President Proposes More Funding For AIDS Patients

SAN FRANCISCO (AllPolitics, July 24) -- Wrapping up a three-day visit to California, President Bill Clinton offered some solace to the gay community, promising to seek more funding for AIDS patients. (320K WAV sound)

Having angered many gays for his support of a federal bill to ban gay marriage, Clinton said at a Democratic fund-raiser that he would more than double his request for state AIDS drug assistance programs in fiscal 1997 to $117 million, up from $52 million. The event garnered $500,000 for the Democratic Party.

The president touted the initiative as an example of what government should be doing. "Is this an area where the government is a problem?" he asked. "I don't think so. It's a good thing that we cut back on the deficit, but it's also a good thing that we're continuing to spend money on things that make a difference." The White House estimates some 69,000 HIV-infected people have benefited from the program, which states use to disseminate prescription drugs and new treatments.

While he won overwhelming gay support in 1992, Clinton strained relations with the homosexual community early in his presidency for his handling of the gays in the military issue ("don't ask, don't tell" wasn't exactly a hit).

The president frequently says he supports policies of inclusion. "The Olympics had (gay swimmer) Greg Louganis stand up there as a hero, and said we're not excluding people because they're HIV positive, because somebody might not like it," Clinton said Tuesday night. "That whole show was about how we're stronger when we're together than when we're looking for ways to be divided."

President Proposes More Funding For AIDS Patients

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