Daily News

By Mary M. Shaffrey JOURNAL WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON

North Carolina stands to gain more than$10 million a year for AIDS care under a health bill passed last night by the U.S. House.

However, the bill, know as the Ryan White Care Act, faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where a coalition of senators representing states with large urban populations contend that the bill would strip them of their fair share of money.

The Ryan White Care Act, or RWCA, was first passed in 1990. If it is not reauthorized by Saturday, the final day of the government’s fiscal year, financing for AIDS care nationwide will drop dramatically.

Senators from New York, New Jersey and California are opposing the bill because their states would lose millions of federal dollars because of changes in the financing formula. Under Senate rules, an individual senator can block consideration of legislation. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., made a rare appearance on the Senate-floor last night, urging his colleagues to reconsider their opposition.

"Can any member that blocks this come to the floor and tell me that’s equitable … that New York should get $2,122 per person, but North Carolina should get $1,129 per person," Burr said. "Can they tell me that’s equitable? That’s not only not equitable, it’s unjust, its unfair, (and) it’s wrong."

A report by the Government Accountability Office earlier this year recommended that changes be made in the financing of AIDS care, because the South and Midwest were not getting their fair share.

The bill that passed last night was supported by all 13 representatives from North Carolina. The overall vote was 325-98. (more…)

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