Vitter wants to kill bill for AIDS, TB, malaria.

Senator Vitter Threatens Crucial AIDS Bill - MarketWatch

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Millions of lives are at stake today as the Senate prepares to vote on crucial global AIDS, TB and malaria legislation (S. 2731). The debate on the Senate floor is expected to begin this afternoon, and this is the last chance for the bill to be approved this year.
President Bush has publicly called for the passage of the bill, and it enjoys broad support, including from Senators McCain and Obama and from the Catholic Church and other religious groups. But, several Republican Senators are proposing poison-pill amendments that would subvert the bill's intent or even lead to the bill's defeat.
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) plans to use a technicality that would kill the legislation unless it is overcome by 60 votes. He plans to raise a budget point of order, which arises from a provision in the bill which would end a prohibition on HIV-positive persons from permanently entering the U.S. or obtaining legal permanent residency.
Ending the prohibition has a modest cost not covered by the budget resolution, but the bill includes an offset that will balance out any anticipated costs.
"Senator Vitter wants to keep in place a restriction that is antiquated, draconian and discriminatory," said Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. "Will the Senate opt to maintain this cruel and inhumane restriction? Let's hope not."