As most of you know, the Homeland Security Bill was held up momentarily by Democrats resistance to seven amendments having little or no bearing on the issue.
One such had the effect of ensuring that a major drug manufacturer would not have to face potentially damaging suits for one of its products. The product, thermisol, is a preservative once commonly used in children’s vaccines. Several parents allege that the use of thermisol is the cause of thier childrens autism, and are seeking damages. Please note: yours truly has no desire whatever to argue whether or not thermisol causes autism.
Another amendment allows the Homeland Dept. to contract with any company, and exempts it from compliance with the Wellstone Amendment (which forbade government contracts with companys who move offshore to avoid taxes.)
According to several news reports I have read, these motions carry no fingerprints: they are not the Daschle Amendment, the Lott Codicil, any such thing. It would appear as though these arrived from out of a fog onto the floor of the Senate.
"There’s a real bad smell here. Eli Lilly will benefit greatly as both class-action and individual lawsuits are derailed. But there are no fingerprints in sight. No one will own up to a legislative deed that is both cynical and shameful.
An official spokesman for Eli Lilly, Edward Sagebiel, insists the company knew nothing about it, nothing at all."
Bob Herbert, New York Times
Right. Sure. Uh huh.
The issue of thermisol is unconclusive, its accusers have not made a convincing case, as far as I can see. OTOH, what kind of legislation is it that cuts off the proceedings in advance. As unlikely as it seems now, what if such proof is provided. (Something like “Hey, Ed! We’re turning babies into Rain Kid, but we’re making a bundle! See you at the 1st tee. Fred.”)
Further reading asserts that the Dems caved with a promise from Mr. Lott that they’d take it back later.
No doubt someone can see this as being something other than a payoff to Eli Lilly. Not this little black duck! You gotta be kidding.
Bad enough. But the Wellstone Amendment to bar companies who move offshore to avoid taxes from Federal contracts. Who dares be opposed to such a measure! Apparently, nobody. It also arrived by phantom committee, and arrives out of nowhere, ex nihilo.
Now, I am widely known for my independent thinking, my non-partisanship is frequently offered as an example to others. By myself, mostly, but that’s hardly the point. When I heard of these things, it took all of 4 hundreths of a second to think “Republican!” and look for the names.
And there are none. Nobody to point a finger at, these miraculous pieces of legislative ledgerdemain just appeared wearing the ruby slippers.
Am I the only person here who finds this utterly outrageous?! And completely, unreservedly unacceptable!
