In Other News...
After losing their yearlong battle over HIV/AIDS names-based reporting, HIV/AIDS activists are gearing up for another battle with the state. In May, state officials announced a temporary freeze on new enrollments into Oregon's prescription drug assistance program for people infected with HIV and AIDS, due to a major budget shortage. The reason for this shortage, according to state epidemiologist Mel Kohn, was the fact that funding for HIV/AIDS drugs has not kept pace with the number of people who are now living longer with the disease. However, HIV/AIDS activists blame the state for the deficit, claiming they have budgeted poorly and distributed money unevenly. "We think there are more creative ways to approach [the situation]," said activist Jack Cox. Cox and fellow activists are planning to begin their campaign in the next few weeks. KATIA DUNN
ELECTION FOR SALE
After June's primary elections saw an across-the-board failure for local non-incumbent and non-mainstream candidates, many critics blamed the discrepancies on campaign spending. The common argument says that the more money paid out for advertising strategies, the better the chances for victory. Critics say it is a system based less on merits and more on money.
In an effort to level the playing field in local elections, commissioner Erik Sten (himself a well funded incumbent in June) has somewhat ironically begun early work on a public campaign finance program.
"Right now, we're working on parameters--what is legally possible," says Marshall Runkel, one of Sten's staff members.
"The ten-thousand-dollar question is, if we do have a public [campaign] finance mechanism, how will we fund it?" adds Runkel, acknowledging that this is closer to the "million-dollar question."
Runkel says they are looking closely at the current program in place in New York City, which provides public matching funds to candidates who agree to meet contribution and spending limits, and to fully disclose the sources and uses of these funds. In spite of the program in NYC, Michael Bloomberg won their mayoral election by spending 50-plus million of his own money. ANNA BOND
RSSGoing to Seattle?
