Survey Finds Broad Support Among Candidates for AIDS Funding

Gubernatorial Candidates Support Comprehensive Sex Education, Healthcare Reforms

CHICAGO-In a recent AIDS Foundation of Chicago survey, four of the six candidates running for Illinois governor expressed strong support for implementing health education that includes sexuality and HIV prevention education, as well as increased access to healthcare for people with HIV. The survey also found broad support among both statewide and congressional candidates for increased government funding for AIDS-related services.

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) sent its questionnaire, which covered an array of HIV/AIDS public policy issues, to 83 candidates running in the upcoming primary election for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and Illinois state executive offices. AFC received responses from 4 gubernatorial contenders, 31 candidates for Congress, and several candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Gubernatorial candidates Rep. Rod Blagojevich, Roland Burris, Paul Vallas, and Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood completed the survey. All four indicated that the state's Medicaid program should be expanded to cover people who are currently ineligible for the program, including very low-income people with HIV.

Rod Blagojevich was the only gubernatorial candidate to agree with all of AFC's positions, and the only one to express unequivocal support for legislation allowing adults to purchase sterile syringes at pharmacies without a prescription - a scientifically proven and nationally recognized HIV prevention strategy supported by AFC. Burris indicated opposition to such measures, and Vallas and Wood provided qualified support. Despite overwhelming evidence that legalizing sterile syringe access slows the spread of HIV without increasing illicit drug use, Illinois remains one of only five states to require prescriptions for syringe purchases.

Roland Burris' responses matched AFC positions on 73% of the questionnaire, and Paul Vallas and Lt. Governor Corinne Wood each agreed with AFC positions on 82% of questions asked.

A full 90% of federal respondents and 100% of state respondents were in favor of increased government funding for AIDS prevention, care, housing, and research programs, a finding that is in sharp contrast with the position of the White House. President George W. Bush requested no new funding for AIDS prevention and care services next year despite an estimated 40,000 new HIV cases annually.

While not endorsing candidates for public office, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago conducts candidate surveys as a service to Illinois AIDS advocates and the general public. Click here to see a complete report of the survey findings.

Established in 1985 to provide central leadership in the fight against the epidemic, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) promotes sound HIV/AIDS public policy, funds HIV/AIDS care and prevention projects, and through its Service Providers Council, helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services.

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View the press release from the candidate survey released in October 2002