My editorial on poison control printed today

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2011/03/15/opinion/doc4d7f96c013ddc853064430.txt

Recently, the House of Representatives passed H.B. 1. The goal of H.B. 1 is to cut federal spending on unnecessary items.

You can read more on this bill here:

http://www.gop.gov/bill/112/1/hr1

One area these representatives have chosen to cut is The Poison Control Center.

The Poison Control Center serves many purposes. It offers recommendations to emergency rooms for treatment of various poisons ... both manmade and natural (i.e. animal, plant, insect and reptile exposure). It offers referrals for specific poison treaments (i.e. centers that provide emergency dialysis, medications and advanced medical therapies). It refers citizens to resources for poison prevention and education. And, finally, it supports research into further treatment for poison exposures.

A $27 million reduction in the $29 million budget is up for a vote in the Senate.This cut will affect 57 Poison Control Centers in the United States and U.S. territories. In states with limited funding, it may completely eliminate the program’s existance.

After you have researched how your House member has voted, PLEASE contact your Senator and plead for reconsideration of this budget elimination. This can not be considered pro-life by any stretch of the imagination.

The lives of your family and your neighbors depend on the availability of this program.

[highplainsdem]

1. Great op-ed piece! Please see this link about the poison control centers' database,

which could be the GOP's main target:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x621904

That page about the NPDS, on the American Association of Poison Control Centers website, explains that their data can "help provide evidence for product repackaging, recalls, bans, and over the counter status changes." Which makes it extremely important and helpful to consumers, but a threat to business profits.

A similar threat is posed by something else the GOP is planning to defund now -- the Consumer Product Safety Commission's public complaint database.

[highplainsdem]

2. kick