06/03/2009
ACT UP To Protest AIDS/HIV Budget Cut Funding in California
06/09: Rex Wockner has an update HERE.
ACT/UP and Aids Project Los Angeles (APLA) have scheduled rallies in Los Angeles (June 5) and Sacramento (June 10) over Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts to HIV/AIDS funding.
More info here.
The group writes:
On May 26, 2009, California's Department of Finance (DOF) released details about the Governor's proposed cuts of general funds from the State Office of AIDS (OA). The information varied somewhat from the Governor's original OA budget cut proposal that had been shared with the public the prior week, but the revised budget cuts continue to promise a destructive impact on people with and at risk of HIV/AIDS in California. The Governor's revised budget includes a $12.3 million cut in general fund support (roughly 13-percent) to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and eliminates general fund support for all other OA programs ($67.8 million). In total, the Governor is proposing $80.1 million in cuts to critical HIV/AIDS services that help to preserve the health and lives of Californians living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.
More from Calitics...
More on the proposed cuts, AFTER THE JUMP...
According to the group, "The following HIV/AIDS programs are targeted for severe reductions or
elimination under the Governor's current proposal:
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), HIV counseling and testing,
HIV education and prevention,
Early Intervention Programs (EIPs),
Therapeutic Monitoring Program (TMP),
HIV surveillance,
Home/community based care programs,
Housing programs, and
CARE/Health Insurance Premium Payments (CARE/HIPP)."
They add: "The Governor's plan could result in the State losing a portion, if not all, of its federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and CDC grants. The cuts will also impact local jurisdictions: local Ryan White grants are, for example, based on case reports from surveillance -- proposed to be eliminated. "
Posted 12:11 PM EST by Andy Towle in Activism, AIDS/HIV, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Los Angeles, News | Permalink
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SICK.
Posted by: Cody | Jun 3, 2009 12:53:53 PM
Has anyone actually looked at California's operating budget? I'm surprised its bonds haven't already gone into default. As the fifth largest economy in the world, if California were an independent, sovereign nation, we would have already devalued its currency and hyper-inflation would have kicked in, destroying the standard of living for everyone inside.
The bottom line is, although these programs are needed, the state simply doesn't have the money. They've put the day of reckoning off too long and at some point, your checks start to bounce.
It sucks. There's no getting around that. But if you are completely strapped with your bankers refusing to give you even a penny more, you really don't have a choice. This needed to be done. There are a lot more cuts coming - this is just the beginning.
Posted by: John | Jun 3, 2009 1:01:35 PM
California is cutting EVERYTHING right now. We have no money.
Posted by: Sgt. Sausagepants | Jun 3, 2009 1:59:16 PM
Protest all you want. California is broke. Busted. Until the political culture of California changes, expect everything to be cut. I figure in three more months the entire state will shut down.
Posted by: mike | Jun 3, 2009 2:05:44 PM
California = Zimbabwe.
Posted by: John | Jun 3, 2009 2:21:47 PM
Cutting HIV treatment and prevention programs may be penny wise, but pound foolish. We have all heard how large a part of our economy is being lost to healthcare. Losing these programs will only increase the need of those who are currently being treated and increase the numbers of those needing treatment.
Posted by: Tony in West Hollywood | Jun 3, 2009 2:38:50 PM
I'm sure many will wish that marriage equality had come to California along with the decriminalization of weed. Both would have brought much needed funds into the state. Silly conservatives. Also what about the stimulus money? Is Cali going to get a piece of that?
Posted by: Keanon | Jun 3, 2009 3:07:35 PM
John and Mike,
You have no fucking clue do you? Do you even live in Ca? If you don't then STFU! 35,000 people are receiving meds because of ADAP and will start dying when they lose their meds. Prop 8 can go suck it for all I care, who needs the freedom to marry when you're DEAD? I have friends who will lose their meds if this goes through, we do not need another die-out like we had in the 80's. Indigent medical costs will sky rocket if this happens. So the two of you can go fuck off!
Posted by: Mr. E | Jun 3, 2009 3:10:09 PM
Mr. E, I hate to speak for John or Mike, but I think they were merely saying that CA is in a really bad situation right now. I live in San Francisco and volunteer for the SF AIDS Foundation, so I recognize (to some degree) what this will mean. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they meant to dismiss the severity of this funding cut and what that means to the people who need it most.
Truth is, California has little to no money in the bank. And like individuals who are in a budget crunch, the state has to cut back, whether that be on public health, or education, or, as we have seen in Oakland, police forces. These are necessary services, no doubt about that, but when you can't fund things, you can't fund them. No way around it.
Posted by: Austin | Jun 3, 2009 3:35:31 PM
Interestingly, a person mentioned to me that if all prisoners incarcerated for marijuana possession/trafficking/etal. throughout the state were released, they could save nearly the entire amount of the budget shortfall!
Fact or fiction, I don't know, but it would surely save plenty, since nearly half of the prison population is there for that reason.
Posted by: carter | Jun 3, 2009 4:28:40 PM
The state is bankrupt. What do you want them to do?
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Posted by: stdslove | Jun 3, 2009 11:24:58 PM
These cuts could easily be avoided by make rich people pay a little closer to their fair share in taxes.
Posted by: libhomo | Jun 3, 2009 11:49:10 PM
People will die for real from this definitely fatal disease (if not treated with meds). Maybe there is some alternative funding source or other solution apart from a Final Solution to the AIDS problem which looks like what will occur.
Posted by: Mike | Jun 4, 2009 2:26:41 AM
Get ready, California - coming soon to your streets, a return of the walking dead, kaposi's sarcoma, pneumocystis pneumonia. 35,000 now depend on the state HIV meds program which is matched by fed funds. Otherwise it'll cost each patient $40 a day at full cost. Should people just get ready to die, or what?
Posted by: Ted | Jun 4, 2009 3:05:57 AM
As one of the 35,000 who'll be hit directly by this, I'm watching closely. The budget cuts are severe and it is true the majority of funds being cut are matched with federal monies. That's the worst part of all this and there may not be a way around it for now.
The $80 million in AIDS healthcare will be crippling. Keep in mind that this huge amount is less than half of the proposed cuts for family & child health care. Still, there's no solace in knowing we're not alone.
Originally the governor was going to eliminate ADAP entirely. As it stands right now, ADAP is being fractured, not killed. There will be money for protease inhibitors & other cocktail drugs. Cuts will effect second level prescriptions that control side effects (cholestorol, blood pressure, diarrhea, etc.) and vitamins. This is the closest thing to 'good' about any of this.
Even more frightening, San Francisco & Los Angeles free clinics have been swamped by people who have lost jobs/been laid off--and as a result have lost company insurance. I can't find the article but if I remember right, San Francisco's seen about a 12% increase & the LA Gay & Lesbian Center clinic's patients have nearly doubled.
The Center is asking people to contact their senators & assembly persons to urge them to oppose the cuts. You can do that here:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
The Center is also asking people to wear red to the protest.
Hollywood Cemetary
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
5 - 7 pm.
It'll be interesting to see if people show up. I hope so.
Posted by: hank | Jun 4, 2009 12:21:10 PM