AIDS Study Group Donates $50,000 to Fight Prop. 102

The American Foundation for AIDS Research is donating $50,000 to defeat Proposition 102, underscoring the fears of scientists that the measure would seriously hurt their ability to control, and ultimately cure, the fatal syndrome.

The research foundation’s foray into California politics highlights the group’s concern that Proposition 102 would kick off a trend toward sweepingly restrictive AIDS legislation.

The measure would require doctors and others to report to health authorities the names of patients they know or “reasonably believe” to be infected with the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus. California law already requires reporting the names of patients with AIDS. The measure also would eliminate restrictions forbidding the use of HIV test results by employers or insurers.

“It bothers me no end that money and energy that could be devoted to research, education and care must be spent to defeat this retrogressive legislation,” said Dr. Mervyn Silverman, foundation president. “But we have little choice.”

“If 102 passes, we fear there will be a domino effect across the nation,” said Dr. Joel D. Weisman, a Sherman Oaks physician and researcher who serves as chairman of the foundation’s board. “The confidential doctor-patient privilege would be rendered null and void. . . . It would turn physicians into policemen and discourage patients from participating in research projects.”

Foundation Executive Director Scott Tilden said the nonprofit charitable organization’s legal counsel scrutinized Internal Revenue Service regulations to make certain that the political contribution does not imperil the foundation’s tax-exempt status.

IRS spokesman Frank Keith declined comment on the specifics of American Foundation’s contribution. He noted, however, that tax-exempt organizations may spend money for political lobbying as long as their expenditures represent an “insubstantial” part of their total budgets. The foundation’s contribution is less than half of 1% of its 1988 budget, Tilden said.

Dana Van Gorder, Northern California coordinator for Californians Against Proposition 102, said American Foundation’s contribution “sends an important signal and makes a major difference in our ability to conduct a serious radio campaign.” The foundation’s gift represents a bit less than 10% of the campaign’s receipts to date.

In Los Angeles, Jewish, Roman Catholic and Episcopal leaders spoke out against Proposition 102.

Rabbi Allen I. Freehling said that in addition to the nearly $2 billion that the proposition would cost to implement, “the possibilities of a police state will be very real.”

Father Brad Dusak of St. Mathews Catholic Church in Long Beach, representing Archbishop Roger M. Mahony, called the proposition “morally flawed as well as unsound from a public health perspective.”

The Right Rev. Oliver B. Garver Jr., suffragan (associate) bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, called Proposition 102 “deceptive, dangerous and diabolical.”

The latest Teichner poll, released Oct. 9, showed Proposition 102 ahead, 36% to 27%, although 37% of those surveyed were undecided. Teichner’s sounding from a month earlier had found 47% in favor of the measure, indicating that the measure’s opponents--which include leading California corporations and the California Medical Assn.--are beginning to get their message across.

Proposition 102’s backers, who include Rep. William Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) and anti-tax crusader Paul Gann, who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion, had little comment on the foundation’s gift. “I don’t know anything about (the foundation),” said Ted Costa, Gann’s principal assistant.

“It’s the usual crowd,” said Paul Mero, Dannemeyer’s press secretary, referring to the foundation’s board of directors. “They are all in bed together, so to speak.”