Gerson calls out the ‘Coburn Seven’
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The Washington Post has a strong op-ed today from Michael Gerson calling for movement on the reauthorization of President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). He calls out the “Coburn Seven” — seven Senators impeding its progress.
Gerson writes:
It is the nature of the Senate that the smallest of minorities can impede the work of the majority. But it takes a conscious choice — an act of tremendous will and pride — for members to employ these powers against an AIDS bill with overwhelming bipartisan support.
I encourage you to read the full piece “Moral Scales in the Senate” on the Washington Post site.
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May 14, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Great article and thanks for posting.
Unfortunately, one of my senators is Saxby Chambliss. I’ll be drafting a letter to him this afternoon on the importance of PEPFAR and encouraging him to move forward with this important legislation.
May 14, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Thanks Josh for posting this article by Michael Gerson but I am more interested in what we, as ONE members, can do to support PEPFAR’s re-authorization in the Senate.
I know that ONE members who are in those seven states where these Senators who are opposing PEPFAR re-authorization live can lobby their Senators about this issue but what can the rest of us do?
I hope that y’all will be coming out soon with some ideas for us because I’m ready for action. (smile)
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE – debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
May 15, 2008 at 9:48 am
Stay tuned Debbie. We’re working on finding the most effective angle we can. Depending on the state members are in, some will have an opportunity to take action this week. Everyone should be able to help, but some might have to wait a week or even two for the right window.
May 15, 2008 at 10:26 am
Thanks Josh for your quick reply to my post. I have every faith that ONE will mobilize us to do something about this stalemate because ONE always comes through for the world’s poorest people.
While this whole issue of PEPFAR re-authorization is being woked out in the Senate, does this mean that current funding levels will continue until new funding levels are passed through Congress?
Or are people who are currently benefitting from PEPFAR programs be at risk of LOSING some of the services that they are now receiving through PEPFAR?
Let us remember that, for these very vunerable people in Africa, losing some of the services that PEPFAR is providing them with could definitely mean losing their lives!
This situation is that serious for them. ~
Any further info that you or others at the national ONE office can provide us with, Josh, would be very welcomed.
As you can see, this issue is very close to my heart. I have friends in Africa receiving those PEPFAR services and I don’t want to see them suffer.
THANK YOU, ONE, for never giving up on Africa. THANK YOU, BONO & others, for putting this all together for Africa’s Future.
I don’t even want to think where Africa would be right now without our movement to end AIDS & extreme poverty.
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE – debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
May 16, 2008 at 9:41 am
Thanks, Josh and ONE, for your quick attention to this issue in the U.S. Senate by the new action alert which you have sent out to the 2.5 million ONE members around the U.S. regarding the Lugar-Sununu sign-on letter.
I have already contacted both my Senators about this issue and am letting all of my friends & associates know about it so that we can quickly defeat this action by the “Coburn Seven”.
Please keep us apprised of other actions that we can do to support this effort. My respect for the strength and unity of ONE grows every day.
ONE HEART, ONE HOPE, ONE LOVE – debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
June 4, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Part of the problem is the way the bill is written. Michael Gerson is reporting the situation as HE sees it only. The bill doesn’t require that ANY OF THE MONEY ACTUALLY GO TO THE PATIENTS. The seven have asked that at least 55% be directed to aids patients remedies/treatments. This simple addition to the bill will assure that the people who need the money, get the money. I only wish the changes would be done in an extremely urgent manner so it happens. This also may be the only good legacy that George W leaves. His admin has spent more on aids/hiv than all others since it was discovered.