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 by Citizens Against Government Waste AIDS/Gay Men Targeted by Citizens Against Government Waste Human Rights Campaign Replies to Largest Taxpayer Association |
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Compiled by GayToday Human Rights Campaign
"We should not, however, let a divisive report distract us from the overwhelming need to provide a comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS that includes prevention, care, treatment, research and prevention." Today CAGW, an organization that bills itself as the nation's largest taxpayer group, released a report, "AIDS Programs: An Epidemic of Waste" that is highly critical of many HIV/AIDS programs, saying they waste taxpayers funds. They are especially critical of some programs that are targeted towards gay and bisexual men, says HRC. "It is unfortunate that this report singles out prevention programs targeted to gay and bisexual men," said Stachelberg. "Gay and bisexual men still account for half of new AIDS cases, so it is clear that prevention programs are more important than ever." Additionally, Congress, in a strong bipartisan effort, reauthorized these programs in 2000, for five years. One of the lead authors of the bill was then-Congressman Tom Coburn, R-Okla., the new co-chair of the President's Advisory Council for HIV and AIDS, appointed by President Bush. In the United States, between 200,000-400,000 individuals are thought to be unaware that they are infected with HIV, with an estimated 40,000 Americans getting infected with HIV each year. Last year, there was an eight percent increase in new AIDS cases and the disease continues to disproportionately impact communities of color. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of new infections occur among blacks, though they only represent 13 percent of the U.S. population. Hispanics who make up 12 percent of the population represent 19 percent of infections." Around the world, approximately 25 million people have died of AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic, 5 million were children. Experts predict that more people will die of AIDS in the next decade than have died in all of the wars of the 20th century. Augmenting the arguments expressed in the Citizens Against Government Waste report, a mostly singular Internet crusade by Michael Petrelis can be said to have surfaced long beforehand. Petrelis, who has indefatigably criticized the current distribution of Ryan White Funds, may have encouraged the right-wing's federal government tax watchdogs as well as members of CAGW to look into AIDS funds-distribution and to suggest cuts.
"If both the House and Senate agree to pass the version of the Ryan White Care Act that mandates more equitable distribution of federal funds based on new cases, then more money would shift to the boonies." |
