After Failing To Protect 9/11 First Responders From Toxic Threats, Thompson Awarded Contract To Treat Them
After Failing To Protect 9/11 First Responders From Toxic Threats, Thompson Awarded Contract To Treat Them
Tommy Thompson served as President Bush’s Secretary of Health and Human Services from January 2001 to 2005. It was during his tenure, after the 9/11 attacks, that the Bush administration largely ignored the health risks facing first responders at the World Trade Center site.
Doctors concluded that the dust there was basically a “toxic soup,” leading to serious health problems for workers. Then-EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman was also accused of lying about the air quality. Approximately 40,000 people were exposed to the dust, and “71,000 have enrolled in a long-term health monitoring program for people with and without health problems.”
Many of these first responders have since been unable to attain health coverage from either their insurers or the U.S. government. As the AP notes, Thompson was “criticized for not doing enough” to help these workers.
Yet apparently, the Bush administration believes Thompson did a hecukva job dealing with the aftermath of 9/11. The Centers for Disease Control has awarded Thompson an $11 million contract to treat some of those very same workers who became sick on Thompson’s watch:
The contract awarded by the Centers for Disease Control is aimed at tracking the health of between 4,000 and 6,000 workers who live outside the New York City area, where a separate health monitoring program is in place. The CDC is part of the Health and Human Services Department, which Thompson headed in Bush’s first term.
Internal e-mails obtained by The Associated Press show that the one-year contract went to Logistics Health, Inc., a La Crosse, Wis.-based company where Thompson is president.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) responded, “It is ironic that former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson’s firm won the contract to provide the services, given the history of delay from the Bush administration when he was secretary and now.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
This is how the Bush Game is played. Screw up big time, then get even more money to fix what you screwed up in the first place. If you’re really good at the Game, you screw up over and over, and make sure you get “cost plus” contracts each time.
Wonder why the national debt has ballooned to nearly $10 TRILLION under BushCo?
PEACE
June 4th, 2008 at 6:50 pmWho better to make a huge profit by tracking these people than the person who has the most personal reason to ensure that no continuing health problems are traced back to his decision making. Makes perfect sense to any Republican.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:50 pmRep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) responded, “It is ironic that former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson’s firm won the contract to provide the services, given the history of delay from the Bush administration when he was secretary and now.”
It’s only ironic if you haven’t been paying attention. To the rest of us, it’s pretty clear that it’s business as usual for BushCo.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pmLove the synergy/symmetry/circle-jerkiness of it.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:58 pmUm, delay is money in the bank for the president of Logistics Health, Inc. At this point I wouldn’t put it past a republican, to create a market for his company by being a negligent public official, and refusing to address the problems at the WTC.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pmInterestingly enough, my last post was moderated, is it that a word I chose had a verbotten leter sequence? I’ll restate it.
A national health care system would make the statistical examination of health care data much more efficient, whether for national trends or particular sub-groups.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pmClinton to end presidential campaign on Friday: ABC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – New York Sen. Hillary Clinton will drop out of the presidential race on Friday and cede the Democratic nomination to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, ABC News reported on Wednesday, without citing any sources.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pmSaint Augustine Says:
Interestingly enough, my last post was moderated, is it that a word I chose had a verbotten leter sequence? I’ll restate it.
A national health care system would make the statistical examination of health care data much more efficient, whether for national trends or particular sub-groups.
What does this have to do with the criminality and cronyism within the Bush administration? That is the topic of this thread.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pmThen-EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman…
…decided to keep her mouth shut and became just one more completely useless RePugniScum to the core!!!!! She should be charged with crimes against humanity!!!!!
June 4th, 2008 at 7:16 pmThe contract awarded by the Centers for Disease Control is aimed at tracking the health of between 4,000 and 6,000 workers who live outside the New York City area, where a separate health monitoring program is in place. The CDC is part of the Health and Human Services Department, which Thompson headed in Bush’s first term.
Twilight Zone theme plays in the background…I can’t believe that this kind of crap continues. I am sure they will be truthful and unbiased in their studies. I am sure the findings will indicate they did one heck of a job. /snark off
June 4th, 2008 at 7:17 pmLet’s not forget it was Reagan who got rid of epidemiologists so that these clusters of illnesses couldn’t be studied easily in the first place. Reagan the gift that keeps on giving.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:17 pmWell, no different than blackwater getting a contract renewal.
Then again, they did do a good job protecting the diplomats.
And like Thompson, they did a GREAT job hurting innocents.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:17 pmWhat he didn’t do enough then so we’ll give him a chance to do less now. I guess Michael Moore will have to take more first responders to Cuba for treatment.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:19 pmrogers Says:
Well, no different than blackwater getting a contract renewal.
Then again, they did do a good job protecting the diplomats.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Our troops can do that work better. Waaaay better. And we can be giving them raises to do that work with the money we’re paying that mafia.
After November, when Obama wins, will Kool-Aid finally return to its original flavors?
June 4th, 2008 at 7:20 pmOl’ Tommy was not very smart in his earlier life; endorsing kissing Rudee’s tired arse in hopes of being his VP candidate.
Once a Repug loser, always one.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:21 pmIf our trolls think this is ok, it is another example of their imperial reverance for King Bush. No questioning dear leader, no complaining about dear leader. Trolls, Bushie says to drop your pants and grab your ankles. Jenna or not jenna will be by to take inventory.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:26 pmStratRat, I’m attempting to point out that the services that have just been contracted out to Tommy Thompson for 11 million (the subject of this thread) would be readily provided with a national health care plan.
I could explain in more detail but I am still stoned so screw it.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:30 pmI could explain in more detail but I am still stoned so screw it.
Agreed. Your point is valid. What brand are you working with on your stoner travels (ak47, white widow, skunk, etc…)?
June 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pmAnd yet again, Bush appoints a fox to guard the chicken coop.
*Headdesk*
June 4th, 2008 at 7:35 pmAmazing, bush never fails to disappoint and sell out Americans.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:39 pmYou guys are missing the big story here: conflict of interest! The CDC is hiring Thompson’s company to determine whether debris from 911 sickened rescue workers, but Thompson himself has a vested interest in concluding that the debris had no ill health effects. What safeguards exist to ensure that Thompson will not interfere with the monitoring? What is to prevent Thompson from hiring people friendly to his causes who might suppress or bury all embarrassing data? Thompson has an inherent bias in protecting his reputation than in conducting sound science.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:42 pmSomeone should track exactly where that money is going. My guess would be right into that idiots pockets.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:42 pmJust a commercial grade, haven’t been able to afford high quality recently, the tourist trade is down here. Every once in a while I encounter a fellow head who share special blends.
I met a chap from South Africa who told of wonderous weed there. I was in Zurich several years ago and walked down a street lined with bars, cafes, palm readers and bawdy houses and smelled several different flavors. I sure wish I had some hash!
June 4th, 2008 at 7:44 pmLogistics Health is represented by lobbying firm Barbour Griffith & Rogers. Lanny Griffith, CEO is a Bush Ranger having raised at least $200,000 for Bush in the 2004 presidential election.
Bob Wood, President, of BGR Former Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tommy Thompson
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barbour%2C_Griffith_and_Rogers#Personnel
June 4th, 2008 at 7:45 pmSatirev- why so hostile?
St. A’s point may not have been elegantly stated but I would hardly argue that it’s off the map in regards to this topic.
The de-regulation and privatization of government functions is the stated goal of the neo-cons…
This is just one more example of how this model is inefficient, easily abused and lends itself to cronyism, but then again- I suspect those are the very attributes that recommend it to the Republicans who favor it…
June 4th, 2008 at 7:50 pmRep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) responded, “It is ironic that former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson’s firm won the contract to provide the services, given the history of delay from the Bush administration when he was secretary and now.”
Ironic? Try disgusting.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 4th, 2008 at 7:53 pmon some level, aWol leads the GOP because he has a chin.
only because he has a chin.
And a chinned-one would lead them.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:53 pmsatirev, well you are entitled to your opinion. My self evaluation would be attempts at humor.
I think I’m pissed off also, at the level of stupidity that is prevelant in rightwing circles that has yet to be countermanded by supposedly sane people. I know you would like me better in person, my non-verbal communication skills are much more relevant to the topic at hand.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:54 pmWhat was Caroline Maloney doing for the past 6 years? She obviously wasn’t paying attention to how the Bush administration works… handing out tax dollars to all the boy Bush friends and supporters for her to make such a stupid remark… “Isn’t it ironic”. There is nothing ironic or unexpected in the boy Bush handing over more tax dollars to his “loyalists”.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:57 pmYou guys are missing the big story here: conflict of interest! The CDC is hiring Thompson’s company to determine whether debris from 911 sickened rescue workers, but Thompson himself has a vested interest in concluding that the debris had no ill health effects. What safeguards exist to ensure that Thompson will not interfere with the monitoring? What is to prevent Thompson from hiring people friendly to his causes who might suppress or bury all embarrassing data? Thompson has an inherent bias in protecting his reputation than in conducting sound science. — DRAMM
******************************************************
Exactly…hence my post about the fox and the chicken coop. Bush has appointed Thompson to a position where he will be treating people with health problems for which he himself is at least partially accountable and responsible due to his misfeasance while Secretary of Health and Human Services. This puts him in a perfect position to add insult to injury in any number of ways.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:13 pmDemocratic Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, whose New York district includes the World Trade Center site, said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration should have, but did not, require cleanup workers to wear respirators.
In contrast, workers at the Pentagon crash site were forced to wear the protective devices and no one has become sick, he said.
Whitman’s justification:
Whitman said the EPA would have had to invoke the Superfund Act to take control of the site and force workers to wear respirators, but doing so would have required they show “substantial and imminent danger.” It did not, she said.
Even in June of ‘07 she wouldn’t admit she made a mistake. Whitman said “she was not even sure that any people had been sickened by the exposure.” Her justification for that was: she is not a scientist. Then why in the hell would you make a statement like that in the first place. OMG-where do these people come from?
June 4th, 2008 at 8:20 pmPaul W sez: Ironic? Try disgusting.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 4th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
‘ironic’
often is a term used by the illiteratti to sling an indictment their poor vocabularies have not the depth to better capture…
it is not ‘ironic’–’irony’ usually meaning turning the expected on its ass–but ‘indicative’, ‘illustrative,’ ‘descriptive’ of the epidemic of sleaze and corruption ushered in and exploited by the GOP to stake out its 1000-year majority..
June 4th, 2008 at 8:21 pmBluestocking you are right about the big story, but I think most non-drinkers of Bush’s Kool-Aid now recognize his moves to hide the truth as SOP.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:31 pmThe corporations cash in, we taxpayers cash out, and too many people will die. That is called “negligent homicide.” More potential defendants. Get a real AG and maybe some of them will find their butts in jail where they belong.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:29 pmFailure is rewarded again by BushCo. As long as your a loyal Bushie it doesn’t matter what you do. Can’t wait for this administration to end,this is disgusting.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:55 am