Senate Majority Project

Moving

2005-12-20T18:25:00.000-05:00

Blogspot is great (and the price is right), but we can now be found here:

www.senatemajority.com

starting

right

now...

link to the feed here:

http://www.senatemajority.com/atom.xml

Another RNC Must Read... (Between the Lines)

2005-12-20T17:05:00.000-05:00

RNC’s Favorite Editorial Board Backed Review of Wiretaps

Scratching for anybody to back President Bush’s unilateral secret order to tap Americans’ phone calls, the RNC pointed to a Wall Street Journal editorial entitled (not making this up) “Thank you for Wiretapping.” That the Journal supported the Bush position, and largely echoed his arguements, is not surprising. What is surprising is the degree to which it did at the expense of its own editorial integrity.

In a 2002 editorial headlined “No License to Spy” the Journal editorial board wrote: “We consider ourselves civil libertarians, as wary as anyone of government power,” then went on to explain that the critics of the Patriot Act were “over the top” because,

“FBI agents will not suddenly be able to snoop into American bedrooms. U.S. officials who want a wiretap warrant under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will still have to convince a court that there is probable cause to believe the target is an agent of a foreign power or terrorist organization.” [No License to Spy, 20 November 2002]

We now know that this isn’t true. President Bush, with the flimsiest legal justification, ordered wiretaps without the FISA review in which the Journal recently placed so much faith.

The Journal explained away Bush’s actions much the same way the president did yesterday -- by pointing to the war on terror. The paper has frequently argued for broad presidential power (at least when it does not affect corporations). However, it has also repeatedly argued for oversight of the power. Only days after 9-11, the Journal editorial pages again announced, “We count ourselves as stalwart civil libertarians,” and explained its support for greater cooperation between agencies saying,

“The best way to reassure people is to ensure our intelligence and law enforcement agencies at some point make their case to some outside authority. That means defining who they are targeting as well as paying more attention to the specifics of accountability. … And we have no objection to putting a sunset provision on any expanded powers, so they can be reviewed by Congress to see if they've been abused.” [Taking Liberties 25 September 2001]

Amazingly the Journal’s editorial position was more suspicious of presidential powers against terrorism when the rubble of the World Trade Center was literaly still settling just blocks away from the paper’s New York headquarters than it is today. Given a chance to draw the line it has so often drawn before, an editorial board which recently proclaimed that “Every free society needs civil-libertarian watchdogs” offered little more than weak apologies.

The most troubling aspect of the Bush orders is the shameless and brazen nature used to exploit presidential power. Bush even claimed that his own judgment and oath of office is enough to check what he appears to see as virtually unlimited power. The Journal editorial board, civil libertarians all, have rolled over and thanked him for it.

Military Brass Ask Senate to Pull ANWR

2005-12-20T14:37:00.000-05:00

Senate Republicans Jeopardize Resources for Troops and Families

Yesterday, Sen. John Kerry released a letter from five top retired Generals and a retired Navy Admiral urging Senators Frist and Reid not to let Sen. Ted Stevens get away with his latest scheme to open the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to drilling.

Stevens has attached his drilling plan to the otherwise noncontroversial Defense funding bill in open violation of the Senate Rules, a move that bogged down its passage and could postpone final action sending the much-needed funding bill to President Bush’s desk until after the first of the year.

In the letter, Generals John M. Shalikashvili, Joseph Hoar, Anthony Zinni, Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn and Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney urge Congress to

“finish its work and provide them the resources they need to do their job. … It is not helpful to attach such a controversial non-defense legislative issue to a defense appropriations bill. It only invites delay for our troops.”

ANWR would not produce a single drop of oil for 7 years. Troops and families need resources today. The choice would seem clear, but clearly not for Ted Stevens.

Download the letter here (pdf)

Freedom Isnt Free

2005-12-19T16:56:00.000-05:00

Spin, However, Comes Cheap at the RNC

A release from the Republican National Committee hot off the wire touts a Freedom House Survey, pronouncing 2005 a “success.” The actual report, however, is much less rosy, particularly when it comes to the Administrations chief concern of the moment, Iraq.

To begin with, here’s how the group’s research director characterized what the RNC determined was a “successful year.”

"Among other things, the past year has been notable for terrorist violence, ethnic cleansing, civil conflict, catastrophic natural disasters, and geopolitical polarization. That freedom could thrive in this environment is impressive."

You can almost hear the corks popping.

Meanwhile, the group determined that Iraq merited no improvement in its rating over the past year. In fact, Freedom House issued chilling cautions that whatever small gains occurred could be easily lost. And Freedom House earlier expressed reservations about the Iraqi constitution even calling the effort a “waste:”

Freedom House is very concerned that the emerging constitution will seriously undermine the prospects for democracy and the safeguarding of human rights in the new Iraq. After all the American blood and treasure that has been expended to bring freedom to Iraq, it would be worse than a shame if the new constitution were to enshrine the triumphalist vision of a minority within a particular sect, rather than reflect a national consensus on a democratic framework; it will have been a waste.

Of the gains in Iraq over the last year, the group seemed to express some skepticism that the presence of American troops was helpful to the process, and whatever gains occurred could be fleeting:

Indeed, some have argued that the rise in anti- American sentiment has tarnished the democratic idea in the minds of ordinary Arabs, although several of their countries have taken steps towards expanded freedom.

It is also clear that some of the gains noted in this year’s survey are fragile and could be reversed in the future. Gains made in Iraq could be wiped out if the current level of violence escalates into outright civil conflict among Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds.

And the big successes touted by Bush are represented by Freedom House as “small gains” in “modestly successful” elections.

In addition, Freedom House has spoken out strongly against the Bush Administration’s own growing involvement in torture:

Among others opposing American involvement in torture are the American Civil Liberties Union, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, members of the 9-11 Commission itself, the American Bar Association, Human Rights First, Freedom House, and Amnesty International. A joint statement signed by some of these groups emphasizes that the torture provisions "undermine the credibility of U.S. efforts to promote human rights and democracy in the Arab world, which President Bush has identified as a key element in the Administration's long-term strategy to combat terrorism . . . "

Advances in Democracy should be welcomed, but clearly the Mission is not quite Accomplished.

Frist Surrenders … to the French

2005-12-19T16:09:00.000-05:00

Do You Want Fries With That Tax Break?

Today the New York Times reported about the Budget Cuts Senate leaders have agreed to in order to make room for $100 billion in tax cuts. The cornerstone of the remaining appropriations bill is the Defense bill funding, among other things, equipment and benefits for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, this bill has become the Christmas tree that others are looking to hang pet provisions having nothing to do with defense in hopes that opponents would cringe at opposing a bill funding troops during wartime. Sen. Bill Frist decided to use this bill to ram through his misguided plan to let drug makers off the hook for producing vaccines that cause serious side effects, even death.

One of the last items added to the military spending bill was a provision sought by Mr. Frist that would shield drug makers from lawsuits related to vaccines that protect against biological agents or viruses like the one that causes the avian flu. The language would allow lawsuits against vaccine makers only if they engaged in "willful misconduct." The government would pay medical expenses and benefits to those injured or killed by vaccines.

Mr. Frist contends that the provision is necessary to encourage drug companies to make vaccines. But it is likely to draw criticism, with some arguing that it would be a windfall for those companies.

Likely to draw criticism … In fact it already has.

Among other things the Frist plan would remove practically all economic incentive to fully test and protect against side effects that could cause even more serious illness or deaths, especially in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. Supporters say that its necessary to encourage drug makers to manufacture vaccines for the avian flu.

The trouble with that argument is that a French vaccine maker recently signed a $100 million contract with the U.S. government to produce an avian flu vaccine…without any additional liability protections. And, this contract was fifth pandemic-related agreement that the company has entered into with the U.S. government since May 2004.

Maybe they were late getting Frist’s memo while it was being translated into French, because after signing the deal, the company’s spokesperson said,

"Full liability protection is a requirement for our participation in the development and production of a pandemic vaccine,’ said Len Lavenda, spokesman for Sanofi Pasteur.” [Washington Post, 11/17/05]

Or maybe the businesses making vaccines know that they can make a profit off the expanding vaccine market without the deal that Frist and the drug company lobbyists are ramming through on the back of the defense funding bill. In fact, industry analysts expect the market for new vaccines to expand dramatically in the next few years. Companies including Merck, Wyeth, GlaxoSmith Kline, and Novartis have all announced large investments in expanding their vaccine manufacturing capabilities … all without the sweetheart deal that Frist is pushing through.

Face Time With Karl Rove...

2005-12-19T15:28:00.000-05:00

If you could spend time with Karl Rove, isn't this what you'd do ... more or less...?

http://www.foxnews.com/photo_essay/photoessay_745_images/04.jpg

Frist Charity Under Scrutiny

2005-12-17T20:36:00.000-05:00

The Associated Press breaks another big story on Sen. Bill Frist. This time the AP finds that Frist's charity, dedicated to helping fight AIDS, also has helped his political staff and their families and conservative Republican activists Frist is courting for his presidential race.

This is Bull****

2005-12-16T13:00:00.000-05:00

Maybe President Bush Knows Why

verbatim:

"After 25 years of serving as a CNN commentator and program host, our colleague Bob Novak's tenure on the network will come to a close (effective 12/31). Through the years, Bob has offered incisive analysis for much of CNN's programming, including Crossfire, The Capital Gang, Inside Politics, Evans and Novak, The Novak Zone, and Novak, Hunt and Shields. Bob has also been a valued contributor to CNN's political coverage. We appreciate his many contributions and wish him well in future endeavors," said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S.

And proving that with Bob Novak, you’ll often be upset, but never surprised….

Novak leaves CNN after 25 years to join Fox

Frivolous Lott-igation

2005-12-16T12:38:00.000-05:00

Do As I Say, Not As I Sue

After fighting to limit your ability to sue your insurance company, Katrina victim Sen. Trent Lott files a lawsuit against his ...

According to the Wall Street Journal, Senator Trent Lott is suing his insurance company, State Farm Insurance, after it refused to pay for the damage to the Senator's beachfront Pascagoula home, which was leveled by Hurricane Katrina. But not too long ago, Lott was leading a fight to limit Americans' ability to sue their health insurance company:

"It's sue, sue, sue... That's not the answer."

Republicans deplore the focus on litigation. 'It's sue, sue, sue,' said Trent Lott of Mississippi, the Senate Republican leader. 'That's not the answer.'” [The New York Times, 8/4/2001]

"You have a problem with HMOs, file a lawsuit. We don't think that's the answer."

"… the answer is not lawsuits. … You have a problem with HMOs, file a lawsuit. We don't think that's the answer. … You know, do lawsuits, you know, really prove anything in America? I'm a lawyer, but we are a society that has gotten to where we look to a lawsuit first. I think we should look for solutions, not add more costs." [Meet the Press, 7/11/1999]

Lawsuits Aren't "Necessary" to Get "Help and Answers"

"Do they want results or do they want lawsuits? Now, I think the answer should be found in the operating room, not in the courtroom. … When people are asked, "Do you think you have the right to sue?" Well, they -- you know, well, yes, probably yes…. [Democrats’] answer is always more government and more lawsuits for their plaintiffs' lawyers' buddies." [Fox News Sunday, 7/19/1998]

Lott Says Lawsuits Have Forced 44 Insurance Companies Out of Mississippi

"Lott said Sunday that frivolous lawsuits and unlimited damages have forced 44 insurance companies out of his home state of Mississippi 'because it has become just a personal injury lawyers' bonanza.'" [Associated Press, 6/24/2001

UPDATE:

Not surprisingly, there are enough hypocritical Trent Lott quotes to fill several posts ... Sirota has more …

Sen. Stevens White Whale

2005-12-15T15:26:00.000-05:00

"We All See It. That Don't Make it Real."

In yet another sign that he creeping off the deep end, Senator Ted Stevens announced that House and Senate appropriators agreed to attach his long anticipated measure of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the Defense Appropriations bill. []

Yesterday Stevens attempted to attach ANWR drilling to the hurricane relief package stating, “It’s going to be awfully hard to vote against Katrina [disaster assistance]. . . . If it’s in there, then maybe those disaster people — area people — will vote with me on ANWR.” (CQ Today, 12/14/05)

By pitting Gulf coast victims against troops in Iraq, the Senator may finally have his wish of drilling in ANWR, however his behavior in the matter did not go unnoticed. “Like Ahab, certain Republicans are so dedicated to a lost cause that they have lost their reason in the process,” said Democrat Ed Markey (D-MA) who warned that adding ANWR to the Defense appropriations bill would slow down the approval of funding for the troops. “Let us hope that those who captain the Senate will turn this ship around before it founders on a filibuster.”

Perhaps if by some miracle (‘tis the season) the Senator doesn’t get his wish, and we have an open and honest debate about ANWR without holding desperately needed funds hostage, Stevens will finally keep his promise to resign.

"Those Disaster People"

2005-12-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

“It’s going to be awfully hard to vote against Katrina [disaster assistance]. . . . If it’s in there, then maybe those disaster people — area people — will vote with me on ANWR,”

Sen. Ted Stevens, CQ Today, 12/15/2005

Hurricane Ted Aims For Louisiana

2005-12-14T17:26:00.000-05:00

Stevens Holds Katrina Victims Hostage to ANWR

According to Congressional Quarterly, Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), realizing moderates in his party have slowly come to their senses about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), has now held the Hurricane Relief package hostage by adding ANWR language to it.

Sounding like a man whose perspective is slipping, Stevens said, “It’s going to be awfully hard to vote against [hurricane aid],” Stevens said. “If it’s in there, maybe people will vote with me on ANWR.”

It doesn’t stop there

Stevens has also threatened to hold up the Defense Appropriations measure on this issue as well, stating that bill could also be a vehicle to push ANWR drilling.

Maybe if he doesn’t get his way this time he actually will quit.

Home for the Holidays

2005-12-13T12:40:00.000-05:00

Maybe Dole Thinks It’s Comfier in the Watergate?

According to government records, Sen. Elizabeth Dole may not be the biggest fan of North Carolina. Document revealed Dole made only one official trip to North Carolina this past summer. Dole’s office claimed the records were incomplete, stating that she actually has made FOUR more official trips to her home state, and that those trips weren’t processed yet.

Perhaps realizing how ridiculous it is to argue five trips to a home state as close to Washington D.C. as North Carolina is nothing short of neglect, Dole’s spokeswoman later added in the piece that the Senator has visited the state at least every month since her election. Much better spin, however let’s review some history.

During her 2002 Senate campaign, it was reported that Dole hadn’t lived in North Carolina for over 40 years, living in fact in the Washington, DC landmark, the Watergate Hotel. (Washington Post, 10/7/02). Until Jesse Helms announced he would retire from the Senate in July 2001, Dole was registered in Kansas, the state that elected her husband to the Senate.

According Rowan County records, Dole purchased her North Carolina home in 2001 the day after Christmas, perhaps realizing she needed a residence to actually run for Senate. However, a county recording from this past July still listed Dole’s residence as the Watergate.

That didn’t stop the Doles from sending out Christmas Cards in 2001 which said "From our home to yours." Dole’s spokesperson that year said that the Doles owned the Salisbury home. We now know they didn’t purchase it until after Christmas.

Wonder where the Christmas cards are coming from this year.

The Vision Thing

2005-12-12T17:18:00.000-05:00

More Fuzziness on Frist’s Not-So-Blind Trusts

Making an appearance Fox News this past Sunday, Senator Bill Frist defended his role in the sale of HCA stock held in a “blind trust” in his name. Frist stated he ordered the sale of HCA stock from his blind trust to make sure there was “no appearance of whatsoever of a conflict of interest.” And further claimed,

“For the last 10 years or 11 years, I have no idea, no earthly idea, at any point in time how much stock of anything, not just that particular stock, but all of the stocks that I’ve owned in the past.

If that were true, it would all certainly clear the Senator’s name. But then the SEC wouldn’t have those pesky investigations.

The Associated Press reported that in December 2002, the trustee of the senator's supposedly blind trust told Frist that HCA stock valued at $15,000 and $50,000 was added to the trust. Two weeks later, Frist made nearly identical statements denying any knowledge of HCA stock in his blind trust.

At least twice earlier in 2002, Frist was told that his “blind” trusts contained HCA stock. First in May, when Frist was told that HCA stock valued at $500,000 and $1 million was moved to one of his trusts and HCA stock valued at $250,000 to $500,000 was moved to another. It is hard to reach any other conclusion than Frist owned a lot of HCA … blind trust or no. Later, on Nov. 20, 2002, the trustee wrote Frist that 14,781 shares of HCA were sold, along with three other investments.

On top of this, from 1994 until 2002, Frist had a substantial amount of HCA stock in a company called Bowling Avenue Partners, an LLP that was outside of his senate approved blind trust.

Its one thing to misspeak a few times about how much stock Frist owned -- though “none” typically means a number closer to zero than $1 million worth -- but Frist also stated HCA was not run by his family.

HCA co-founders included Sen. Frist’s father and brother. His brother, Thomas F. Frist Jr., was Chair and CEO as recently as 2001, and stepped down as chairman and CEO of HCA after a nine year investigation by the Justice Department into alleged Medicare cost-reporting fraud. Thomas Frist still currently serves on the company’s Board as Chairman Emeritus.

PREVIOUSLY:

Tennessean Study Finds Frist’s Votes Helped HCA

Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me

2005-12-12T12:31:00.000-05:00

Allegedly Pro-Choice Murkowski to Trust Alito’s "Temperament"

Since being appointed as a Senator promising to protect the right to choose, Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s position has slid from pro-choice to “multiple choice.” She’s voted in favor of a resolution supporting Roe v. Wade, only to feign disinterest in the position and views of a Justice that could overturn crucial parts of that decision. Her position can now only be described “multiple guess.”

After meeting with Judge Alito, Murkowski announced:

“If he had given me his view on what we should do with Roe vs. Wade, I don't care which direction he went, I would not think that he would be the type of person that we would want to serve on the bench.”

In fact, Alito has zigzagged almost as much as Murkowski on the issue. An architect of the Reagan Administration strategy to overturn Roe, Alito has proclaimed that he believes in the right to privacy, the same day he touted a dissent he wrote that would have upheld states can require a married woman to notify her husband before ending a pregnancy. Consistency apparently is not part of the temperament of either.

Picture of Corruption

2005-12-12T10:34:00.000-05:00

Duke, Frist, Ney and DeLay … Oh My

Tobin Update

2005-12-08T18:21:00.000-05:00

Dole Lawyer Advised Convicted Jammer on RLC Biz

Yesterday, at the Tobin trial, lawyers in opening arguments Dave Butswinkas, Tobin’s lawyer in the criminal trial, said that Allen Raymond, had run the scheme by a lawyer. Earlier, it had been reported that the nervous owners of the Idaho company that made the calls, Mylo Enterprises, had “met with GOP Marketplace attorneys, who told them not to worry.”

So, who was the lawyer?

One possibility … Skadden Arps Kenneth A, Gross, who was the campaign attorney for Bob Dole in 1996.

Gross and Skadden Arps were the lawyer for Raymond at the Republican Leadership Council in 2002, so its not a stretch to imagine that he also advised Raymond on matters with his other operation … GOP Marketplace.

Gross also has consulted the national Republican Party, acting as lawyer for the NYC 2004 Convention Host Committee.

Murkowski Gets Rolled on PATRIOT Act

2005-12-08T17:06:00.000-05:00

Republican Left Off Committee, Fails To Deliver Republicans on Compromise

In her race for Senate, Lisa Murkowski promised to use her clout and influence with a Republican majority to help Alaskans. Now its looking more and more like she doesn’t have any. First, she was excluded from the mostly Republican panel negotiating a compromise, then her pleas to the team negotiating the deal went unheeded. Republicans virtually ignored her when the latest deal was struck to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act.

According to the Associated Press, House and Senate negotiators worked out a agreement that "would extend for now two of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions -- authorizing "roving wiretaps" and permitting "secret warrants for books," records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries. Those two provisions would expire in four years under the deal."

In April of this year, Murkowkski said, "While we certainly recognize the need for our law enforcement community to have the necessary tools to defeat terrorism, we can not offer security at the expense of the Constitutional freedoms that are at the heart of America."

In October, after the House backed the President rather than Murkowski, she said,
I encourage the conferees to accept our version and help achieve the result that we have agreed upon here in the Senate.”

And just last month she issued another plea to Republicans
“We have worked too long and too hard to allow this conference report to eliminate the modest protections for civil liberties”

Alaska TV Stations have said that Murkowski is “leading the fight,” but where Lisa Murkowski is leading, her Republican colleagues in the majority clearly ain’t following.

This, incidentally is not the first time in recent weeks that the Republican majority has tossed aside the concerns of their Alaska
http://senatemajorityproject.blogspot.com/2005/11/do-you-think-any-of-frank-murkowskis.html

Burns & Co. Display Firm Grasp of Obvious

2005-12-08T16:18:00.000-05:00

Biggest Recipient of Abramoff Money in Senate Says Abramoff Is A "Bad Bad Guy"

Please take exactly 50 seconds to watch this video of Sen. Conrad Burns getting the Ambramoff question in Kalispell, MT.

Here's the full quote and the story:

"This Abramoff guy is a bad, bad guy. And he's indicted, and I hope he goes to jail and we never see him again. I wish he'd never been born to be right honest with you. Because he's done a terrible, terrible thing to our Native American community."

His spokesman was not quite able to marshall a similar anger this morning:

Burns spokesman James Pendleton responded, in sarcastic incredulity, "A senator met with lobbyists? ... And he's been meeting with them for years? Well, duh."

Wonder if anybody has pointed out to Burns that if Abramoff hadn’t been born, Burns’ campaign account would be a few thousand lighter. And all the time Burns and/or his staff spent in meetings with Abramoff could have been spent at home taking care of their kids.

Is he keeping the money? Well, duh!

Coleman Poll at Lowest Level Ever

2005-12-08T15:18:00.000-05:00

St. Cloud State University Says Minnesotans Not So Warm on Norm

A poll released today by St Cloud State University found that Colemans “feeling thermometer” among Minnesota voters was at a level of 50. Coleman’s rating slipped 2 points from last year and a net 5 points from 2003.

The current level is the lowest St. Cloud St. ever recorded for Coleman. In fact, Coleman is now eight points below the point he was in 2001 when he announced that he would challenge Paul Wellstone and even below the level he was at immediately after he lost the Minnesota gubernatorial race in 1998.

Coleman “Feeling Thermometer” 1999-2005
Mean Temperature

1999 52
2000 55
2001 58
2002 53
2003 55
2004 52
2005 50

With George W. Bush rating the lowest in the poll, at 44, maybe Coleman ought to rethink his strategy of carrying water for the Bush Administration.

Frist Do No Harm

2005-12-08T14:31:00.000-05:00

Sen. Frist's Sweetheart Deal for Drug Companies is For the Birds

In a speech to reporters at the National Press Club, Senator Bill Frist announced his six-point plan to help the nation cope with an avian flu outbreak. During the speech, Frist placed fear in his audience, proclaiming:

“Think of a fast-moving, highly contagious disease that wipes out 50 million people. Half a million in the U.S. The killer pandemic claims more victims in 24 weeks, than HIV-AIDS has claimed in 24 years. In the United States -- the most developed nation in the world -- bodies pile up in the streets. There aren't enough morticians to bury the dead. Nor are there enough doctors and nurses to tend to the sick."

Scary stuff. A situation that definitely calls for a six-point plan. And today Frist’s outlined measures he says would increase availability of flu vaccine and streamline the process of research and development.

But what if it was side effects of a vaccine that was responsible for making people sick? That’s different according to Frist and friends. Today, Frist talked of “balanced, sensible liability protection” But his idea of balanced and sensible is to remove virtually all incentives for responsible drug production. His SB 1873 completely shields companies making drugs in response to public health emergencies, unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services (rather than an impartial court or jury) determined that the company acted with “willful misconduct.” [Sec 319F-3]

The drug makers would agree: According to PhRMA chief Billy Tauzin today, “Liability reform is a critically important part of this plan. It’s clear that the nation’s liability system is broken.”

One problem with this is that Congress supposedly already fixed that problem when they passed class action reform. Last we heard, the GOP Congress protected pharmaceutical companies by designing a bill that shifts many class action suits from state courts to backlogged federal courts. (Lawsuits against companies, due to side affects of a vaccine would almost certainly be handled as a class action.) That measure was supposed to lead to more research and development and broader manufacturing of vaccines.

At the end of the day, Frist’s vaccine plan cure might actually end up being worse than the disease. Drug manufacturers would have no potential liability except in the most extreme circumstances and therefore no economic incentive to fully test and protect against side effects that could cause even more serious illness or deaths, especially in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

Frist, a doctor, is familiar with the side effects of vaccines, and has himself cautioned against requiring vaccination against smallpox or anthrax because of the hundreds or even thousands of deaths that could result.

For example, In 2001, when Frist was asked about reinstating routine smallpox vaccinations, he said nationwide inoculations would result in an estimated 400 deaths from the vaccine’s side effects. He told Tim Russert on Meet the Press that,

“About 25 out of every 100,000 people have a side effect to the vaccination itself. Probably 600 to 2,000 people would die just from the vaccine itself.” [NBC Meet the Press, 10/14/2001]

And after the U.S. Capitol was hit with an anthrax attack, Frist again cautioned against the vaccines saying,

There are very real and potentially serious side effects from the [anthrax] vaccine and anyone who elects to receive the vaccine needs to be made aware of that,' said Frist. 'I do not recommend widespread inoculation for people with the vaccine in the Hart Building,'" [CNN.com, 12/18/2001]

Despite the very real danger of side effects from vaccines, Frist’s bird flu plan envisions widespread vaccination of Americans in a short time period with even less protection against side effects than are currently in place for either the smallpox or anthrax vaccines Frist cautioned against.

But wait, there’s more.

Frist’s plan also creates a new agency, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency, with oversight authority over the nation’s bird-flu and bioterrorism preparedness. Frist would give the agency the unprecedented protection of complete exemption from the Freedom of Information Act. Thus people could not even know whether the vaccines developed under the Frist plan would have a chance of hurting them. As Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center summed up:

Without public scrutiny or the ability to take the companies to court, ``these drugs are going to be developed in secret, and if there are deaths and injuries, they're going to be covered up,'' she said. ``And there will be no way to hold anybody accountable.''

Now that’s scary.

Republican Voter Suppression Trial Update – Day 1

2005-12-07T14:22:00.000-05:00

Republican Lawyers May Have Approved Plan

Yesterday in Manchester, NH, the trial of James Tobin opened. Tobin is accused of conspiring to stop New Hampshire residents from voting in the 2002 election that resulted in the election of John Sununu. At trial, prosecutors argued and witnesses testified that several state Republican leaders were uncomfortable with the idea and that Tobin helped facilitate the plan after no one else would help. In addition, Tobin’s lawyer opened the door to the possibility that other Republican lawyers may have approved the plan. Arguing that Tobin was not connected to the scheme that has already sent two top-tier Republican operatives to jail, the attorney said, “that Raymond [the consultant hired to make the calls] has stated he ran the plan by a lawyer.”

A few local outlets are doing useful reporting on the trial

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/REPOSITORY/512070354/1031

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/NEWS0201/112070014

The RNC has sent upwards of $1 million defending Tobin, and made arguments that would prevent prosecutors from determining how far up the Republican party ladder the scheme went, how widespread the practice was, and who ultimately paid for it. The first day of the trial only provided more reasons for Republicans to stop hiding behind lawyers and come clean about the level of the national party’s involvement.

Lindsay and Duke

2005-12-07T12:17:00.000-05:00

Graham is the Top Senate Recipient of Dirty Duke Donor Money

With the indictment, plea and resignation of Duke Cunningham, there is plenty of evidence that Cunningham donor Brent Wilkes -- aka coconspirator #1 -- had more in mind than boosting his favorite candidates with his political contributions. According to the San Diego Union Tribune,

Over the past 20 years, Wilkes has devoted much of his career to developing political contacts in Washington. He and his associates have spent at least $600,000 on political contributions and $1.1 million on lobbying beyond the gifts mentioned in the Cunningham plea agreement, as they cultivated such politicians as House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis.

And since 1996, he has received at least $95 million in government contracts for the small family of firms based in his $11 million headquarters in Poway, including ADCS Inc. and Group W.

A list of money from Wilkes, his businesses and employees shows mostly House members, but one Senate candidate stands out: Sen. Lindsay Graham received $13,000 most of it from ADCS PAC for his 2002 Senate Race.

True to form, Graham served on the House Armed Services Committee and went on to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Others include Larry Craig, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Sam Brownback. All three of these Senators serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Wilkes was known to have distributed cash and favors to lawmakers who were most likely to help him secure defense contracts.

A developing angle to the story was sniffed out by the Hotline who noticed the following in the San Diego Union tribune story.

According to the U-T, Wilkes also "ran a hospitality suite, with several bedrooms, in" DC -- "first in the Watergate Hotel and then" in a Capitol Hill hotel.
Come again? A "hospitality suite with several bedrooms"?
Talk about raising more questions, including:
-- Why does a lobbyist need a "hospitality suite with several bedrooms"?
-- Who uses those bedrooms and for what?

How do You Say “Toady” in Dutch?

2005-12-07T11:17:00.000-05:00

Coleman carries water for Bush’s biggest donor

Just when you thought Sen. Norm Coleman might succeed in selling you on his moderate record, he has once again proven to be a loyal Bush foot solider. In yesterday’s Washington Post, Coleman placed himself on the record in support of the ambassadorship Roland Arnall, to the Netherlands. Arnall as many know is the founder and principal shareholder of Ameriquest, the nation’s largest sub-prime lender. Arnall has also been the President’s largest campaign contributor since 2002 (of note, according to campaign finance data, Arnall has never made a contribution to Coleman). Ameriquest has been under investigation by a number of states, including Minnesota, for their predatory lending practices. Practices which include: misrepresenting fees and costs, pressuring appraisers to inflate property values so borrowers could get bigger loans and promising customers they would receive lower interest rates and then give them higher rates anyway.

Coleman voted for Arnall, despite Minnesota’s extensive investigation into Ameriquest’s dealings, stating, “Mr. Arnall is not the subject of any investigation. His personal actions have never been called into question. His credibility and integrity were praised by members from both sides of the aisle during his hearings. For these reasons, it is inappropriate to hold up Mr. Arnall’s nomination.”

Not so fast.

Arnall’s credibility was suspect enough for GOP Senator Chuck Hagel, to say, “I do think it's important who represents this country abroad. I do think we should send people who are not under a cloud of investigation. Mr. Arnall, fairly or unfairly, finds himself in that position.

So why is Coleman helping yet another Bush crony get a prestigious job? A fair question for Minnesotans to ask.

In Case You Frist It

2005-12-06T16:52:00.000-05:00

Sen. Frist's Votes Found to Favor HCA Interests

Over the weekend, The Nashville Tennessean published a comprehensive review of Bill Frist’s votes in Congress which found that

“An examination of Frist's voting record over his nearly 11 years in the Senate shows a pattern of supporting bills friendly to HCA and to hospitals in general. … He's also helped HCA in less obvious ways. Several years ago, the Tennessee Republican fought a Democratic-sponsored version of a "patients' bill of rights" that would have allowed patients to sue their HMOs and collect unlimited damages.”

Recently the Securities and Exchange Commission opened an investigation of a sale of HCA stock Frist ordered from his “not so blind” blind trust. Frist claimed that he ordered the sale to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interests – this in his 11th year in the U.S. Senate. The sale happened to come at a time when the stock was at a high and immediately before it fell on information that would have been available to HCA insiders. In an investigation of the sale, it was revealed that the trust’s managers communicated frequently with Frist about the contents of his supposedly blind trust. In addition, while Frist claimed that he had no contact with his family on business issues, saying "I don't discuss it [HCA] with my brother at all because I want to keep absolute arm's length," Frist was a partner in a company called Bowling Avenue Partners with his brother, the chairman of HCA, which held at least $775,000 in HCA stock.

The Tennessean story outlines several examples of activity Frist took that benefited HCA including the following:

An HCA subsidiary would benefit from limits on jury awards. Health Care Indemnity Inc. is one of the country's largest providers of medical malpractice insurance, with gross premiums of $382.3 million a year.
Bills supported by Frist have given hospitals more money for treating seniors and curbed development of physician-owned specialty hospitals that compete with HCA.
Frist led the opposition on the floor to the "patients' bill of rights" that would have allowed patients to sue their HMOs.
Frist was a leading supporter of legislation that gave hospitals an extra $25 billion in Medicare and Medicaid payments over 10 years, according to the American Hospital Association, which supported it. Last year, Medicare and Medicaid accounted for about 35% of HCA's total revenue.
Frist also supported an 18-month moratorium on new physician-owned specialty hospitals that would compete directly with full-service community hospitals such as those operated by HCA.