Press room ... 2001 archive

Project Inform Expresses Deep Disappointment
with Governor's May Revise HIV/AIDS Budget

May 14, 2001

San Francisco—Project Inform and other HIV/AIDS advocates expressed dismay today with Governor Davis' proposed HIV/AIDS budget in his FY 2001- 2002 May Revise. The Governor has proposed no new state money for the HIV/AIDS budget in spite of the fact that California faces a $15 million shortfall in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). ADAP assists low income HIV positive Californians who are uninsured or underinsured in accessing life prolonging medications. Both the Senate and the Assembly conditionally approved a $15M increase for ADAP pending the May revise. This is potentially devastating to the more than 25,000 HIV positive individuals who depend on ADAP and raises serious questions about the Governor's commitment to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in California.

"Governor Davis' lack of action is particularly troubling as we face the 20th year of the HIV pandemic and as it continues to disproportionately affect communities of color, men who have sex with men, and women," said Anne Donnelly, Public Policy Director. "President Bush's proposed flat federal funding for HIV/AIDS care, treatment, and prevention programs has already greatly disappointed us. Now Californians are faced with the same apparent lack of commitment from Governor Davis."

The Governor's May Revise budget does not provide any additional state funding for any HIV/AIDS programs. Though the plan includes an increase of $5 million from federal sources for the ADAP, the Legislative Analysts Office has estimated that $15M in new state general fund dollars is needed in order to keep the program at its current level of service. It is critical that the funding for ADAP come from new state general fund dollars and not from federal HIV/AIDS funds intended for other important programs. Advocates have called for funding for several new and continuing programs that are important to people living with HIV/AIDS. However, when the severity and the potential cost of the energy crisis became apparent, advocates requested only that ADAP be fully funded in recognition of the importance of the program to Californians living with HIV/AIDS.

"HIV positive Californians with no other avenue of access to life prolonging medications depend on ADAP," continued Donnelly. "A $15M shortfall means that ADAP will be forced to cut back in some way or be unable to add new and promising medications to the formulary. We call on the Governor Davis to do at least as much as his Republican predecessor, Governor Pete Wilson, and adequately fund the AIDS Drug Assistance Program."

Project Inform will continue to work with other advocates, the Governor, his Administration and the State Legislature to ensure adequate funding for ADAP. We thank the State Legislature for its continued support of this life-prolonging program and urge them to include the $15M in the budget that they send to Governor Davis. We call on Governor Davis to demonstrate his commitment to Californians living with HIV/AIDS by adequately funding ADAP with $15M in new state general funds.