Tuesday, May 09, 2006 Frist/Hastert sneak vaccine industry liability immunity into Defense Appropriations Bill ThinkProgress: When the vaccine industry is represented by a lobbying team that includes 3 former Frist staffers and Hastert’s son, Joshua Hastert, it's easy to see how in Dec of '05, Senate Maj Ldr Bill First (R-TN) and House Spkr Dennis Hastert inserted a provision in the Defense Appropriations bill that granted vaccine manufactures near-total immunity for injuries or deaths (even in cases of "gross negligence") caused by their drugs, right? And get this: The provision was inserted in the dead of the night, after House and Senate conferees had agreed the provision would not be included in the bill. So, how many Red Staters are gonna pony up their kids 1st for these vaccines? |