Illinois Legislature Approves Budget Cuts for Minority-Focused HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs

The Illinois Legislature on June 11 approved a $54 billion budget that cuts funding for HIV/AIDS prevention efforts that target minorities, the Chicago Tribune reports (Long/Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 6/12). Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) had proposed cutting nearly $3 million from minority-focused prevention projects in his budget plan, and the Legislature approved the cuts (McDermott/Powers, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/12). In fiscal year 2002, Ryan and the Legislature authorized funding for HIV/AIDS prevention programs targeting racial and ethnic minorities in Chicago and in Cook, Kane, Madison, Peoria, St. Clair, Will and Winnebago counties. The Legislature on June 1 approved a budget bill that included funding for the initiative, but Ryan vetoed the funding. Mark Ishaug, executive director of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, called the Legislature's failure to override Ryan's veto a "tragedy," adding, "Why is the state retreating on HIV/AIDS prevention when nearly two in three new HIV cases occur among people of color?" (AIDS Foundation of Chicago release, 6/12). Ryan had also proposed eliminating funding for a Chicago day care center for children with HIV (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/1).