Wisconsin Governor Eyed: Likely HHS nominee's AIDS
record 'solid'
by Bill
Roundy
The Washington Blade
December 22, 2000
President-elect George W. Bush met December 19 with Wisconsin Gov.
Tommy Thompson (R), who is widely expected to be named head of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services within the next week. The prospect
of Thompson's appointment was met with cautious optimism by several Gay
and AIDS organizations, and enthusiasm from the Log Cabin Republicans.
Winnie Stachelberg, political director at the Human Rights Campaign,
sounded a positive note.
"[Thompson] has made significant efforts to move the Republican Party
away from its anti-Gay stance," said Stachelberg, and she said that the
HRC is encouraged by his record on AIDS issues.
"We have an excellent relationship with the governor and his
administration, and have for many years," said Kevin Ivers, communications
director for Log Cabin. "He is someone who will be a great advocate on
AIDS policy."
Thompson, a four-term governor, was recently a focus of attention in
regard to Gay issues because of his unsuccessful efforts to remove
anti-Gay language from the platform of the Republican National Convention.
Thompson chaired the committee that drafted the GOP platform. After
meeting with Log Cabin officials, and with the support of the Bush
campaign, he submitted a draft which deleted most of the anti-Gay
provisions of the 1996 platform, except for one measure condemning
recognition of same-sex relationships. Thompson's draft was overruled by
the committee, however, and the platform ultimately contained opposition
to virtually every Gay civil rights item, including a call for a return to
a complete ban on Gays in the military.
"He did basically everything that a committee chair can do in an open
process [to remove the anti-Gay language]," said Ivers. "And he went on TV
afterwards and said that he would have preferred the original draft."
Stachelberg also noted that Thompson has signed legislation that grants
hospital visitation rights to same-sex partners and that he refused to add
consideration of an anti-Gay marriage bill during a special session of the
Wisconsin legislature.
Neil Albrecht, executive director of the Milwaukee LGBT Community
Center, observed that Thompson has not been anti-Gay, but he has also not
been an active proponent of Gay civil rights legislation.
"He has never really been challenged to advocate or oppose any
LGBT-related measures in the state," said Albrecht. "He hasn't initiated
anything."
But Thompson has a stronger record on HIV and AIDS issues.
"I believe that Tommy Thompson is a good choice for Health and Human
Services," said Saul Levin, a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Medical
Association. "His work in Wisconsin on AIDS issues shows that he
understands some of the challenges."
While Thompson was the chair of the National Governor's Association in
1995, he worked out a policy statement that was "unequivocal" in its
support for Ryan White CARE Act, the primary vehicle for federal funding
of AIDS programs, said Ivers.
In addition to his support for Ryan White and the AIDS Drug Assistance
Program, several activists noted that Thompson has sought Medicaid waivers
for HIV-positive people, who are not normally eligible for Medicaid until
they have developed AIDS symptoms.
"Thompson and his administration have always been very effective using
federal money for AIDS," said Tom Gifford, the deputy executive director
of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.
During his 14 years in office, Thompson "has shown a solid commitment
to a partnership between state government and local organizations to try
to confront the AIDS epidemic," Gifford added.
A December 1999 "report card" issued by the AIDS Resource Center rated
the state's efforts at HIV prevention as a "D" and its AIDS treatment and
care at an "A-."
Funding for prevention efforts has lagged in Wisconsin, and Gifford
said that it is a cause for concern. Prevention efforts, said Gifford,
have become the "forgotten stepchildren" of AIDS service programs, and the
state does not fund clean-needle exchange programs for IV-drug users, a
measure designed to stop the spread of AIDS.
Stachelberg also expressed concern about Thompson's lack of support for
HIV-prevention efforts but said she was encouraged by his record on other
aspects of AIDS care.
Increasing funding for HIV prevention, said Gifford "is a battle that I
hope he would be open to."
"I'd be optimistic that the needs of the AIDS community would be well
represented if Thompson is nominated," said Gifford.
On social policy issues, Wisconsin was rated "incomplete" by the AIDS
Resource Center. Thompson did not take a public position on bills that
were proposed to prohibit needle exchange programs and to criminalize the
spread of HIV, Gifford said.
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