Congress To Vote On Needle Exchange Ban, One Day After AIDS Activists' Protest

AMERICA blog:

This really came out of nowhere. Yesterday, we had AIDS activists quite literally close down the US Capitol Rotunda to protest President Obama's request to Congress to keep the federal ban on needle exchange in place (Obama had promised during the election to help lift the ban, but in his budget this year asked Congress to keep it). Today, we have the mark-up of the House Labor-HHS Appropriations bill, and in it is a repeal of the needle exchange ban.

Read the whole story: AMERICA blog

Comments

[PaiaGirl]

So Congress has time for this but not for passing Health Care reform.

[shakes head in disgust]

[globality]

How can the federal government ban needle exchange program

This should clearly be up to individual states

[sueno]

Many of you think that the 'ban' is a good thing-
The problem is that even though the 'needles'
are targeting 'drug-users', these efforts, to reduce
the spread of many diseases helps and saves us all.
Innocent children might not be born with congenital problems,
someone in your family might not become infected with
HIV/AIDS, Hep. B/C, Syphillis and other diseases.
If we don't provide a 'safe' system for drug-users to get clean,
where do you think they will get the stuff they need??
Either from crimes on businesses, homes, in our parks
and placing a 'big glut' on our medical systems.
We need to 'grow-up' and learn to be more adult
in treating drug problems that have affected
our country for decades-

[mikesw]

Well done!

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Excellent. Congress doing its job to ensure that these types of programs are sustainable through legislation. Excellent.

[RightWingMarine]

why is it the taxpayers responsibility to provide needles to drug addicts? If we are going to do this because of public safety issues then why not pay for vehicle maintanence such as brakes? That could affect public safety. Why not have govt cabs that take people home from bars?

[stylenease]

You are gross.

[NedroidPrime]

No, he makes a valid point, and offers a reasonable alternative.

Believe it or not, but many times RWM makes valid points. We may not agree with him entirely, but he makes an honest effort to explain his positions and offer ideas. Our country is well served by that.
-----
RWM,
Good idea, I would certainly use it often!

These addicts all learned in school about smack and how dangerous it is. They still chose to start doing it. I don't want to pay for their stoopidity (intentional).

Why don't we subsidize cigarettes? Instead, they just raise the taxes on smokers about 500% over the past 10 years. Same principle

[steveRB]

because needles are cheap and just because we can't prevent all unnecessary suffering doesn't mean we should do nothing.

[NedroidPrime]

And if the suffering is self-inflicted? We should start protecting people from themselves?

At what point do we stop?

[Green-Zanto]

I'd support all of those measures. Why not?

Why is it that you right wingers seem to have such disdain for the government helping people, or doing anything that is actually beneficial to anyone?

[Davwbaird]

Yipes you care little.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

Let me ask you this. As a taxpayer, would you rather help fund the clean needle exchange at a much lower cost to the taxpayer, or take a chance on the spread of HIV/AIDS, Hep C, MRSA, and any other disease that will cost the taxpayers BILLIONS (with a B) to cover the drugs to treat these life long diseases?

I vote for the clean needle exchange.

[NedroidPrime]

And where will the money to pay for this come from?

Seriously, I can think of many different ways my money can be spent NOT subsidising a junkie. These people all had health class, and all knew that smack will kill you. Their own decision, their own responsibility.

I chose to smoke cigarettes, does that mean that people will start subsidising my lighters? Or how about my future breathing treatments? Same principle

[scpatl4now]

good...then you can subsidise their AIDS medications...which is what you will be doing. You can buy 9000 needles for what it would cost for ONE persons AIDS meds for one month. You do the math. Even preventing 1 AIDS transmission is beyond cost effective. Drug addiction is a disease and these people need treatment...not Holier than Thou attitudes

[rainbowblue]

You can't talk reason to these people. They don't want to hear it. The truth is they don't understand that a dollar now for a couple of new needles will save hundreds later for a pill.

[Green-Zanto]

Ideally, by the time you have lung cancer, this country will have join the civilized world and we will have universal healthcare, so yes our taxes will be helping you out. Your welcome!

[MSNichols]

Impressive. I always wonder if protests and letters, emails and call to Congress actually worked.
It appears that maybe it does and we should continue to stay involved.

Then again... I don't imagine there is a big Lobby against this particular issue so the public's actual will and comman sense may have an impact.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Could be up ahead you'll be seeing changes
Somehow the changes made won't belong to you
-Jayhawks

[VPN]

ANY Senator or House Rep that votes in favor of this ban has NO business in public office, that kind of IGNORANCE is very destructive to the general well being of the country. The cost of treating those who acquire some preventable affliction should be reason enough to NOT support this ban, thats without even considering the many other issues associated with drug abuse.

[blaharumph]

thank you protesters! obama understands the power of public pressure.
he may want to do things but may be held back by outside, bureaucratic or political issues...
we need more public pressure on issues... other than teabagging.

[PlaceboStudman]

Ya know, I'm usually one who defends Obama when people try to tell him to do things that he can't do, which congress should be doing. But there comes a point when the president does have to show some accountability and take on some responsibility to actually say he supports or rejects SOMETHING. Big flowery speeches are great, but that's all they are. A quiet subtle mention of support or rejection of a policy is much more effective in his leadership

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I guess you did not read that full article re the Prez support of a sustainable Congressional solution, huh, being such a huge Obama supporter.

Ha.

[PlaceboStudman]

Yes I read the article. But there are days when I have to wonder if he is punting TOO MUCH to congress and washing his hands of these issues, instead of encouraging congress to do these things. It's one thing to say "I'm going to let congress do this", it's another to say "come on, congress, let's get this done"

[TheFobster]

The first of many lies from Obama that we're sure to see. When will the DUMBASSES in WashDC realize that we should stop treating drug use as a criminal issue, but rather a public health issue.

[Phoebe917]

actually the needle exchange program *does* treat drug use as a public health issue, as you intimate. Obama needs to man up on this. i am a huge supporter of Obama but i will be seriously pissed if he reneges on this.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

Eevrybody seems to want to blame President Obama for everything i have yet to read any displeasure with congress. After all they can get things done also.

[Coinyer101]

Well, maybe congress will keep the President's promises? Will he sign it if it passes?

[dali partin]

While I don't know the inner workings of congress, I would like to think that the President has advocated for this and we simply don't see it happening. It would make sense to me that this kind of advocacy would not always be overt, so as not to appear to be handing down orders.

[Ohioan730]

Makes sense. I dont see Pres. Obama opposing that but I guess we'll find out soon.

[cdub1991]

He'll sign it if it passes. If Obama really wants to capitalize on this however, he should come out and positively endorse the Congressional action and praise them for approaching the matter in the "right way.," i.e. his way. It would be a good tactical move on his part and make it look like he was on board all along--be that true or not.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I guess you did not read the article where this has already been done.