Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia, Inc. - 24 July 1996
Arshad Mohammed
Speaking at a dinner where he was raising money for the Democratic party, Clinton said he would ask Congress to boost funding for the programme to $117 million from $52 million next year.
The announcement appeared to be an effort to make amends with gay voters, many of whom have been infuriated by the president's support of legislation that would make same-sex marraiges illegal.
Emotions on that issue have run so high in the homosexual community that San Francisco's Mayor Willie Brown told Clinton to stay away from the city on a campaign trip last month, warning of huge protests. But Clinton did come to San Francisco and large-scale protests did not materialise, despite the city's large and politically active gay population.
Clinton, who is winding up a three-day fundraising tour of the West Coast, presented his decision on the AIDS drug programme as a matter of public health, rather than politics.
"These programmes alone are helping almost 70,000 low-income people who are HIV-positive to buy drugs that were recently discovered and that can extend their lives," Clinton said.
"Is this an area where we want a weak or non-existent government? Is this an area where the government is a problem? I don't think so," Clinton added. "This is an area where we are furthering our common objectives."
The White House said the money will go to the States AIDS Drug Assistance programmes, which help about 69,000 poor people with the human immunodeficiency virus obtain cutting-edge, life-extending drugs.
Clinton, who has made stops in Denver, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco in the past 48 hours, has devoted his time to drumming up close to $5 million for the Democratic party.
Although polls show that the president leads his Republican challenger Bob Dole by 15-20 percent nationally and as much as 27 percent in California, Clinton is taking no chances with the state.
Including this trip, he has made 25 visits to California since taking office and is expected to return several times before the November 5 election.
Arriving in San Francisco for a flying, seven-hour visit on Tuesday afternoon, he took time to make an open play for the Asian-American vote, taking a stroll through Chinatown and munching on a lotus-seed "Moon Cake."
Earlier in the day in a Sacramento speech he was more focused on public policy, proposing setting up a national phone number for people to get help for non-emergency matters to relieve the burden on the local 911 police hotline.
The proposal, put forward on the final day of a campaign swing along the West Coast, is a familiar blend for the president, exploiting technology to fight crime at little cost to the federal government.
Clinton also pitched the idea squarely to women voters, announcing it at a Sacramento counselling centre for battered women and saying it would help fight domestic violence.
Clinton was scheduled to attend one final fundraising event in San Francisco on Tuesday night, before flying back to Washington early on Wednesday morning.
960724
RE9607D3
Copyright © 1996 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1996. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1996. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .