The Nation - News from Nov. 6, 1988

Compromise legislation boosting spending for the AIDS fight, stripped of controversial elements that had tied it up for months, has been signed into law by President Reagan. It increases spending on on AIDS testing, research and education by up to $870 million a year.Although disappointed they were not able to push through provisions guaranteeing confidentiality and anti-discrimination protection, AIDS activists in and out of Congress said a bill expanding spending without breaking new policy ground was better than no bill at all.Fearful of opposition from conservatives, the measure’s chief backers agreed to bring it up as part of an overall health package that skirted the controversial matters. Health professionals maintain that the best way to curb the spread of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus is to do everything possible to encourage people to come forward for testing and counseling.