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Brickbat: vaccine veto

Usually right on the money when it comes to embracing the public good, Gov. Bill Richardson blew it this week.

Even at the risk of being called a flip-flopper, he announced he would veto a bill - which he originally supported - that mandated immunizing New Mexico schoolgirls against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus. The sexually transmitted virus can cause cervical cancer, and physicians and public health advocates say the vaccine could save thousands of women's lives.

The bill would have required girls to be immunized before entering sixth grade - not too early, according to some studies on initial sexual activity of American youngsters.

Critics contend mandatory HPV immunization laws will promote sexual promiscuity among youngsters, but there is no scientific evidence to sustain this view. Kids should know that HPV is one of many sexually transmitted diseases they risk getting if they have early and unprotected sex. If they don't know this, it's a massive failure by parents, schools and public health programs.

In any event, the bill had the usual opt-out provisions that allow parents who object to immunizations to refuse to immunize their children.

Which makes Richardson's switch-and-veto all the more perplexing. He said there isn't enough time before the June 15 implementation date to inform and educate parents, schools and health-care providers.

Come on. If this were a vaccine to immunize against bird flu, and an epidemic was looming, Richardson and his health department would find ways to inform everyone of the urgency of immunizing kids. Or suppose it was a vaccine that immunized against prostate cancer? Would there still not be enough time to educate?

The point is that cervical cancer kills women. The vaccine protects against the cause, HPV. Do parents, schools and health care providers really need a Richardson road map to protect young girls right now?

The governor should do himself, his constituents and a lot of young girls - who we all want to grow up to become healthy women - a big favor and sign the bill.

Bouquet: give-back

Richardson is to be commended for announcing he will return political campaign contributions totaling $35,000, made during his 2002 and 2006 campaigns, from people recently indicted, or who already have pleaded guilty, in the federal corruption case involving the Metropolitan Courthouse in Albuquerque.

Likewise for Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who later said she, too, would get the contributions off her campaign books. She promised to donate to charity $1,000 she received from two people indicted in the courthouse case. Denish said she plans to give the money to the New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation.

In taking these steps boldly and publicly, Democrats Denish and Richardson are sending a clear message that they do not want and will not keep tainted political contributions.

Reportedly, two of Richardson's biggest critics, Republicans Rep. Dan Foley and Sen. Rod Adair, both of Roswell, also received campaign contributions from former Albuquerque Mayor Ken Schultz, who has pleaded guilty in the courthouse kickback case. Schultz also gave generously to the State Republican Party.

No word from the Roswell Republicans on what, if anything, they plan to do with the funds.