Jonathan Adams

Rachel Maddow Mentions CHAMP on World AIDS Day

Rachel Maddow gives a shout-out to CHAMP for opposing Rep. James Ramstad (R-MN/3rd) as a possible selection to be the director of national drug control policy or “drug czar” in the Obama administration.

Media reports assert that Rep. James Ramstad (R-MN/3rd) may be chosen as director of national drug control policy or “drug czar”.

Rep. Ramstad has been a leader in expanding drug treatment access and improving addiction awareness, and has publicly triumphed over addiction in his own life.

But, he has voted:

* to make permanent the federal funding ban on syringe exchange,
* to ban Washington DC from spending its own locally raised funds on syringe exchange programs in 2000, and
* against lifting the same DC ban in 2007.

In his platform, President-Elect Obama pledged to lift the funding ban on syringe exchange.

Urge the transition team today to not appoint a drug czar who has voted, time and again, to block access to sterile syringes for HIV prevention.

Posted at 9:51 AM, Dec 02, 2008 in Permalink | View Comments