funding

Robert's note:
I came across this well written post from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago discussing the how Syringe Exchange across the US is going to potentially lose federal funding again. This is a national embarrassment that we looking at cutting funding to one of the most effective public health interventions of our time.

In the article below Gregory Trotter skillfully discusses the issues. Please take some time to read and reflect on it.

Syringe Exchanges Caught in Political Crosshairs
Written by Gregory Trotter

UPDATE: 12/15 10:30 a.m. Overnight, the House released an omnibus spending bill that reinstates the ban on federal funding for syringes nationally and in Washington D.C. It is unclear if the members of Senate leadership have agreed to this and other harmful policy riders, but AFC continues to stridently oppose them. Stay tuned for updates.

There has been a great wailing and gnashing of teeth over the past day or so as those who follow the healthcare debate react to the Stupak/Some Creepy Republican Guy Amendment.

The Amendment, which is apparently intended to respond to conservative Democrats’ concerns that too many women were voting for the Party in recent elections, was attached to the House’s version of healthcare reform legislation that was voted out of the House this weekend.

The goal is to limit women’s access to reproductive medicine services, particularly abortions; this based on the concept that citizens of good conscience shouldn’t have their tax dollars used to fund activities they find morally repugnant.

At first blush, I was on the mild end of the wailing and gnashing spectrum myself…but having taken a day to mull the thing over, I’m starting to think that maybe we should take a look at the thinking behind this…and I’m also starting to think that, properly applied, Stupak’s logic deserves a more important place in our own vision of how a progressive government might work.

It’s Political Judo Day today, Gentle Reader, and by the time we’re done here it’s entirely possible that you’ll see Stupak’s logic in a whole new light.

I try to look at an overall voting record rather than cherry picking out of context votes. But of they want to play that game, so can I.

Here are a few NAY votes from Senator Richard Burr, up for re-election in 2010:

Vote 181: On the Motion: This $120 billion dollar package was passed in the Senate by an 80-14 vote on May 24. The bill primarily focuses on funding for the Iraq war but also addresses other unrelated topics.

AN ACT to appropriate funds to the e‑nc authority to increase the availability of internet connectivity in underserved areas of the state through incentive grants, to provide additional funding for general operations, to expand the funding for the e‑nc business and technology telecenters program, and to provide incentives to e‑communities, local e‑government utilization program participants, and e‑commerce initiatives.

Although I haven't actually met all the regulars here I've come to think of us as an extended family. We squabble occassionally but usually in a good natured way. And, we all have the common dream of living in a state and a nation governed by folks whose first priority is what's best for "we the people." There hasn't been much of that type of governance going on in America or North Carolina for a long time and we're each in our way, and collectively, fighting to take back our country. I want to talk with you about two members of our family who need your help. I'm going to ask you to put your money where your heart is, and and ask you to do all you can to help them help us take our country back. More below the fold.