No doubt their investment in the organization Women in Government, who lobby and introduce legislation in states mandating HPV vaccines distributed by Merck, helped deliver those record profits.
(A perspective from the previous State Democratic Party Chair. - promoted by Matt Glazer)
A great deal of heat has been generated in these brisk winter days by Gov. Rick Perry's unilateral executive order that 10- to 11-year-old girls must be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus, or HPV, with a drug called Gardasil, whose sole manufacturer is the German pharmaceutical company Merck.
Like many Texas fathers of young girls, I was taken aback by how cavalierly the nominal head of the state's GOP, the party that claims to believe in personal responsibility and less government interference in our personal lives, had trotted out this controversial proposal. And like many, I had watched Mr. Perry's career closely enough to suspect that private gain rather than public good might have more to do with it.
Some speculate that he hoped to bury the story by releasing it late on a Friday as Super Bowl weekend got underway. Who would pay attention or even remember it by Monday? Known as "the news dump," this is Republicans' preferred method of leaking stories with the least amount of damage to themselves.
But it didn't work out that way, did it? And the religious right Mr. Perry has so assiduously courted was left to wonder if "in God We Trust" has now been replaced by a new state government slogan: "In Merck We Trust."
The will of the state is strong, but our social safety net is weaker than ever. With constant cuts to CHIP, our state dropout rate is near 40%, the cost of tuition steadily increasing, and electricity costs climbing, our desire for a better Texas is hampered by the Republican attempt to "drown government in the tub".
Today our state is strong and resources are plentiful, but our Governor has still required all state agencies to cut their budgets by 10 - 20%. Each percent is one less kid on CHIP, less money for teachers, one more park the Governor tries to sell, or one more aquifer drained.
The legislature has been handcuffed by poor leadership and horrid public policy. The pay to play policies created by the current leaders in Texas Government has gone on to long. The laundry list of insider deals is tragic: Black Gap State Park, Trans-Texas Corridor, the HPV Vaccine.
The solutions are simple. Our legislature and voters have said they want to save our parks. Remove the cap on the sporting goods tax and appropriate the money from the specialty license plates.
Fully restore CHIP. Children's health insurance should not be a political game. Texas should make it easier for families to get on CHIP and restore the cuts this Governor has required.
We don't need to give 80% of the market to one electric company. TXU does not need 11 new plants. With current programs and funding for conservation we can meet our short term goals and spend the interim to figure out a better long term solution. The Governor's fast track means a power monopoly in Texas. If you think bills are high now, wait until the Governor has given you no other choice but TXU.
Texans were promised a check in the mail and dramatic cut in property taxes. Have either happened for the average Texan? We have the ability to do more and still fix the state's education woes. Instead of saving a nickel on property taxes OR fixing our schools, why not solve both problems. There are smart people that have solutions, let's fix the problem.
We have the money and the will to make this state better. We have committed members, agencies, and staffers. The will of the state is strong, but our Governor's policies are not. It is time for leadership not excuses. The State of the State is promising, but only if leadership prevails over corruption and cronyism.
While we can all agree that young girls will benefit greatly from this vaccine, there is also the oh so obvious connection between Perry and Merck, the maker of the drug. But maybe Governor 39% actually did something worthwhile this time. This is the same man who signed an abortion bill and a same sex marriage amendment in a church, so he is no saint in my eyes. But requiring school children to be vaccinated to prevent diseaseis a good thing. Considering HPV affects 20 million people of both sexes in this country, it is a problem that goes unnoticed but not unwatched. With 80% of women acquiring the virus by age 50, the chance of getting cervical cancer is there.
This is actually not the first time that Rick Perry has signed an order regarding vaccination.
