I Hate to Say I Told You So, But . . .

MOHELA loses $6.9 million, cuts 23 jobs. I'm just sayin'....

HPV Legislation Perfected

Yesterday I presented SB 778 to the full Senate. The measure directs the Department of Health and Human Services to send age-appropriate information to parents or guardians of female students entering the sixth grade regarding the connection between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. After receiving the information, the parent or guardian can then decide whether the immunization is appropriate.

Cervical cancer claims the lives of an estimated 3,700 American women every year and is the second most common cancer in women. The vaccine for HPV is 100% effective against cervical cancer.

During floor debate on SB 778, I stressed that immunizations for HPV will be optional. I understand the trepidation some parents have regarding vaccinations in general, and did not want to cause them distress by calling for a state mandate on HPV vaccinations.

I’ve done a lot of research on the polio vaccine in my capacity as an attorney, and found some people refused to be vaccinated due to fears about potential side effects. But the benefits of the polio vaccine clearly outweighed the small risks associated with it, and I believe the same to be true of the HPV vaccine.

HPV can be sexually transmitted and if left untreated can cause many health problems, from cervical cancer to genital warts. There are 100 different types of HPV, and about 30 types are considered high risk, leading to cervical cancer, abnormal pap smears and genital warts. HPV infections can persist for many years and are common in both men and women. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms, and can go undetected yet still be transmitted to a partner.

Approximately 80% of the adult population has a strain of HPV.

SB 778 allows a student to be immunized at public expense at the county, district or city public health center or by a school nurse if the parent or guardian is unable to pay for the vaccination.

The measure needs final Senate approval before moving to the House for consideration.

Not Because She's a Woman ... Because I Am

Great piece from Robin Morgan on the politics of gender.

Ms. Morgan sums up my thoughts exactly:

Me? I support Hillary Rodham because she’s the best qualified of all candidates running in both parties. I support her because she’s refreshingly thoughtful, and I’m bloodied from eight years of a jolly “uniter” with ejaculatory politics. I needn’t agree with her on every point. I agree with the 97 percent of her positions that are identical with Obama’s—and the few where hers are both more practical and to the left of his (like health care). I support her because she’s already smashed the first-lady stereotype and made history as a fine senator, because I believe she will continue to make history not only as the first U.S. woman president, but as a great U.S. president.

As for the “woman thing”?

Me, I’m voting for Hillary not because she’s a woman—but because I am.

A Welcome Visit

Child Advocacy day was this week at the Capitol and I had a great visit with some students from Hickman Mills, Ruskin & William Chrisman (Independence) High Schools. I don't know how we did it, but at one point we had at least 30 people crammed into my little office. Thanks for taking time to come to your state Capitol to talk about children's issues. You made my week!