None Dare Call It Graft

The US Defense Department said compulsory anthrax vaccination of military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea will resume within the next 30 to 60 days. Anthrax immunization is said to raise the risk of infertility, multiple sclerosis and lupus. Although people have died following a vaccination, the Pentagon says the link between anthrax immunization and death is not evident.

Bioport finally going to get theirs?

BioPort Corporation was/is the sole manufacturer of the anthrax vaccine. BioPort, whose headquarters is located in Lansing, Michigan, is owned by multiple shareholders. The two main companies that make up BioPort are Intervac, headed by William Crowe and Faud El-Hibri, and Michigan Biologic Products Inc., which is made up of seven managers from the era when the State of Michigan owned the plant, headed by Robert Myers. The former state employees were specifically permitted by the Michigan State Legislature to bid on the sale. The legislators hoped that retaining local management as investors would help keep the plant and its 174 jobs in Michigan. Admiral William Crowe, Jr., is a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.S. ambassador to Britain until 1997. Fuad El-Hibri, a German citizen of Lebanese descent, transformed a British government plant for vaccine production into a successful private venture.

Bioport was/is – until Emergent Solutions was formed in 2004 and became parent company to Bioport. Fuad El-Hibri is also CEO of Emergent. Admiral William J. Crowe retired last year from Emergent at the ripe old age of 80. Last but not least, Robert Myers is a very busy man with many companies.

Bioport/Emergent spent $880,000 last year in lobbying. Note the chart shows lobbying costs in 2003 was $200,000, in 2004 it was just under $400,000, and 2005 the $880,000 figure. In 2006 that tiny sliver on the chart looks like maybe $50,000? Must have known they had their money's worth and didn't need to press the palms of congress this year.