During this time of so-called "austerity" measures, the Texas Legislature has gone too far.

Despite several hundred testifying to the human rights, financial, and humanitarian reasons to continue, the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Medicaid voted for a budget that cuts funding for life-saving drugs for new needy HIV patients in Texas.

While those already in the program would continue to receive medications, the Austin American-Statesman is reporting that the Department of Health and Human Services would likely have to severely limit the new patients entering the program - limiting it to only those severely sick, lowering the income guidelines, or closing it to all newcomers.

So what will those newcomers do? Without access to these life-saving drugs subsidized for those who cannot afford the average $6,367 per person cost?

"The natural progression, without any medications, would be that they die," said Dr. David Lakey, the state health commissioner when asked by the Senate committee, according to the Associated Press.

The program cuts, around $23 million, would impact an estimated 2,000 newly-diagnosed Texans per year. The current 14,000 Texans on the program - those who make less than $30,000 per year and cannot afford these life-saving drugs - will remain.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst "vaguely" told the AP that "lifesaving drugs will be included" when the final budget is passed. Sign this petition and let's hold him to that. Tell Lt. Gov. Dewhurst not to priortize a "balanced budget" over the lives of people.