Congressional majority leaders are proposing budget amendments that will eliminate funding to one of the very successful AIDS programs -- the newborn testing program. The $30 million previously appropriated will be forbidden to be used for the program and will revert to general CDC funds for aids under a proposed amendment now pending.

The testing costs $10 per child and preventive care costs about $75 per baby. The federal program provides incintive funding to states to conduct the testing, which has produced medical savings of up to $250,000 for each preventable infant infection, according to proponents.

The testing program is extremely effective supports suggest. In New York, for example, there was a 78% drop in infected newborns between 1997 and 2002 because of the baby AIDS program.

Sorry to be cynical here, but this is looking pretty odd to me...

According to Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), after his state implemented a baby AIDS testing program -- of the 213 babies born to HIV-infected mothers in 2002, only one baby was confirmed as HIV positive.

The rationale advanced by Democrat opponents of the program is that the funding is an "earmark", otherwise known as a pork-barrel project.

COMMENT FROM THE PUBLISHER

What possible "pork barrel" effect can anyone in their right mind have to justify cutting funding to a program that is successfully preventing AIDS in babies? This sounds like PURE POLITICAL B.S. from politicians who normally throw social events that cost more than this whole program.

Let's see..

• It slashes infection rates on babies and allows them to live normal, productive lives
• It protects a worthy social group -- babies of AIDS patients
• It is available to every state equally

So, what lobby could possibly call that an "earmark?" Maybe a lobby that wants the money that is going to the program.

What lobby would politicans think is more worthy than public health and allowing more babies to live without AIDS and who benefits from CDC aids funds outside of medical programs? Follow the money, is a start, but in Washington, you have to also follow the power and follow the political agendas.

What lobbies get all sorts of money to promote their social and cultural agenda under the AIDS prevention banner? What lobbies might actually benefit from their being more AIDS babies out there in the media to focus media attention away from other AIDS groups and agendas?

Sorry to be cynical here, but this is looking pretty odd to me...