Fresh Eyes On Sausage-Making
After Monday's heated testimony on the HPV vaccine hubbub, you'd think (at least I thought) Wednesday's meeting of the House Public Health Committee would've been similarly raucous. Lawmakers shaking fists, shouting angrily, even hanging from the rafters. Instead, the 6-3 vote on Rep. Dennis Bonnen's bill to supersede Gov. Perry's HPV mandate for 6th grade girls was like a blip on the radar. If you blinked, you would've missed it.
And then there was AP Reporter Liz Austin Peterson's exclusive story about Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff meeting with aides about the HPV vaccine the same day Merck, its manufacturer, contributed to their boss' campaign. Sent the guv's office on the defensive -- after the jump:
Says Robert Black, Mr. Perry's spokesman, in a quickly crafted statement:
“In their zeal to sensationalize routine policy meetings of the Governors staff, the Associated Press has creatively attempted to create a conspiracy where none exists."
"The facts are these: The governor’s chief of staff, budget director and health care policy staff had a meeting to discuss the possibility of expanding Medicaid and CHIP coverage to correspond with the existing federal Vaccine for Children (VFC) program and the impact this action may have on the state budget. The federal government has provided Texas significant funds for the VFC program. However, any expansion of Medicaid and CHIP would require additional state dollars. No mandate for the HPV vaccine was discussed at any time and the briefing papers made available to the Associated Press demonstrate these facts."
“It is unfortunate that a respected organization like the Associated Press would fabricate a loose configuration of events into an elaborate conspiracy by implying wrongdoing without offering any proof."
“Given the facts, it is apparent that in this case the AP is ‘all hat and no cattle.’”
The guv's ofc has this going for them: It was only $5,000. And Merck folks weren't in the meeting. But I also know that Liz certainly isn't in the ranching business -- she's a top-notch reporter.
Comments
Okay. Point well taken. Our job isn't to dismiss facts and interesting coincidences, but to report them, and then let readers dismiss them.
But the inference of the story is that there was some connection between the gov's chief of staff having a meeting with her lieutenants and a $5,000 contribution given by Merck on the same day. I'm not saying our governors can't be bought. But $5,000? Psshaw. Where's you Texas pride?
Posted by: choppe | February 22, 2007 11:48 AM
Article 1 - BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 28 - SUSPENSION OF LAWS
No power of suspending laws in this State shall be exercised except by the Legislature.
-- not the Governor.
Posted by: Texan | February 23, 2007 4:16 PM
This issue was ALWAYS just a blip on the radar to intelligent people. The screamers are the same who scream at professional wrestling matches, those whose buttons are so easily pushed.
Posted by: Chester | February 24, 2007 10:27 PM