Uphill Climbs
Texas, one of the states perennially at the bottom in per capita health care spending, just took a global leap. While not quite signed and sealed, the Senate did just approve authorizing $3 billion in bonds over the next 10 years for cancer research. For the first time, Texas is doing a good bit more than just outpacing Mississippi -- it's planning to commit to one of the largest initiatives to cure cancer in the world.
Sen. Jane Nelson just manuevered the proposal, that will require voter approval in November, through a skeptical Senate. Not that they're not all for curing cancer -- well, one or two might be contrarian, but it's pretty safe to say they're all on board -- but $3 billion, and with bonds when we have all that surplus? There are quite a few in the Senate who believe in pay-as-you-go and issuing the bonds will cost taxpayers $1.6 billion to pay off the interest.
What helped is a guy who's charged up a few hills in his lifetime. Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong pushed hard on the bill, met with many lawmakers, rallied supporters and had to make emergency runs back to the Capitol to pump new life into the bill. Tuesday he was there for the three-hour Senate debate.
"I've had some tiring weeks in my life, but this one has been completely tiring," he said.
No yellow jersey yet. The bill returns to the House, where it's already passed, to discuss an added amendment.