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Palin is misinformed.

Here's some background on how Perry came to sign the order in furtherance of the legislature's priorities, rather than crony capitalism as Bachmann and now Palin insinuate…

In 2005 as part of a larger effort against cancers, the Texas legislature set a priority to eliminate cervical cancer mortality by 2015 (HB 2475). It directed the state health agency to produce a report and deliver it to the governor by the end of 2006. It did so and that report concluded the vaccine Gardasil made the goal attainable. 47 page report (Acrobat PDF)

Perry signed the order in 2007 protecting parental rights with an opt-out clause while ensuring insurance, Medicaid and other programs would cover the expensive vaccine while an opt-in would not.

He attempted to balance protection of personal liberty with attaining the legislature's public health goals.

Noteworthy quotes from the above documents:

HB 2475 said, "This bill requires the Department of State Health Services to develop a strategic plan to eliminate mortality from cervical cancer by the year 2015…" "The strategic plan must be developed and delivered to the governor and legislature no later than December 31, 2006."

A 47 page report (Acrobat PDF) called "Texas Cervical Cancer Strategic Plan," December 2006, by Texas Department of State Health Services in collaboration with The Texas Cancer Council was delivered.

Page 8, "Executive summary" Armed with this new HPV vaccine, we can achieve the moment when we know our goal — eliminating cervical cancer death and suffering — is in reach.

Page 20, "Access to Care" - "Women must have access to cervical cancer screening to eliminate cervical cancer in Texas. The National Cancer Institute reports that groups of women with high cervical cancer mortality:...

Tend not to have a usual source of health care, such as a family physician;
Have low income and education levels;
Are less likely to participate in regular cancer screenings and receive other preventive

… "Widespread vaccination is a key to reducing cervical cancer incidence in Texas"

In 2005 as part of a larger effort against cancers, the Texas legislature set a priority to eliminate cervical cancer mortality by 2015 (HB 2475). It directed the state health agency to produce a report and deliver it to the governor by the end of 2006. It did so and that report concluded the vaccine Gardasil made the goal attainable. 47 page report (Acrobat PDF)

And of course, this report said that he should bypass the legislature completely by mandating a vaccine by executive order, right? I mean, it's for the children, right?

Perry signed the order in 2007 protecting parental rights with an opt-out clause while ensuring insurance, Medicaid and other programs would cover the expensive vaccine while an opt-in would not.

I DEFY ANYONE to show how Rick Perry got the Texas Legislature, the Department of State Health, The Texas Cancer Counsel and all these people listed in the report to go along with corrupt "crony capitalist" or "quid pro quo" scheme for Merck's benefit in exchange for $5,000 in campaign donations:

The Department of State Health Services and the Texas Cancer Council would like to extend thanks to the many individuals and organizations that generously contributed their time, expertise and skill in the research and development of this document. Steering Committee Mary Lou Adams, Ph.D., R.N., University of Texas Austin School of Nursing Matthew Anderson, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine Patrice Capan, R.N.C., C.N.S. – C.H., Family Health Care Janice Chilton, C.H.E.S., University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Angie Colbert, M.H.E., American Cancer Society Concepcion Diaz-Arrastia, M.D., University of Texas Medical Branch Joel Dunnington, M. D., University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Maria Fernandez, Ph.D., University of Texas School of Public Health Martha Figueroa-Zuniga, B.A., M.P.A., South Texas Family Planning & Health Corp. Dixie Fortune, R.N., Family Care Center Lewis Foxhall, M.D., University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Ann Giddens, B.S., B.A., YWCA of Abilene Edward Hannigan, M.D., University of Texas Medical Branch Veronica Howard, R.N., M.S.N., O.C.N., C.W.H.C.N.P., Pecos Co. Memorial Hospital Lovell Jones, Ph.D., University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Gay Lindsey, M.S.N., R.N., O.C.N., Nurse Oncology Education Program Darlene Menn, R.N., A.P.M.W.H., South Texas Family Planning & Health Corp. Beatrice Nealy, R.N., L.M.S.N., John Peter Smith Center for Cancer Care Lynne Nguyen, M.P.H., National Cancer Institute Nancy Offill-Anthony, R.N., San Antonio Metro Health District Lois Ramondetta, M.D., University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Carol Rice, Ph.D., R.N., Texas Cooperative Extension Sister Mary Strauch, C.H.E., University of Texas Medical Branch Armin Weinberg, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine Work Group Members Erica Brumleve, Glaxco Smith-Kline Evelyn Busby, L.V.N., Family Care Center Dan Bustillos, Baylor College of Medicine Linda Byers, R.N., A.P.N. - C.W.H.C.N.P., Community Action Inc. of Hays, Caldwell & Blanco Counties Carmen Castro, Ph.D., Consumer Blanca Cavazos, B.S.W. Planned Parenthood of Cameron & Willacy Counties Mariam Chacko, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine Rose Grabow, R.N., B.S.N., San Antonio Metro Health District Dat Dao, Houston Advanced Research Center Sandy Doughton, M.S., B.A. Family Planning Associates of San Antonio 2 Sandra Garcia, B.S., Baylor College of Medicine Chronic Disease Prevention Alicia Gonzales, M.S.S.W., National Center for Farmworker Health Holly Jacques, Merck Pharmaceuticals Pat Morales, B.A., Cancer & Chronic Disease Consortium Mike Rush, Merck Pharmaceuticals Monica Saavedra, C.H.E.S., National Center for Farmworker Health Carla Strom, M.L.A., University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Susan Studebaker, R.N.C., W.H.C.N.P., C.H.E.S., Galveston County Health District Claudia Werner, M. D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Linda Wiede, R.N., W.H.N.P., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Department of State Health Services Staff Paul Betts Lisa Betterson, B.P.H. Casey Blass Robert Bredt, M.D. Becky Brownlee Isa Covio, M.S.S.W., M. Ed. Evelyn Delgado, Assistant Commissioner, Family and Community Health Services Division Claudia Himes-Crayton, R.N. Phil Huang, M.D. Cindy Jones, Ph.D., R.N. Tricia Jones Micki Kirkwood Janet Lawson, M.D. Margaret C. Méndez Patricia Palm, R.N. Kim Roberts Marcia Sims, R.N., M.S.M., C.N.S. Alison Smith Julie Stagg, R.N. Gregor Stransky, M.D. Nancy Weiss, Ph.D. Melanie Williams, Ph.D. Cherilyn Young, Ph.D. Texas Cancer Council Staff Sandra Balderrama, M.P.A., B.S., Executive Director Stephanie Uecker, Coalition Coordinator

Apologies, the report links were mangled, here's the correct link: A 47 page report (Acrobat PDF) called "Texas Cervical Cancer Strategic Plan," December 2006, by Texas Department of State Health Services in collaboration with The Texas Cancer Council was delivered.

Seems as though Merck was funneling money through a group called Women in Government to politicians all over the country.

BTW, Rep Dianne White Delisi, the sponsor of HB 2475’s mother-in-law was chief of staff for none other than Rick Perry at the time. She was also state director for...

...YOU GUESSED IT! Women in Government!!

Yeah, there’s no scandal here. NO SIR!!! LOLOL!

The ‘Texas Cervical Cancer Strategic Plan’ is worse than a bad joke. It is not based on sound science nor objective interpretation of the empirical data.

It is an attempt to use the power of government to force the use of a provably harmful agent. The use of vaccines cannot even be put in the ‘questionable’ column; they have been shown to be ineffective for their intended purpose, and riddled with deadly “side effects” that are far more effective than the claimed intended effect.

And you call Palin “misinformed;” start informing yourself!