Frist Slipped In Immunity Language!! Stay Tuned!!

December 19, 2005

Another "dead of night rider"..! TAKE ACTION! http://tinyurl.com/8frgb The House Passed it! We need to stop it in the Senate! A-CHAMP reports: -HR 2815-the DOD Appropriations bill- will preempt state legislation, including for example, state legislation banning Thimerosal, for a vaccine that is declared to be a pandemic countermeasure by the Secy of HHS. -Rep. Obey called the process a "corruption of the legislative process." Rep. Lowey derided the administrations attempt to hide controversial legislation behind provisions necessary for the support of our troops. She also criticized the overly broad liability provisions and inadequate compensation provisions in

the bill. -Rep. Obey objected to language slipped into the bill giving immunity to pharmaceutical companies. He said that members of house were told that the immunity language would not be included. Under the provision injured persons will lose their right to sue but there is no meaningful compensation mechanism provided in the bill. Obey said he and other Members were told in writing that this provision would not be in the bill, but then Senator Frist walked across to the House, with a couple of "musclemen' who corrupted the legislative process by forcing inclusion of the language in the conference report. -Rep. Dan Burton stood up to object to the pharmaceutical immunity provisions in the bill, explaining that the bill will provide liability to protection to pharmaceutical companies even if there is wilful misconduct, and pointed out that this

situation is similar to the smallpox legislation of several years ago, which caused first responders to refuse vaccination. Burton said he favors liability protection but that there should be a provision for just compensation. Rep. Slaughter agreed with Rep. Burton and pointed out that the bill would cover drugs as well as vaccines. TAKE ACTION! http://tinyurl.com/8frgb WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday approved $3.78 billion to begin preparing for a possible avian flu epidemic, including stockpiling potential vaccines, training emergency officials and increasing international surveillance. The money is about half of what the Bush administration requested earlier this year. Following hours of

late-night negotiations between top Republicans in the Senate and House, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee succeeded in including a provision to protect vaccine, drug and medical device makers against lawsuits in a public health or bioterror emergency. The avian flu funding was attached to an unrelated defense spending bill passed by the House by a vote of 308-106 that faces an uncertain future in the Senate later this week. Consumer and health groups opposed the vaccine liability provisions, which were sought by pharmaceuticals, saying it would protect companies from "gross negligence." Some lawmakers said the measure could make medical personnel and other emergency workers reluctant to get vaccinated if there was a chance they could suffer negative reactions and not get compensated. The language "gives carte blanche to the vaccine companies, but doesn't provide a mechanism" for people if they are injured by a vaccination, said Rep. Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican. Avian flu has been sweeping through poultry flocks in Asia and more recently into eastern Europe. The deadly animal disease has killed at least 139 people. Scientists fear that if the disease becomes more easily transmitted to humans, a pandemic could unfold, killing millions. Earlier this year, the Senate passed legislation calling for $8 billion in funds to prepare for an avian flu pandemic. But conservative Republicans in Congress opposed the higher spending, citing concerns about the huge U.S. budget deficit. http://tinyurl.com/9eahb

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December 19, 2005

Frist is talking about the DoD bill right now on C-SPAN 2.

Frist Slipped In Immunity Language!! Stay Tuned!!

Another "dead of night rider"..! TAKE ACTION! http://tinyurl.com/8frgb

The House Passed it! We need to stop it in the Senate!

A-CHAMP reports:

-HR 2815-the DOD Appropriations bill- will preempt state legislation, including for example, state legislation banning Thimerosal, for a vaccine that is declared to be a pandemic countermeasure by the Secy of HHS.

-Rep. Obey called the process a "corruption of the legislative process." Rep. Lowey derided the administrations attempt to hide controversial legislation behind provisions necessary for the support of our troops. She also criticized the overly broad liability provisions and inadequate compensation provisions in the bill.

-Rep. Obey objected to language slipped into the bill giving immunity to pharmaceutical companies. He said that members of house were told that the immunity language would not be included. Under the provision injured persons will lose their right to sue but there is no meaningful compensation mechanism provided in the bill. Obey said he and other Members were told in writing that this provision would not be in the bill, but then Senator Frist walked across to the House, with a couple of "musclemen' who corrupted the legislative process by forcing inclusion of the language in the conference report.

-Rep. Dan Burton stood up to object to the pharmaceutical immunity provisions in the bill, explaining that the bill will provide liability to protection to pharmaceutical companies even if there is wilful misconduct, and pointed out that this situation is similar to the smallpox legislation of several years ago, which caused first responders to refuse vaccination. Burton said he favors liability protection but that there should be a provision for just compensation. Rep. Slaughter agreed with Rep. Burton and pointed out that the bill would cover drugs as well as vaccines.

TAKE ACTION!

http://tinyurl.com/8frgb

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday approved $3.78 billion to begin preparing for a possible avian flu epidemic, including stockpiling potential vaccines, training emergency officials and increasing international surveillance.

The money is about half of what the Bush administration requested earlier this year.

Following hours of late-night negotiations between top Republicans in the Senate and House, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee succeeded in including a provision to protect vaccine, drug and medical device makers against lawsuits in a public health or bioterror emergency.

The avian flu funding was attached to an unrelated defense spending bill passed by the House by a vote of 308-106 that faces an uncertain future in the Senate later this week.

Consumer and health groups opposed the vaccine liability provisions, which were sought by pharmaceuticals, saying it would protect companies from "gross negligence."

Some lawmakers said the measure could make medical personnel and other emergency workers reluctant to get vaccinated if there was a chance they could suffer negative reactions and not get compensated.

The language "gives carte blanche to the vaccine companies, but doesn't provide a mechanism" for people if they are injured by a vaccination, said Rep. Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican.

Avian flu has been sweeping through poultry flocks in Asia and more recently into eastern Europe. The deadly animal disease has killed at least 139 people.

Scientists fear that if the disease becomes more easily transmitted to humans, a pandemic could unfold, killing millions.

Earlier this year, the Senate passed legislation calling for $8 billion in funds to prepare for an avian flu pandemic. But conservative Republicans in Congress opposed the higher spending, citing concerns about the huge U.S. budget deficit.

http://tinyurl.com/9eahb

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December 19, 2005

" We need to stop it in the Senate! "

Hi Bobbie/,

As you know, the endgame has always been in the Senate.

The House majority is too strong. For House members (both parties),

if a bill is going to pass anyway, and you run for re-election every

2 years, you are less likely to anger a major campaign contribution

source.

Also, only the Senate has the filibuster, where one side can force a

60% vote rather than a simple majority. So the House has always

been a lost cause for us, and will be for the forseeable future.

We need a Senate filibuster, if the language can't be negotiated out

of the bill. Even then, it's no guarantee. The Senate breakdown is

55 R, 44 D, and Jim Jeffords, Independant. It will be hard to get

40 Senators to vote against a defense bill, again because of re-

election concerns. Senators risk giving their opposition a chance

to label them " soft on defense " or accuse them " voted against

supporting our troops " .

Frist will attach the vaccine liabitity protection language to a

hard to vote against bill. It will take courage to filibuster.

Which Senator has that courage? Ideas?

Vaccine manufacturers have been amazingly careless about safety with

fear of liability. How less safe will they be without it?

>

> For those who are really frustrated you can try calling

> C-SPAN at. They have open phones now and then

> Sen. Chamblis will be on. You must be tricky to get

> past the screener. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT

> VACCINES OR LIABILITY OR THEY WON'T LET YOU

> IN?

>

> Try the Anwar, or the spying on Americans issue

>

> 202-737-0001

> 202-737-0002

> Frist Slipped In Immunity Language!! Stay

Tuned!!

>

> Another " dead of night rider " ..! TAKE ACTION!

http://tinyurl.com/8frgb

> The House Passed it! We need to stop it in the Senate!

>

> A-CHAMP reports:

>

> -HR 2815-the DOD Appropriations bill- will preempt state

legislation, including for example, state legislation banning

Thimerosal, for a vaccine that is declared to be a pandemic

countermeasure by the Secy of HHS.

>

> -Rep. Obey called the process a " corruption of the legislative

process. " Rep. Lowey derided the administrations attempt to hide

controversial legislation behind provisions necessary for the

support of our troops. She also criticized the overly broad

liability provisions and inadequate compensation provisions in the

bill.

>

> -Rep. Obey objected to language slipped into the bill giving

immunity to pharmaceutical companies. He said that members of house

were told that the immunity language would not be included. Under

the provision injured persons will lose their right to sue but there

is no meaningful compensation mechanism provided in the bill. Obey

said he and other Members were told in writing that this provision

would not be in the bill, but then Senator Frist walked across to

the House, with a couple of " musclemen' who corrupted the

legislative process by forcing inclusion of the language in the

conference report.

>

> -Rep. Dan Burton stood up to object to the pharmaceutical

immunity provisions in the bill, explaining that the bill will

provide liability to protection to pharmaceutical companies even if

there is wilful misconduct, and pointed out that this situation is

similar to the smallpox legislation of several years ago, which

caused first responders to refuse vaccination. Burton said he favors

liability protection but that there should be a provision for just

compensation. Rep. Slaughter agreed with Rep. Burton and pointed out

that the bill would cover drugs as well as vaccines.

>

> TAKE ACTION!

> http://tinyurl.com/8frgb

>

> WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives

on Monday approved $3.78 billion to begin preparing for a possible

avian flu epidemic, including stockpiling potential vaccines,

training emergency officials and increasing international

surveillance.

> The money is about half of what the Bush administration

requested earlier this year.

>

> Following hours of late-night negotiations between top

Republicans in the Senate and House, Senate Majority Leader Bill

Frist of Tennessee succeeded in including a provision to protect

vaccine, drug and medical device makers against lawsuits in a public

health or bioterror emergency.

>

> The avian flu funding was attached to an unrelated defense

spending bill passed by the House by a vote of 308-106 that faces an

uncertain future in the Senate later this week.

> Consumer and health groups opposed the vaccine liability

provisions, which were sought by pharmaceuticals, saying it would

protect companies from " gross negligence. "

>

> Some lawmakers said the measure could make medical personnel and

other emergency workers reluctant to get vaccinated if there was a

chance they could suffer negative reactions and not get compensated.

> The language " gives carte blanche to the vaccine companies, but

doesn't provide a mechanism " for people if they are injured by a

vaccination, said Rep. Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican.

>

> Avian flu has been sweeping through poultry flocks in Asia and

more recently into eastern Europe. The deadly animal disease has

killed at least 139 people.

> Scientists fear that if the disease becomes more easily

transmitted to humans, a pandemic could unfold, killing millions.

> Earlier this year, the Senate passed legislation calling for $8

billion in funds to prepare for an avian flu pandemic. But

conservative Republicans in Congress opposed the higher spending,

citing concerns about the huge U.S. budget deficit.

> http://tinyurl.com/9eahb

>

> __________________________________________________

>

December 19, 2005

Anyone have an online link?

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