AIDS United Fights against Harmful Deficit Reduction Plans

As talks to reduce the federal deficit have heated up, AIDS United and its shareholders have continued to pressure lawmakers to enact a deficit reduction strategy that does not sacrifice the essential needs of people living with HIV, low-income people, and other disenfranchised populations while preserving tax breaks for the wealthy. Please read below for an update on the deficit talks and an analysis of how they directly will impact people living with HIV. Next, read what AIDS United is doing to protect people living with HIV and how you can take action right now.

June 16 - AIDS United adopts positions on fiscal policy

June 24 - Deficit reduction talks led by Vice President Joe Biden threaten to break down as Republican leaders walk out of negotiations

July 1 - President Obama steps in to facilitate a solution that includes spending cuts as well as revenue increases

AIDS United Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Ronald Johnson, Publishes Blog Opposing Destructive Balanced Budget Amendment
The Congressional Republican leadership continues to support a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA), a measure that would force such drastic cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, that it makes the Ryan Fiscal Year 2012 Budget (which was passed by the House and failed in the Senate), benign in comparison. As the U. S. Treasury Department's August 2nd deadline for raising the federal debt limit approaches and talks between Congress and the White House have intensified, the BBA has been able to fly under the radar and escape mainstream scrutiny, although it threatens health and safety net programs to a degree that is beyond any other current proposal to address the nation's debt. Regardless of the deal that is reached, the details will surely have a major impact on people living with HIV, as health care reform, Medicare, and Medicaid are all on the negotiating table. Read more…

AIDS United Helps Organize Call-in Day as Careless Fiscal Policies and Draconian Cuts Threaten HIV Programs
On Thursday, AIDS United asked thousands of stakeholders to call the White House and Congressional Leaders to demand that HIV programs be protected during deficit reduction negotiations. We need to keep the pressure on! It is likely that a deal on the deficit will be reached within the next two weeks. We are going to be counting on HIV organizations, advocates, and stakeholders to make their voices heard THROUGHOUT this process. Please take 5 minutes to make these important phone calls.

Make the calls

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Study Shows that Medicaid Improves Health and Financial Security

A new study released Thursday, July 7, reports on the differences between low-income adults in Oregon with and without Medicaid. Findings showed major positive benefits for those who had been recieving Medicaid for one year. In the study, individuals with Medicaid were more likely to utilize health care (both primary and preventative), have better financial stability and lower medical debt, and self-report better physical and mental health. The study will now begin examining the health effects of insurance through indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. This new study is timely, reiterating the importance of preventing harmful cuts or caps to Medicaid during the ongoing budget deliberations.

Find the study at the National Bureau of Economic Research or read more at MIT News.

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Announcements

Tell Us Your Advocacy Story!
AIDS United is launching a Regional Organizing Initiative to strengthen and support HIV/AIDS advocacy efforts across the U.S.

In order to build the strongest program possible, we need your help! We are asking AIDS United grantees, stakeholders, partners, and constituents, like you, to tell us about your organization's current advocacy activities and capacity. Your responses will help us at AIDS United learn how we can best support your efforts.

Please click here to complete this survey and help AIDS United learn more about your current advocacy activities, capacity, strengths, and needs. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Jessica Terlikowski, Director of Regional Organizing, at jterlikowski@aidsunited.org.

AIDS at 30 Blog Series
The AIDS at 30 blog series focuses on HIV/AIDS over the past 30 years, and we would like to invite our readers, colleagues and stakeholders to submit contributions. Please contribute to and read the entries in our ongoing AIDS at 30 blog series.

Send your entries to Jimmy Schneidewind at jschneidewind@aidsunited.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
 

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