Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990 TAG: 9005150530
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Helms, R-N.C., acknowledged Monday that his lonely objection was futile and that the Senate would ultimately approve the two-year spending authorization.
But he charged the bill was a result of AIDS "hysteria" and neglects the "role immorality has played in this crisis."
"I've never heard once in this chamber anybody say to the homosexuals, `Stop what you're doing,' " Helms said. "If they would stop what they're doing there would not be one additional case of AIDS in the United States."
Opening debate Monday pitted Helms against a fellow conservative Republican, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah.
Hatch disputed Helms' assertion that ending homosexual behavior would halt the disease, saying the AIDS-causing virus continues to be transmitted through other means.
"It is foolish to say it just all comes because of high-risk homosexual conduct," he said.
Hatch said the lifestyles of AIDS sufferers shouldn't matter and cited federal estimates that as many as 1 million to 1.5 million people may be infected with the virus, including as many as 25,000 children.
"Are we going to hold it against these children because their mothers are [intravenous] drug users?" Hatch asked.
"This is a bill to try to alleviate pain and suffering," he said.
In a speech and an exchange with Hatch on the Senate floor, Helms charged that homosexual activity was to blame for the disease and called the bill "another legislative flagship for the militant homosexual" lobby. He said money for research into cancer and other diseases was "drying up" while spending increased for AIDS.
The Senate planned to take up the measure again today and hold a procedural vote to limit debate.
by CNB