and very informative.
+ at 6:46 pm
The more I learn about this she-devil, her decisions and her voting record, the more I detest Hillary. May NY enjoy her.
+ at 7:58 pm
Think about it – by changing the criteria of funding for tier I, II, and III cases, you’re covering A LOT more people, in effect. They should be pouring a lot more money into the bill. This is bipartisan AIDS legislation – it’s not like they couldn’t get a higher percent increase. They’re changing the apportionment of essentially the SAME AMMOUNT of MONEY with a criteria that covers A LOT MORE PEOPLE.
Guys, why doesn’t Hilary have a point here? If the current mark-up of the bill causes AIDS patients in New York to lose treatment money, why not block it, for god’s sake? She’s not blocking the renewal of the Ryan White Act because she doesn’t want to fund AIDS treatment – she’s blocking this current version of the renewal, as it was marked up in committee, because it essentially CUTS funding for AIDS patients in her state.
Yes, there is a politics here. What about the politics of the Republicans who marked up the bill, getting mroe money into the Southern states which have ridiculously lower levels of HIV/and AIDS? Why don’t we see any of your all’s outrage there?
Read the whole article, not just the headline. Then read about the decades that Hilary Clinton has spent trying to raise money, awareness, and public funds for the fight against AIDS. Someone please tell me how her actions here aren’t in DEFENSE of people with AIDS, rather than against them.
+ at 8:33 pm
Think about it – by changing the criteria of funding for tier I, II, and III cases, you’re covering A LOT more people, in effect. They should be pouring a lot more money into the bill. This is bipartisan AIDS legislation – it’s not like they couldn’t get a higher percent increase. They’re changing the apportionment of essentially the SAME AMMOUNT of MONEY with a criteria that covers A LOT MORE PEOPLE.
Guys, why doesn’t Hilary have a point here? If the current mark-up of the bill causes AIDS patients in New York to lose treatment money, why not block it, for god’s sake? She’s not blocking the renewal of the Ryan White Act because she doesn’t want to fund AIDS treatment – she’s blocking this current version of the renewal, as it was marked up in committee, because it essentially CUTS funding for AIDS patients in her state.
Yes, there is a politics here. What about the politics of the Republicans who marked up the bill, getting mroe money into the Southern states which have ridiculously lower levels of HIV/and AIDS? Why don’t we see any of your all’s outrage there?
Read the whole article, not just the headline. Then read about the decades that Hilary Clinton has spent trying to raise money, awareness, and public funds for the fight against AIDS. Someone please tell me how her actions here aren’t in DEFENSE of people with AIDS, rather than against them.
+ at 10:44 pm
Mark,
You’ve raised a very good point and one I need to think about.
Thanks for offering a differing opinion.
Christopher
+ at 11:46 am
Treatment for people infected with AIDS should not be regulated by our government. No other disease is treated the way AIDS is (by politicans instead of doctors and nurses). ADAP assures that all infected individuals must migrate to areas where ADAP is funded or not have access to AIDS treatments.
This means that NY, Calif., NJ and Fla have an induced high incidence of AIDS. Areas with less than 2000 people infected with AIDS must move to one of these states to be treated. ALso ADAP eligiblity requires that an infected person not have an income greater than 200% of the national poverty level. This guarentees that everyone who is not extremely wealthy must become poor to be eligible for treatment, that is why our government can easily esitmate that 95% of those infected with AIDS live below poverty level and these individuals who must migrate to NY, NJ, Fla and Ca are being forced to be a burden on these states social services!
Also not just any medical center can treat AIDS because of article 27 that states a helathcare provider must have his or her primary office in an AIDS clinic or unit. This also is a ploy to guarentee clientelle to specific clinics in the USA.
ADAP uses tax funds to do research, then our national leaders have given the patent to pharmacutical companies and AIDS clinics and our leaders gurarentee a monopolized high rate for treatment using our tax money to support these fees through ADAP!
Our national leaders make rules for this disease that prevents treatment to those infected, and prevents medical staff from having control of who is diagnosed with it.
Do our leaders know the consequences of their actions? Do they care that AIDS has been singled out with no hope for a solution until it is released by politicians and medical personal can treat it like we do all other diseases.
Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong?
+ at 6:28 pm
[...] One blog, “From the Left,” notes that: Clinton (D-N.Y.) said she opposes the measure because it would lower funding for her home state. But some AIDS groups also see broader political motives at work. Other states that would lose out include California, Florida and Illinois — all places Clinton would need to win if she seeks the presidency. Her critics also note that many of the states that would receive higher funding under the new formula are rural and Southern, which tend to vote Republican. [...]