As sure as Christmas music in the mall signifies the coming of the holidays, so too do silly lawsuits and testosterone-laden accusations signal the budding of the nascent 2006 political campaign season. As the giant spruce goes up in Rockefeller Center, Montgomery County (MD) Executive Douglas M. Duncan announced that the county will sue the Food and Drug Administration to force it to allow county employees to import drugs from other countries.
It’s beginning to smell a lot like — well, it’s just beginning to smell.
According to The Washington Post, the county’s lawsuit “faces long odds.” In late September, a federal judge threw out a similar action brought by Vermont. On Nov. 2, that state’s attorney general decided not to appeal. But, hey, what’s precedent when you’ve got propaganda? “I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the Bush Administration would deny hard working people access to cheaper prescription medications,” Duncan said in a statement.
Mr. Duncan, it seems, is so worked up about the issue that he forgot to sign the legislation. He said that he’ll let the law go into effect without his signature — but will not implement the measure without FDA support. Now is that commitment or what!
Council President Tom Perez, the architect of the council’s bill, angrily accused Duncan of trying to derail the effort. “I am really reaching a point where people will lead, follow or get out of way. I will implement it out of my own office if I have to,” said Perez, who is hoping to use the prescription drug issue if he runs for state attorney general next year.
And that, dear reader, says it all.
