Reward!
For
Information Leading To The Identification Of The Eli Lilly
Bandit
In November [2002],
as Congress finalized the legislation authorizing a new
Department of Homeland Security, two paragraphs suddenly
appeared in the bill giving drug maker Eli Lilly &
Company something it desired: a shield from lawsuits by
parents who claim the company's vaccines caused their
children's autism.
The provision diverts those suits from
state courts to a federal 'vaccine court' where damages are
capped at $250,000 -- small compensation for a child's
lifetime of medical care. And because any damages awarded by
the vaccine court are paid by U.S. taxpayers, manufacturers
are relieved of liability.
It's a sweet deal for Eli
Lilly, a very special interest that, like most mega-donors,
gets what it wants in Washington. Since 2000, the company has given $1.6 million
to national parties and federal campaigns, 79 percent of it
to Republicans.
Who inserted the provision? Reporters tried and failed to find out.
Lilly's lobbyists (laughably) claim ignorance. No one on
Capitol Hill is proud enough of his handiwork to claim it.
Democracy requires
accountability, so TomPaine.com is offering a $10,000 reward
to the first person who proves the identity of the Eli Lilly
Bandit -- the member of
Congress responsible for inserting the company's special
provision. Mail submissions to PO Box 53303, Washington,
D.C. 20009. The
complete terms and conditions of this offer are posted at www.TomPaine.com.
Public officials who work secret deals
like this are cowards. They subvert and dishonor a
fundamental American principle -- open government
accountable to the people.
Help us finger the Eli Lilly Bandit.
A CLARIFICATION: Lots of readers have
contacted us to say, "Rep. Dick Armey admitted doing
it!" We know that. It's easy for Dick Armey to say he
did it -- he's a lame duck with no accountability. And
indeed, Armey, as House Majority Leader, did ALLOW it to
happen. But what TomPaine.com is looking for is THE PERSON
WHO *ASKED* ARMEY to ALLOW it to happen. THAT is the person
we want to finger.
Published: Dec 18 2002
Related Articles:
Finding
The Eli Lilly Bandit
A Compendium Of Recent Articles
|
by
TomPaine.com Staff
|
|
Links to articles in The
New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday,
and elsewhere. |
Terms
and Conditions...
...For The REWARD! Op Ad Contest
|
by
TomPaine.com Staff
|
|
Our lawyer says we have to
post this. If you're thinking of entering our
contest, you better read it. |
Finding
The Answer To Washington's Hottest Whodunit
Mystery Legislator Does Corporate Bidding Behind Closed
Doors
|
by
Arianna Huffington
|
|
In a town where knowledge
is power, there has been a sudden outbreak of
people playing dumb as to how an ugly little
provision shielding pharmaceutical behemoth Eli
Lilly from billions in lawsuits filed by the
parents of autistic children made its way, in
the 12th hour, into the Homeland Security bill. |
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to TomPaine.com for details!!