LTTE to the Globe - You underestimate Kerry’s advocacy over health agency

[Mass]

In response of this editorial NIH needs a champion — and Brown can fill the void who pretty much dismisses Kerry's role in Kennedy's affairs and calls on Brown to take back Kennedy's mantel (what are they smoking? ), here is the LTTE of one of Kennedy's former chief of staff.


http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2011/05/13/you_underestimate_kerrys_advocacy_over_health_agency/

You underestimate Kerry’s advocacy over health agency
YOUR MAY 11 editorial “NIH needs a champion — and Brown can fill the void’’ correctly conveyed the extraordinary leadership Senator Edward Kennedy provided for the National Institutes of Health over many decades. But it was incorrect in implying that John Kerry’s prominence as the Senate’s leader on national security and energy limited his ability to champion the NIH.


In fact, many of us who worked for Kennedy were impressed at the way Kerry picked up the cause and, from his position on the Finance Committee during the health reform debate, particularly immersed himself in the health care, life sciences, hospital, and research issues so vital to Massachusetts. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised, since, as a candidate for president, Kerry was passionate about stem cell research before it was widely accepted.


Now, as senior senator, Kerry has proved a successful multi-tasker. Last June he led the push, with Senator Tom Harkin, for an 11.9 percent increase in NIH funding. After the November elections brought a new band of Tea Party Republicans to Washington, Kerry fervently made the case against the House Republican budget’s $1.6 billion cut for the NIH. The painful House cuts were staved off in the Senate and, in the final compromise, NIH was cut just $200 million.

Kerry’s eloquence on foreign policy is an asset, not a weakness; he is the Senate’s most articulate voice arguing that NIH research dollars are key to the United States winning global market share rather than trailing its competitors.

The writer was chief of staff to Senator Kennedy on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee — what is now the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee — from 1989 to 1998.

© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.

And here is a second LLTE on the same topic

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2011/05/13/wishful_thinking_to_imagine_brown_taking_up_the_cudgel/

Wishful thinking to imagine Brown taking up the cudgel
May 13, 2011
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YOUR MAY 11 editorial “NIH needs a champion — and Brown can fill the void’’ correctly challenges Senator Scott Brown to be an advocate for National Institutes of Health funding, as Senator Edward Kennedy was for decades. But it glosses over Brown’s record of voting to cut NIH funding, which indicates he’s not interested in the job. Brown voted for the Republicans’ House budget, which included a $1.6 billion blow to NIH. He even voted against just maintaining NIH’s funding at the current level.

These were votes against Massachusetts, the second-largest recipient of NIH funding in the country. Almost half of all biomedical research jobs in Massachusetts are supported by this funding. Research employs about 70,000 people statewide.

Ultimately it was Democrats in Congress — including our state’s senior senator, John Kerry, and Representative Ed Markey — who helped limit NIH cuts to just $200 million.

It may be wishful thinking that Brown will become the NIH’s champion, but I hope he’ll at least stop being its opponent.

Philip W. Johnston
Marshfield
The writer is the former state secretary of health and human services and former chairman of the state Democratic Party.

Happy to see this editorial got some reactions from Democrats and that this reactions included a defense of Senator Kerry.

I am also concerned that the Globe is to engulfed by its meme that Senator Kerry is unlikeable and uninterested by the state while Senator Brown is likeable and interested to be able to change their reporting on this issue.

[MBS]

1. that is a great letter!

Great that it got in the Globe, and great that you called it to our attention.Thanks.

[Inuca]

2. A pleasure to read n/t