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| Homeland Bill Rider Aids Drugmakers |
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Posted by CN Staff on November 15, 2002 at 10:53:50 PT By Dan Morgan, Washington Post Staff Writer Source: Washington Post 
Riding along on legislation to create a new federal Department of Homeland Security is a White House-backed provision that could head off dozens of potential lawsuits against Eli Lilly and Co. and other pharmaceutical giants.Elsewhere in the sprawling measure is language that would help the FBI obtain customer information from Internet service providers and increase the penalties for computer hacking. These and other last-minute additions to the bill by Republican leaders could have implications well beyond the measure's immediate goal of protecting the homeland, congressional officials said yesterday. Lawyers for parents of autistic children suing pharmaceutical companies over childhood vaccines charged yesterday that a new section in the homeland bill -- passed on Wednesday by the House and now before the Senate -- would keep the lawsuits out of state courts, ruling out huge judgments and lengthy litigation. Complaints, instead, would be channeled to a federal program set up 14 years ago to provide liability protection for vaccine manufacturers. The program, funded through a surcharge on vaccines, compensates persons injured by such vaccines, to a maximum of $250,000. "The industry has seized the opportunity presented by a Republican House and Senate to immediately pass legislation to get the industry off the hook," said Dallas lawyer Andrew Waters. "To me, it looks like payback for the fact that the industry spent millions bankrolling Republican campaigns." GOP officials said the provisions are merely aimed at protecting companies working on life-saving products from being dragged into costly litigation by trial lawyers. Pharmaceutical companies were among the largest contributors to Republicans in this year's elections, while trial lawyers heavily backed Democrats. In the past several years, some families have alleged a connection between their children's autism and vaccines using the preservative Thimerosal, which contains mercury. Medical studies have not proven a connection between Thimerosal and autism, but companies stopped using the preservative several years ago. Eli Lilly, once the largest maker of Thimerosal, is a major target in a spate of lawsuits filed since 2000. The company stopped making the product in 1980 but continued to buy it from other manufacturers and to resell it for another decade. Company spokesman Edward Sagebiel said Lilly was "surprised when the language was inserted" because it had not actively lobbied for it in recent months. But he said the company "believes it is a positive step to help assure that manufacturers are protected from lawsuits that are without merit or scientific evidence." Richard Diamond, a spokesman for retiring House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey (R-Tex.), said the provision was inserted because "it was something the White House wanted. It wasn't Armey's idea." But Diamond said the principle is good. "We don't want companies to be steered away from the business of making things that can save lives," he said. Elsewhere in the bill, Republicans incorporated the entire Cyber Security Enhancement Act, which the House passed overwhelmingly in July but which made little progress in the Democratic-controlled Senate. To strengthen law enforcement's hand in protecting the security of computer communications, the legislation would increase penalties for hacking and other malicious computing. Privacy advocates have criticized some provisions, particularly those that would lower the threshold for Internet service providers to give law enforcement agencies customer communications without a court order. The bill would make hacking punishable by as much as life in prison if the offender "knowingly or recklessly causes or attempts to cause death.'' Cut from the bill was a Democratic-backed provision that would have prevented the new federal agency from giving contracts to U.S.-based companies that use offshore addresses to avoid corporate taxes. GOP aides said the language originally offered by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), and now incorporated in the bill, gives Texas A&M the inside track in hosting the first university center on homeland security, to be established within one year. DeLay was elected Wednesday to serve as the House majority leader in the 108th Congress. Yesterday, Senate Democrats were considering trying to strip non-relevant provisions from the homeland security bill during the final debate. If successful, such a move could derail Congress's timetable for adjourning, by forcing a new round of House-Senate negotiations to resolve differences in the legislation. Note: Measure Would Block Suits Over Vaccines; FBI Powers Also Would Grow. Source: Washington Post (DC) Related Articles: The Perilous Search for Security at Home Foundations are in Place for Martial Law in the US Use of Military for Civilian Policing is Dangerous Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #5 posted by DdC on November 15, 2002 at 19:24:00 PT |
| and the only regret I have was that I didn't study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people...
Vice President Dan Quayle after the Bush Indoctrination... Bush Quayle Lilly Pharmaceutical Sell Out http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/05/ECH05_06.HTM Criminal Misconduct http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/05/ECH05_04.HTM The last days of legal cannabis http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/04/ECH04_00.HTM Bigotry and Aparteid http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/04/ECH04_08.HTM#bigotry Self Perpetuating Lies http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/04/ECH04_13.HTM#lies Supreme Court: Amphetamines for kids, yes - Cannabis for terminal cancer patients, no http://www.planetquake.com/politicalarena/archive/091001.htm#051501-1 Dr. Heath/Tulane Study, 1974 The Hype: Brain Damage and Dead Monkeys http://www.jackherer.com/book/ch15.html The Chemical Manipulation of Human Consciousness http://schools.limestone.on.ca/sydhs/ChemicalManipulation.html Bush-Cheney Drug Empire http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionwhyitstimetolegalize.showMessage?topicID=178.topic A Roundup of Hearst’s Hysterical Headlines http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/04/ECH04_17.HTM#headlines The Ultimate Hypocrasy http://www.jackherer.com/book/ch14.html While waging its self-styled "War on Drugs" against Third World peasants and American civilians, the Reagan/Bush/Quayle/Clinton/Gore administrations (1981-1999) have encouraged and covered up drug smuggling and distribution by high ranking officials of the U.S. government. On one hand, Bush violated international law by invading Panama to bring reputed drug smuggler and long-time Bush/CIA employee Manuel Noriega to the U.S. to stand trial. On the other hand, he refused to extradite Oliver North, John Hull, Admiral Poindexter, General Secord, Lewis Tambs, and other Americans to Costa Rica, where they are under indictment by that government for operating a drug smuggling operation there. (The Guardian, British newspaper, "Cocaine shipped by contra network", July 22, 1989.) U.S. Representative Dan Quayle, March 1977... Before the Bush Indoctrination: "Congress should definitely consider decriminalizing possession of marijuana... We should concentrate on prosecuting the rapists and burglars who are a menace to society." Other Gems by Dan Quayle after his D.E.A.th rites ... If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and a child. Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush and my fellow astronauts. Mars is essentially in the same orbit.........Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water, If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe. What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is. The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century. I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change. One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is "to be prepared." We don't want to go back to tomorrow, we want to go forward. I have made good judgements in the past. I have made good judgements in the future. The future will be better tomorrow. We're going to have the best-educated American people in the world. People that are really very weird can get into sensitive postitions and have a tremendous impact on history. I stand by all the misstatements that I've made. We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commtiment to Europe. We are a part of Europe. Public speaking is very easy. I am not a part of the problem. I am a Republican. I love California, I practically grew up in Pheonix. A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls. When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and to the point: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers. Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it. We are ready for any unforseen event that may or may not occur. For NASA, space is still a high priority. Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children. The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make. We're all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made. It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it. It's time for the human race to enter the solar system. Much to popular disbelief, horses walking around during the elections with their tails straight up in the air are not showing off their Bush/Quayle buttons. The assassins of youth...Chemicals Korpses ® U.S. http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionwhyitstimetolegalize.showMessage?topicID=105.topic [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on November 15, 2002 at 18:37:56 PT |
| Glad you got your computer fixed and glad you're back on duty! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by goneposthole on November 15, 2002 at 18:34:28 PT |
| Boy, those Republicans sure are great at everything. What can't they do? Hip, hip, hooray for the greatest political party of all-time. My memory was jogged last night. I read at a website that John Ashcroft quit flying commercial flights in June of 2001. I forgot, but I do remember listening and hearing about it. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it? He, the Attorney General, stops flying commercial jets and opts to fly chartered. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by The GCW on November 15, 2002 at 16:58:06 PT |
| Eli Lilly and Co. had connections to the Dan Quail family and to the Bush family, when #41 was in there. Weren't they holding controloing interest in Eli Lilly and Co.? Why would they want to protect themselves from being sued for doing evil? The story I heard was like, that was the only reason Quail got the vice position... Bda. & Dan B, I didn't vote for a sole republican... Sometime, you get what you DIDN'T ask for. I was gone since MON. night, (I think), with computer problems. Hopefully that is fixed. The GCW reporting for duty. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Dan B on November 15, 2002 at 12:44:08 PT |
| . . . you voted in favor of the pharmaceuticals industry and against the American consumer. You voted in favor of increased penalties for drug "crimes" and against sensible treatment policies. If you voted Republican, you voted against personal privacy and in favor of government intrusion into every aspect of your life. Sometime, you get what you ask for. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
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