Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) on Tuesday criticized Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) -- her opponent in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary -- over his executive order three years ago that would have required sixth-grade girls to receive vaccinations against the human papillomavirus, the AP/Dallas Morning News reports. The state Legislature overruled the executive order, though the moratorium by the State Legislature will expire in January 2011.
Perry's executive order angered social conservatives who considered it misaligned with the state's abstinence-only approach to sexual education. Critics also contended that the requirement violated parental rights. Speaking Tuesday at a meeting of Dallas County Council of Republican Women, Hutchison noted that Perry's chief of staff at the time was a former lobbyist for Merck, the vaccine's manufacturer. Perry defended his order as "erring on the side [of] life," but a Hutchison campaign press release said "it looks like Perry was really erring on the side of Merck and their lobbyists."
Perry did not directly respond to Hutchison's criticisms during a speaking engagement Tuesday. However, Perry defended his executive order during a debate Friday against Hutchison and a third candidate, GOP activist Debra Medina. Perry campaign spokesperson Mark Miner said in an e-mail to the Associated Press, "The governor looked at [the HPV vaccination] issue as protecting life, and Sen. Hutchison is pro-choice." Hutchison has said she opposes overturning Roe v. Wade but supports laws requiring minors to receive parental consent before an abortion and bans of abortion procedures late in pregnancy (Carlton, AP/Dallas Morning News, 2/3).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2010 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.