BUSH'S PANDEMIC-FLU PLAN

PANDEMIC PLAN

Bush's plan to prepare for the next pandemic is getting the cold shoulder on Capital Hill. Senator Arlen Spector, one of those speaking out, wants to know why its taken since 1991 to draft such a plan. "Could we have acted sooner to avoid a situation where we're now in effect running for cover?", he said.

Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, is another one speaking out against the plan. He states that the plan calls for each state to purchase 31 million doses and that they will have to pay 75% of the cost of those drugs. For states that were heavily hit by the hurricanes this season, it will put an unfair burden on them.

Bush is seeking $7.1 billion in emergency appropriations with $100 million going to each state to help the purchase the drugs, at the same time, he wants to cut $130 million to each state that the state and local governments use to prepare for such emergencies.

To me, it sounds like they want to take money away from the state and local health depts, that they use not only for flu prevention but for other services and give them money to be solely used to buy the drugs needed to prepare for this future pandemic. In other words, to heck with treating the poor and needy for other conditions, just so that we are prepared for this coming pandemic.

By the way, this sounds like a funny coincidence, but has anyone noticed that at the theaters they are about to release an animated film, "Chicken Little?"