Spitzer Responds To Criticism of HIV, Abstinence Amendment

((UPDATED to include Thursday evening press release.- Editor)

Tuesday evening State Rep. Stuart Spitzer, M.D. set off a media storm when he successfully led an effort to reform the Texas Budget by shifting money from the HIV/STD Awareness Education fund to abstinence education.

In a press release Wednesday, Spitzer responded to criticism of the move.

Spitzer said his amendment shifted $1.5 million  of the HIV/STD Awareness Education program’s $191.4 million budget to abstinence education,  which increased the $5 million abstinence education budget by 28 percent.

In the press release, Spitzer said:

“I strongly believe that the funds were disproportionate in the way they were allotted. A very small shift could go a very long way in helping to educate Texans on how to protect themselves from HIV and other STD’s that are harming our state.”

“If you read the media reports it sounds like I defunded HIV/STD programs, when all I did was shift less than 1 percent of their budgets toward a program that will help curb the same diseases. It amazes me how visceral the attacks on my family and I have been as a result of this effort, and how misinformed people are as to the effects of our amendment. I’m incredibly pleased that the majority of my colleagues and constituents supported me in the effort to address HIV and STDs in our state.”

Spitzer followed that up Thursday evening with a more detailed press release, which said:

On Tuesday I presented an amendment to reform the Texas Budget by increasing the abstinence education budget by 28 percent ($1.5 million) which was shifted from the HIV/STD Awareness Education fund, reducing it by less than 1 percent of the program’s $191.4 million annual budget.

My office has received a large amount of correspondence over this decision, and I want to make sure the record is set straight on what the amendment actually does and what motivated this decision in the first place.

First, this amendment is in no way an “Abstinence Only” policy. Innovative programs can and should combine abstinence education with HIV/STD awareness programs into a comprehensive format. I strongly believe that the funds were disproportionate in the way they were previously allotted. A very small shift could go a very long way in helping to educate Texans on how to protect themselves from HIV and other STD’s that are harming the people of Texas.

There have been reports that we defunded HIV/STD programs, when all we did was shift less than 1 percent of their budgets toward a program that will help curb the same diseases. It should also be noted that that this takes no money from HIV/STD Treatment funding, which appears to be the most common misconception the public has regarding this amendment.

With Texas still being the 3rd highest HIV/STD rate, the effectiveness of related Awareness Programs should be put into question. On the surface it would appear to be a larger failure than Abstinence Education with $191 million spent on HIV/STD Awareness annually. If we are to truly solve the issues of HIV/STDs and unwanted teen pregnancies we must be willing to try other options rather than throwing tax payer monies at the standard and usually failing methods.

This amendment was proposed and debated openly, showing that our legislative system works. With both sides of the issue clearly expressing their positions, the elected representatives voted for what they felt was best for Texas. I want to thank all the members who expressed their concerns and a special thanks to the members who supported me in this contentious vote. I stood in support of the values of my district and will continue to do so in my future votes.