E-mails questioned huge contract for firm with ties to Obama administration

[alp227]

Source: CNN

A series of e-mail exchanges between officials at the Department of Health and Human Services shows growing alarm at the amount of projected profit from a government contract for a drug company whose controlling shareholder is a longtime Democratic Party activist.

Ronald Perelman is controlling shareholder of Siga Technologies and a longtime Democratic Party activist and fundraiser. He's also a large contributor to Republicans, but has been a particular friend of the Obama White House.

Also on Siga's board of directors is Andy Stern, former president of the Service Employees International Union, who has had close relations with the Obama administration and who has supported President Barack Obama's health care initiatives.

In May 2011, Health and Human Services awarded Siga a no-bid contract worth nearly $433 million to develop and produce 1.7 million doses of an anti-viral smallpox drug called STS-246. The drug would augment the existing supply of smallpox vaccine now in U.S. control.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/08/politics/siga-technologies-hhs-contract/index.html

---

When will there be a president who does NOT take part in crony capitalism?

[cstanleytech]

1. I think I'll wait until there is actual evidence OP that shows the president

did something illegal.

[castnet55]

2. Interesting

What's interesting is the fact that smallpox has been irradicated here for years and that there is no need for the meds.

[Tempest]

4. It's still needed for research

The scientific community remains divided over whether the smallpox samples should be destroyed. The respected journal Nature editorialized against it earlier this year, arguing that scientists need the ability to do further research, and perhaps develop new vaccines and treatments in an era of possible biological attack.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011/05/Experts-debate-destroying-last-smallpox-viruses---/47146446/1

[dipsydoodle]

5. still needed for research ?

1.7 million doses ? Get a life.

[dipsydoodle]

3. I would have thought the real issue

was why spend $433 million to develop and produce 1.7 million doses of an anti-viral smallpox drug when only the US and Russia governments have that virus under wraps.

[Iliyah]

6. Its interesting that

some posters always find total negative in whatever surrounds Prez O or even Prez O himself. Medical research overall is a positive step towards in keeping the US as well as the world simi healthly. A alot of misuse of funds probably, alot of funds used properly hell yes.

Smallpox is still an issue in some parts of the world and gawd forgive an ususal strain of smallpox reach the US and we don't have a clue how to combat it or another strain cousin to it. Then the same posters will blast Prez O for not being prepared for it.

Sh*t, where the fuss about almost 300 soldiers' remains being dumped in a mass grave?

CNN is now a right wing hateful not news station just like fake news.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Smallpox was eradicted by 1980

If you know of cases later than that I can only suggest you let someone know urgently.

[Tansy_Gold]

7. Easily distracted

It's not whether the research is needed or not.
It's not whether the vaccine is needed or not.

It's that the contract was awarded on a no-bid basis to a company with administration cronies on the board.

Had this been the boooosh administration, there'd be calls for summary executions and investigations afterward. But since it's the Obama administration, all that's mentioned here are the secondary issues.

The OP is about a nearly half billion dollar (all taxpayer money, btw) contract awarded without competitive bidding to a company controlled/led by Obama cronies. how is that a good thing?



TG

[Iliyah]

9. Yeah tax payers money

I rather medical research get some of it instead of the already rich, y'know. One day maybe no will have to pay taxes and everyone fend for themselves. I guess living in the me society is better than giving money for medical research unless you are rich and can pay for it yourselves. And no smallpox is not completely erased from the world.

[JoeyT]

10. Unnecessary medical research.

For a vaccine that may or may not work (We already have one that we know works: It's why you don't know anyone that's had smallpox) and yes, smallpox has been erased from the world. The last case was in 1978, and that was a guy that was researching it. Unless you can link to a reputable medical journal talking about a new outbreak, of course.

This money DID go to the already rich. No president has poor cronies.

It isn't corruption when we do it! It's uh...uh...compassion! This is the silliest defense of any policy I think I've ever seen.

[Psephos]

13. You seem to have missed the point.

Which is that taxpayers' money was corruptly given to rich people for something the US doesn't need, at an obscenely inflated price.

And yes, smallpox is completely erased from the real world. It only exists in government freezers.

Read up:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2010/smallpox_20100517/en/index.html

[JJW]

11. I thought no-bid was Cheney's mo

so it seem Cheney and Obama are more alike than just being blood related to each other.

[cstanleytech]

12. Well atleast so far this doesnt smell to bad because Obama unlike Cheney

wasnt the former ceo for the company involved.

[Scuba]

14. Democrats must all take an oath of poverty, or the right will say we're hypocrites....

.... I'll see your Siga Tech and raise you one Haliburton.