Amid Budget Mess, Should Texas Be in Cancer Business?
To solve the state’s budget crisis, lawmakers are considering sweeping cuts to almost everything, from school funding to child welfare services. But a $300-million-a-year cancer institute championed by Gov. Rick Perry and now-retired cyclist Lance Armstrong and approved by voters in 2007 has so far escaped the budget knife.
Advocates for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas say they believe it will be spared for two key reasons: First, it’s funded by voter-sanctioned bonds — $3 billion over 10 years — and the state’s only financial responsibility in the next budget is roughly $14.5 million in ...
Comments (4)
Kim Batchelor
Someone should inform Rep. Heflin that there is much needed research that the private sector refuses to conduct, even development of new medications. Why did the government recently have to set up an agency to conduct the pharmaceutical research that pharma does not engage in? There's no incentive for prevention research unless it involves a drug with profit potential.
Tim Tukaram Spotswood via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'd much rather see this cut than what they are planning for our schools. In our district they are talking about firing 3,000 people. Teachers, administrators, and support staff.
Frank Ceril
MEXICO CITY, — http://www.oem.com.mx/ elsoldemexico/notas/n1635162. htm (Translation)
City of Mexico. - The Legislative Assembly exhorted to the Commission of Health of the House of Representatives to support the development of potential pharmacological compounds that could represent an option of treatment for AIDSand the cancer. The proposal was done by the local Representative, Arturo Lopez Candido, who presented and promoted an agreement point recommending the Congress of the Union to invest in alternative laboratory protoccols developed by the Mexican scientist Jaime Lagnez Otero and his research team to create therapeutic compounds within the reach of ample social sectors. Lopez Candido affirmed that the investigations are due to impact diseases with a great incidence of mortality. He mentioned that this investigation are being registered by the Mexican Institute of the Industrial Property in order to count on economic sustenance to develop the compounds. The legislator also commented that it is very good any effort to generate less expensive DNA biotechnological methods.
jpt51
In 93 Republicans axed Ann Richards’ Super Collider for budgetary reasons. What’s the difference? For once I agree with Talmadge Heflin, let the private sector do the research on their own dime! You can betany breakthroughs aren't going to end up being given back to the state. If $14 million can be saved nixing the, 'institute, I'd rather see the funds keep kids insured or a school open.