Tense Debate as House Shifts HIV Funding to Abstinence

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Seven hours into Tuesday's debate on the House's $210 billion two-year budget, things got first heated and then uncomfortable as state Rep. Stuart Spitzer, R-Kaufman, successfully pushed an amendment to move $3 million from HIV and STD prevention programs to pay for abstinence education.

A line of opponents gathered behind the podium as Spitzer laid out his amendment and proceeded to grill, quiz and challenge the lawmaker on his motives.

"Is it not significant that Texas has the third-highest number of HIV cases in the country?" state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, asked. "Does it bother you to know there are people walking around with HIV, undiagnosed?"

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