The Rate of New AIDS Cases in South Florida Is the Highest in the Nation: John McCain’s Voting Record Shows Total Indifference
Over the course of his Senate career John McCain has voted at least seven times against funding of treatment, prevention, or research on AIDS.
Since Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first identified over 30 years ago more than 1 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease. More than 565,000 Americans have died of AIDS.
AIDS is no longer an issue of sole concern to gays, lesbians, or low-income blacks. Recent years have seen a surge in AIDS rates among whites, Hispanics, women, as well as heterosexuals.
AIDS imposes a huge economic burden on all voters. There are about 450,000 Americans currently living with AIDS. Government estimates put the medical costs per AIDS patients at about $25,000 per year. This puts the annual total cost for AIDS care at more than $11 billion.
McCain’s voting record on AIDS has a special urgency in the state of Florida where AIDS has become a major public health problem. South Florida has the highest rate of new AIDS cases in the nation.
Here is McCain’s consistent record of opposition to AIDS prevention, treatment, and research:
• In 2003 McCain voted against an amendment that would have provided $800 million for AIDS treatment and prevention programs.
• In 2003 McCain voted no on a resolution calling for a $200 million appropriation for the Global AIDS initiative.
• In 2003 McCain voted to cut off $590 million for AIDS treatment and prevention programs over the next three years.
• McCain voted no on an appropriation to add $401 million to the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, the nation’s primary program for helping victims of AIDS.
• In 2003 McCain voted against an amendment that would have provided nearly a billion dollars to programs to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis worldwide.
• In 2008 McCain missed a vote that authorized $48 billion over the next five years to combat AIDS across the globe.
Put aside humanitarian concerns. The Florida Department of Health estimates that as many as 90,000 Floridians are currently living with HIV. This places a huge drain of $2 billion or more on the Florida economy.