Texas Gov Tied to Big Pharm Money?

By Dave Hinz - Publisher
2/3/07

Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry has stunned his conservative supporters by signing an Executive Order mandating that all sixth grade girls receive Gardasil, Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer in young women. Texas now becomes the first state to mandate such a vaccine.

Circumventing a legislature that opposed the measure, and conservative and parents rights groups, Perry's Executive Order would appear to be indirect contrast to the conservative Christian values he espouses. Perry is on record to oppose abortion and stem-cell research using embryonic cells. Religious groups who oppose the mandatory vaccine fear that requiring the vaccine will promote premarital sex, and undermine the rights of parents to teach their own values in the home. Much of his support comes from the religious right. But, it appears, that much of his cash comes from Merck.

Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass state laws across the country mandating Gardasil
for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country. Perry has ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government. The governor also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.

An Executive Order from the Governor has the force of law in Texas, with the legislature unable to repeal it. The order will take effect in September 2008, and will remain in effect until either Perry or his successor changes it.