Texas Lawmakers creat a "Death Panel" for HIV Patients - editorial

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/04/03/111288/commentary-texas-lawmakers-vote.html



Besides whacking education jobs and trashing university research, the Texas Legislature is considering yet another way to avoid raising even one more precious penny of tax money.

A state Senate subcommittee on Medicaid spending is offering its own final solution:

Let people die.

Our very own death panel voted last week against adding $23 million in lifesaving medications for poor Texans with HIV, essentially turning away the 2,000 new patients who will need help in the next two years.

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Taxpayers actually save about $3,500 a year serving new patients at the state level instead of through county hospitals, according to the Houston Chronicle.

At the AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County, Associate Executive Director Shannon Hilgart echoed Lakey's words.

"The folks we see" -- 500 new cases a year -- "don't have the money for medications," she said.

Without state help, she said, "They will die."

But we'll balance the budget.



Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/04/03/111288/commentary-texas-lawmakers-vote.html#ixzz1Ibg0E4vc

[bluerum]

1. Yep. They are getting their "death panels". Just not the way they called it.

[StarsInHerHair]

2. it shows how anti-life the GOP truly is, that's why they go around shrieking

how 'pro-life' they are & they give a 'tell' by always projecting on the Dems what they're doing or about to do. Don't expect the "media" to report it though.

[The Philosopher]

3. It's only gays dying

because only gays get AIDS, so it's okay. Never mind that the program saves Texas money, gays are attacking our children and whatnot, so we can't help them stay around to convert our children and so on and so forth.

:sarcasm:

[RKP5637]

4. Yeah, I really do think that's what it's all about. The gays can be pushed under the

wheels. We can do that and some will praise them for their godly decisions.

[w8liftinglady]

5. The thing is- there is a large gay community in Texas

Even in BFE Henderson County,where my partner lives.

I hope that activism returns with a vengencce.

[RKP5637]

8. I hope so! You know, I think a lot of people in all walks of life are starting, or

have woken up, to the fact that what republicans are doing is cutting across all walks of life. At one time we were a country where people worked together to help each other. It was never a perfect system, but there was certainly an attempt to help people. The group of republicans we have now has turned this all around. I think it's going to backfire on them and I'm hoping for a democratic landslide in 2012.

"I hope that activism returns with a vengeance."

[w8liftinglady]

9. LOL...Thanks... I can't spell tonight!... and I'm right there with you.

[defendandprotect]

6. What's human live compared to a dollar bill?

:sarcasm" -- just in case!!

[FLAprogressive]

7. Thank God we're not taking $ from (rich) Hard Working Americans to fund unimportant shit like this.

:sarcasm: