2000 Candidate Survey Executive Summary

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) recently surveyed candidates running in the November 7 general election on a wide variety of HIV/AIDS public policy issues. In addition to obtaining responses from a greater percentage of candidates than in a 1998 survey, AFC obtained AIDS policy materials from Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore. The survey documents broad and increased legislator support for: expanding access to sterile syringes, removing barriers to health care faced by uninsured HIV-positive men and women, and viewing health care as a basic human right.

Presidential Candidates Support Government Funding of HIV/AIDS Research and Programming:

• Governor Bush and Vice President Gore strongly support the Ryan White CARE Act, and AIDS research and prevention efforts in general.
• Gore would increase CARE Act funding, and target HIV/AIDS in African-American communities.
• Bush would permanently extend tax credits for HIV-related research and development.
• Both candidates support strengthening confidentiality protections for private medical records.
• Gore supports expanding the ability of people with HIV to obtain health insurance, and legislation to prohibit insurance discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS.
  
• Governor Bush opposes needle exchange programs, while Vice-President Gore did not respond to questions regarding sterile syringe availability.
  

State Candidates Strongly Support Expanding Access to Sterile Syringes for Injection Drug Users:

• 69% of candidates overall (74% of state and 75% of Cook County candidates) support legalized syringe exchange programs.
• 67% of state candidates support legalizing the non-prescription sale of sterile syringes to adults.
  

Candidates Overwhelmingly Identify Health Care as a Human Right and Government Priority:

• 90% of all candidates specifically believe that health care is a basic human right.
• 83% of state candidates support expanding Medicaid to cover low-income, uninsured HIV-positive individuals who are not yet disabled.
• 98% of state candidates support legislative measures to help businesses offer insurance to employees with disabilities or chronic health problems.
• 100% of Cook County candidates support continued funding for indigent care at Cook County clinics.
• 77% of federal candidates support increased federal funding for AIDS prevention, care, housing and research programs.

View AFC's 2000 Candidate Questionnaire and the responses of candidates, including those from Governor Bush and Vice President Al Gore, by downloading the documents from the menu on the lefthand column on this page.