Posted on 05/31/2011 1:18:50 PM PDT by BereanBrain
AUSTIN (AP) -- Gov. Rick Perry ordered Friday that schoolgirls in Texas must be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, making Texas the first state to require the shots.
The girls will have to get Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.
Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass laws in state legislatures across the country mandating it Gardasil vaccine for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.
Details of the order were not immediately available, but the governor's office confirmed to The Associated Press that he was signing the order and he would comment Friday afternoon.
Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.
Toomey was expected to be able to woo conservative legislators concerned about the requirement stepping on parent's rights and about signaling tacit approval of sexual activity to young girls. Delisi, as head of the House public health committee, which likely would have considered legislation filed by a Democratic member, also would have helped ease conservative opposition.
Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.
It wasn't immediately clear how long the order would last and whether the legislation was still necessary. However it could have been difficult to muster support from lawmakers who champion abstinence education and parents' rights.
Perry, a conservative Christian who opposes abortion rights and stem- cell research using embryonic cells, counts on the religious right for his political base.
But he has said the cervical cancer vaccine is no different than the one that protects children against polio.
"If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well being of these individuals to have those vaccines available," he said.
Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons.
Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say mandates take away parents' rights to be the primary medical decision maker for their children.
The federal government approved Gardasil in June, and a government advisory panel has recommended that all girls get the shots at 11 and 12, before they are likely to be sexually active.
The New Jersey-based drug company could generate billions in sales if Gardasil _ at $360 for the three-shot regimen _ were made mandatory across the country. Most insurance companies now cover the vaccine, which has been shown to have no serious side effects.
Merck spokeswoman Janet Skidmore would not say how much the company is spending on lobbyists or how much it has donated to Women in Government. Susan Crosby, the group's president, also declined to specify how much the drug company gave.
A top official from Merck's vaccine division sits on Women in Government's business council, and many of the bills around the country have been introduced by members of Women in Government.
Do you belong to Moveon.org?
It’s not a dead issue because it speaks to Rick’s idea of the ROLE of government, and the WAY he does biz in the “smokey backroom”.
Just wait until he throws his hat in the ring — don’t you imagine this would come out if he were the nominee? Or do you think the liberal press would give good ol’ Rick a pass?
I think not, therefore, Let’s get Rick out of the running before he mucks up the race with someone who can’t stand the scrutiny under the hot, national press spotlight.
head in sand is not a plan......
Have no idea, but I suspect from an early article in 2007 and rehashed title. Listed with no source but AP. I might look in the AP archive to see if I can find it. Intentional Dem misinformation job.
Geez, what kind of brain deformity are you afflicted with? All I said I thought it was a dead issue; because the public fought back the first time it became an issue.
I know exactly who Gov Perry is.
I would suggest before you shoot off your very uninformed mouth; use what little brain function you have.
Oh, and anyone that accuses someone of being on the Lib side right out of the gate is probably on the Lib side.,
I think this is the original article, but the title does not match. It does not appear to be an AP article.
The first few paragraphs are word for word the same as the posted article.
Friday, Feb. 2, 2007 3:57 p.m. EST
“Texas Gov. Mandates Cancer Vaccine for Girls”
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/2/2/155930.shtml?s=ic
Someone is committing fraud. My guess a Dem.
What is the source of your article?
This appears to be the original article from 2007.
First few paragraphs are word for word identical text.
—
Friday, Feb. 2, 2007 3:57 p.m. EST
“Texas Gov. Mandates Cancer Vaccine for Girls”
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/2/2/155930.shtml?s=ic
Someone is committing fraud. My guess a Dem.
You can easily go back on FR and see my posts over years have been conservative.
Just because I am a dyed in the wool conservative does NOT mean I support CROOKS.
We have them, they have them.....The difference is, we DON’T RELECT ours after they show their true colors.
Did you intentionally copy the 2 articles and post them here with new titles and no source but listed as “Campaign News”????
If you did, you are on very shaky ground.
They are articles originally from Dallas Morning News, and other widely reported across the state.
What is news is that Rick is now making noises about running.
Let’s not play into the opponent’s hand by letting poor candidates run.
It was posted in the correct venue, but an excerpt and link would have been proper form.
I guess you are right, it’s not news that Rick Perry is slimey.
Your first mistake was assuming I supported anyone.
Second mistake was calling me a lib in so many words.
You should really think before you start opening your yap.
First of all, there was an opt out clause in the original exeutive order. It was never in reality “mandatory.” My son and his wife have opted my grandkids (ages 15 and 16) out of ALL vaccinations here in Texas, and have attended public and private schools here. It is always the parent’s choice, and Perry even stated that in an interview, saying parents would have the final word and they could opt their children out for religious, scientific, or any other reason - the final decision rested with the parents. So much hysteria about something that happened 4 years ago. But the lies continue. And I am a conservative, and I did not approve of what Perry wanted to do, but I knew it was not really mandatory, either.
Perry’s ties with Merck are fair game, but the hysteria over a “mandatory” vaccine that was never mandatory in reality is just silly. Once again two of my grandkids have NEVER received any vaccinations in their entire lives as their parents opted them out for religious reasons, and they have attended both public and private schools here in Texas.
So you support someone who want to increase state control over for example, vaccinations required of students (for other than religious reasons)?
Isn’t that a “big government” position?
Just asking...
Good sleuthing!
It also was posted on FR when it was first published in 2007. The thread got over 700 hits. The source is the Houston Chronicle and it carries an AP byline....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1778223/posts
At the time, many freepers lambasted Perry, while a few pointed out the opt-out provision.
A lot of people on FR and many in Texas do not like “Governor Rick”. But as far as I can tell the 3 bonehead moves he has made were: supporting Giuliani for President, promoting the Gardisil vaccine and supporting the Trans Texas Corridor.
Past that he has done a pretty good job as governor.
I have never met him, but he is from Haskell County, where I live and where my family has lived since the 1880’s.
I know his parents and was a delegate at the Texas Republican Convention the year he was elected to governor on his own for the first time.
My daughter and son-in-law know Rick and have been to many functions that he attended. They live near, not in, Austin.
I have no issue with people bringing forward valid criticism of any office holder or POL. But if they distort the information presented that is a whole other issue.
I have hated cheap political shots since I saw the little girl picking the daisy with the nuke going off in the background during the Goldwater campaign. (Bill Moyer’s cheap shot)
When my pediatricians office listed this as one of the vaccines needed/suggested for school, I said: “NO WAY” and listed the reasons why to the nurse. She hadn’t heard of the deadly side effects.
If they were to make this state law in AZ, I would refuse.
I live in Pennsylvania, so my interest in Rick Perry has started recently with the presidential candidacy speculation.
I’ve posted a couple of articles about it and done a little research on his position on issues. So far he seems to be a relatively conservative politician who has a long track record in Texas. In that time he’s gotten a few things wrong, particularly the ones you mention.
I was reminded in something I read yesterday of the saying “The perfect is the enemy of the good”. From what I know so far, Perry has been a pretty good governor and stacks up just fine against the current Republican presidential wannabes. I would argue that he has a solid Texas success story to tell that could dwarf his competition and rock Obama back on his heels, if smartly packaged and promoted.
I know what you mean about cheap political shots, I don’t like them either. I’ve noticed that Perry critics on most every thread I’ve seen can be quite passionate, some to the point of abrasive personal attacks on other freepers. They do their cause no good with such behavior.
Yep, makes some of us suspicious they might support the enemy.
And amid all this speculation about Rick Perry, I don’t think he will run.
He is in a pretty good position where he is and I think he likes being Governor. He would certainly be out of place among the Libs in DC.
and now we have a bill that Perry probably will sign, that make it a 250$ fine for texting while driving.
Nanny-State anyone?
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