Why are we not hearing more about the Siga Scandal?
I am sure we all remember the LA TIMES of all sources breaking this last month: Â (short excerpt followed by link)
“Over the last year, the Obama administration has aggressively pushed a $433-million plan to buy an experimental smallpox drug, despite uncertainty over whether it is needed or will work.
“Senior officials have taken unusual steps to secure the contract for New York-based Siga Technologies Inc., whose controlling shareholder is billionaire Ronald O. Perelman, one of the world’s richest men and a longtime Democratic Party donor.
“When Siga complained that contracting specialists at the Department of Health and Human Services were resisting the company’s financial demands, senior officials replaced the government’s lead negotiator for the deal, interviews and documents show.
“When Siga was in danger of losing its grip on the contract a year ago, the officials blocked other firms from competing.
“Siga was awarded the final contract in May through a “sole-source” procurement in which it was the only company asked to submit a proposal. The contract calls for Siga to deliver 1.7 million doses of the drug for the nation’s biodefense stockpile. The price of approximately $255 per dose is well above what the government’s specialists had earlier said was reasonable, according to internal documents and interviews.” Â READ FULL STORY HERE – IT IS LONG, BUT WORTH IT
I just posted the poll (center column) about many of the biggest scandals, but I seriously wonder how this one has just “faded away.” Â To me it is the most direct link to money and influence corruption. Â Legal or not, it is corruption by its very nature.
This is what our GOP candidates need to be talking about. They need to get off slamming each other and start getting to the real problem in this country: Â Our infamous leader, Obama.
As you can see, SIGA even has a “government relations” page on its website.  They proudly proclaim their ability to influence the money in their direction:  ” working relationships with federal partners and academic laboratories are essential to its success.”  SEE THAT PAGE HERE
I am thrilled to see that Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill has not rolled over and gone with the party. Not one of my favorites in the Senate by any means, I can say we all should thank her for being on the right side of history on this one. Â Another link to the LA TIMES story on that – LINK HERE.
Let me know what all of you think!
