Could Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget be in part to blame for a rise in HIV infection cases? Or is it reckless and irresponsible to suggest such a thing?
In response to reports that new cases of HIV infection in Minnesota rose 13 percent in 2009, the biggest increase in 17 years, Minnesota Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said that Pawlenty hasn't provided the leadership needed to prevent new infections.
"When is this governor going to look beyond politics and realize we're dealing with people's lives? Support for education and prevention for all forms of health risks is not a discussion about lifestyles or choices," Dibble said in a news release.
Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung had a strong reaction to Dibble's suggestion.
"Just the latest example of overheated, reckless, irresponsible rhetoric from a DFL legislator," McClung said in an email.
Here's Dibble's full statement:
"In this age of such accessible information and education, it's astounding that new HIV/AIDS cases are on the rise," Sen. Dibble said. "Also disturbing is that a large majority of the newly reported cases for 15- to 24-year-old males were among gay and bisexual men. Obviously, there is a disconnect somewhere that is contributing to the increased risk that our young men face. These numbers should send a stark message to all Minnesota leaders that it's time to reassess where our prevention efforts lay and try to understand how to help our young generation avoid these risks."
Sen. Dibble said he believes part of the blame for the higher number of infected Minnesotans lies with state leaders.
"In recent years, Gov. Pawlenty has cut funding to extremely important prevention and treatment efforts," he said. "He and the Department of Health simply have not given enough time and attention to effective, competent prevention programs. This issue has been placed on the back-burner - the governor's 2007 proposal to eliminate funding for the AIDSLine help program is a prime example. This is the type of resource that provides vital information and assistance to affected communities. The day the state backs off of its support for these resources is the day that infection rates and risks start to climb again. We're seeing that proof right now, with the release of the 2009 statistics."
"Additionally, this administration has sent a strong message of inequality to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community, most recently through a veto of an anti-bullying bill that would have added, among other things, sexual orientation to the list of threats for which victim resources and protection would be offered. There is plenty of data suggesting discrimination of all kinds can lead to detrimental health outcomes. Signing this bill would have sent a simple message of support to those experiencing discrimination for sexual orientation. Instead, the governor's veto sent yet another message of intolerance and limited the resources offered to the LGBT community, the group with the highest number of new HIV/AIDS infections last year."
"The anti-bullying bill was vetoed for purely political reasons," Sen. Dibble added. "When is this governor going to look beyond politics and realize we're dealing with people's lives? Support for education and prevention for all forms of health risks is not a discussion about lifestyles or choices. It's a discussion about a very real health threat facing our state, and Minnesota's responsibility to educate and protect its citizens. I am urging the governor to take a close look at these numbers and understand HIV/AIDS remains a serious threat that deserves to be acknowledged by the state's highest leader."
