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Heard on the Hill: Bono and Durbin Talk Spending

Even Bono has something to say about the continuing resolution.

While Democrats and Republicans have been sparring for weeks over the bill that funds the government, the Irish rock star and activist got in on the action Tuesday. The U2 front man chatted on the phone with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) about how cuts attached to the bill would damage health initiatives around the world.

The CR passed by the House proposes $450 million in cuts to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. If enacted, it would affect thousands of HIV-positive pregnant women who are provided drugs through the fund that help to prevent transmission of the disease to their children.

Bono’s One Campaign, which works to increase government funding for international aid programs, is collecting signatures to petition the Senate not to cut “proven programs that fight HIV/AIDS, hunger and preventable disease in this year’s budget.”

This was not the first time Durbin and Bono have worked together on global health. In fact, the pair go way back.

“Durbin and Bono have met several times before … and in general they have a good working relationship,” a tipster says. “Once Bono even let Durbin pose for a photo with his iconic sunglasses.”

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