MAP Advocate
AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 7. No. 11
June 26, 2001
In this issue:
Take Action! Pick Up the Phone - Tell Senator Moe
and Senate DFL Leadership Thank You.
Lawmakers Approve MAP Request for Workplace Money
No Deal Yet; Republicans Push Social Conservative
Agenda.
MAP Announces Hanson-Henningson Award Winners for
2001
MAP Participates in Wellstone-Dayton-Daschle Press
Conference
As public health and education measures have come under attack in the
budget process, the Senate DFL leadership has stood firm in insisting
that Minnesota address its unmet needs. Make a quick call to let them
know you're behind them and that now is not the time to back down. We
need their support to ensure funding for HIV K-12 education, workplace
education and health disparities.
**Sen. Roger Moe - 651-296-2577
**Sen. John Hottinger - 651-296-6153
**Sen. Linda Berglin -651-296-4261
**Sen. Leroy Stumpf -651-296-8660
The legislative conference committee shaping the state's job development budget Monday evening approved $175,000 for workplace HIV education. The funding will provide education for employers, particularly small businesses, and their workers around HIV and the proper handling of health information. Funding for this program was in the Senate bill, but not the House and would not have survived conference committee without the support of Representatives Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls.), Dan McElroy (R-Burnsville) and Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont). MAP particularly would like to thank Rep. Gunther for his support and compelling testimony about having hired an employee who is living with HIV.
With the Senate and Governor in agreement on a state budget compromise, it appears House Republicans are not so happy with the deal and have responded by placing social conservative issues back on the table. In the health committee, House leaders reneged on earlier compromises on welfare reform and restrictions on teen pregnancy prevention programs. Abortion politics is back on center stage, as Republicans added back language that would restrict teen pregnancy prevention dollars from going to family planning clinics or agencies that provide abortions or that make abortion referrals. Priority for funding is given to programs that emphasize abstinence as the only safe means to prevent pregnancies and STDs. Knowing that abortion restrictions will draw a Ventura veto, House Speaker Steve Sviggum is still pressing the issue. The House position to date has been to oppose funding HIV workplace education, STI funding and K-12 HIV education. If an agreement is not reached, a government shutdown could happen on July 1.
Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls.), Sen. Steve Kelley (DFL-Hopkins) and the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union will be awarded the 2001 Hanson-Henningson award for their outstanding legislative and citizen advocacy around HIV/AIDS policy and support for K-12 HIV education, fair workplace policies, domestic partnership and the repeal of Minnesota's sodomy law. MAP awards the Hanson-Henningson award every year to a state representative, senator and citizen advocate who have made a difference in the fight against HIV. The award is named in honor of advocates Dick Hanson and Burt Henningson, who died of AIDS in the late 80's. They spent the last years of their lives speaking out about HIV/AIDS. The award will be presented at MAP's advocacy forum, **HIV Disclosure and You, on July 18 at Park House in Minneapolis**. Call the MAPAIDSLine at 612-373-2437 or 800-248-2437 for more information.
The Minnesota AIDS Project was asked to participate in a press conference held by the new Senate majority leader, Senator Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) and Minnesota Senators Dayton and Wellstone to gain support for the health care patient protection bill being debated in Congress this week. Senate Democrats chose the patient bill of rights as the first bill to debate on the floor of the Senate since the Democrats gained the majority last month. The bill would strengthen patient and doctor relationships and make HMO's accountable for their actions by giving patients the right to sue an HMO that has harmed a patient for refusal to provide care. Federal legislation is critical, since many Minnesotans who receive health coverage through employers who self-insure, are not protected under Minnesota's patients' bills of rights.
Mission & Values | Executive Director | Board of Directors | Annual Report | Publications | Calendar of Events | Employment | Contact Us
Last Updated:
Friday, March 30, 2007
[an error occurred while processing this directive]