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Show The Salt Lake Tribune A4 UTAH/NATION Friday, September27, 2002 Changing Strategy: Smallpox Shots Offered to Everyone THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON Looming war with Iraq and growingconcernoverthethreat of biot errorism are moving federal officials to con sider what was once unthinkable: offer the risky smallpox vaccine to the general public before anattack ever occurs. Three months ago, federal advisers were recommending that only select hospital is to begin vaccinatingthose at greatestrisk of encountering a highly contagious smallpox patient, such as hospital emergency room workers. That could total a half million peo- wherestate Department of Health workers ple. Then the vaccine wouldbe offered to non- said Thursdaythey can dolittle but wait to give out what is called “pre-attack” smallpox hospital health workers, such as primary care doctors, and to police, firefighters and other vaccinations. emergencyworkers. At somepointafterthat, it would beoffered to the general public. such as who shouldget the vaccine whileit is question being debated is not whether the eeneral public should get it, but how fast and minewhatweneedto do,”said state epidemiologist Bob Rolfs. TheBush administration has yet to make ofic jals involved in the planning. Experts don’t knowifthe nation will ever final decisions or to announce plans for the “pre-attac smallpox shots. Rolfs said Thursday heexpects “it would not be a large Now, the Bush administrationis preparing tooffer it to all 280 million Americans. The Associated Press file photo cluding death, complicating a decisionto inoculate people absent acertain risk. Newsofthe planning has not reachedUtah, asked to get vaccinated. Administrationofficials say the consensus “Whentheplans do comeout, our folks are set to analyze them very rapidly and deter- workersget the vaccine, maybe20,000 total under Nurses at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia are ready to decontaminate “victims” during a disasterdrill this summer. one-thirdofits victims. Eradicatedinthe‘80s, it is still fearedas abioterror agent. Theva cineitself carries rare but serious risks, in- what circumstances ‘ording to three be attacked with smallpox, which kills numberofpeople in Utah” whoeventuallyare Atissue,officials say, are importantdetails still an experimental drug, which requires a lengthy procedure to ensure that pecple understand andaccept the risks. Tribune reporterTroy Goodman. contributed tothis story. Officials Warnof al-Qaida, Iraq Link Lawmakers Grill FBI, CIA Saddam possibly givingterrorists bioweapontraining @ Continued from A-1 THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS WASHINGTON Thursday stressed alleged ties between al destruction.” Democratic Sen. Russell Feingold of Qaida andIraq as President Bush pressed Wisconsin said the “popping up of the Congress and the United Nations to back the useof force to disarm Saddam Hussein’s regime. the president sought congressio The administration isoffering sies in Yemen and France last year, he said. an opportunity to testify anonymously behind a Fleischersaid. Iraq, he rorist: safe ha and possibly “unspecified training” in using chemical andbiological weapons, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeldsaidat the Pentagon. Senior al-Qaida leaders have been in gating captured al-Qaida members. “We have what we consider to be very reliable reporting of senior-level contacts said. ney lost to incumbent Demo- Kennedy by 26 points over Romney, accordingto a Boston Herald-WCVB-TY exit poll Roberts, who repeatedly has expressed concern apology for what he described as “the unintended consequencesof what I believe is an inspector gen- Rumsfeld said he asked U.S. eral runawaytrain.” Hill, whois directing the inquiry, is a former Pentagoninspector general. Watson, retiring from his post as chief of the sources and methods. Noting that he returned Wednesday Democratic leaders said there was no President Bush was speakingat a fund-raiserfor shots and nobody wantsto talk about anyof those. Andtheonly thing anyonewantsto talk aboutis the senatorial candidate John Comyn on Thursday. onethat gets through.” roughhousing in a bathing suit who remi- nisces about their first high school prom together and talks about what a good father and grandfatherheis. O'Brien for using negative ads andbeing criticized for making acting Gov. Jane Swift cry when she withdrew from the race the dayhedeclared his candidacy. Lou DiNatale, a seniorfellow at UMass-Boston’s McCormack Institute, said Romney's strategy could be effective among undecidedvoters whotypically decide late and choose a candidate based ratherthaniss ont impressions On Monday three daysafter thelatest poll was released Romney held a “Women for Romney" rally attended by morethan 500 women “He's projecting an image that is Kennedy-esque a celebrity, political sex appeal,” Romney's new TV ad shows “Believe me, no guy is going, DiNatale said, addingthe adis clearly targeted at women. thelean, 6-foot-2 candidateplay- ‘Ah look, he’s got all those ing basketball and grandkids.’ " “He’s projecting an image that is Kennedy-esque — a celebrity, political sex appeal. Believe me, no guy is going, ‘Ah look, he’s gotall those grandkids.’ ”” LOUDiNATALE Analyst at UMass-Boston’s McCormack Institute, on Mitt Romney's TV ads Funding Cuts | Squeeze Utah’s Addict Services @ Continued from A-! In May, People magazine called Romney “arrestingly pictures of Romneybefore a debate Tuesday night. Romneyis also running anothertelevision when demand for their ser- of the 50 mostbeautiful people in ad that touts his education vices is growing. The percentage of Utahnsliving below the poverty line is rising at the plans, Fehrnstrom said. Victoria Budson, executive director of the Womenand Pub- fastest rate in the nation, an not to noticehis blinding smile.” O'Brien, 43, joked she had no plans to film anyads wearing a bathing suit. The former Yale University soccer captain did use an old photo of herself in lic Policy program at Harvard's John F. Kennedy Schoolof Gov- strains social service agencies. At the sametime,state corrections officials are empha- handsome”and named him one theworld,notingalso:“It’s hard uniform in an adthat aired beforethe primary. Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, denied Romneyis directly targeting femalevoters. Fehrnstrom said the run was scheduled to accommodate news-media requests for ernment, said it is useful to learn more about a candidate’s life, but female voters are more drawn bystances on education, the environment and other issues. don’t think golfing with President Bushis going to win him the women’s vote,” she said. increase Hope Appeal it would beover in six months,” Johnson said Wedne: if everyone had been upfront about what took place during thebid, it would have,” Welch and Johnson have never denied theylavished 10¢ members with cash, gifts, trips andattention. However, they goals of corporation, not always insisted their pocket book approach was common amongbidcities, offensive only in hindsight and neverillegal A year ago, U.S. District ae David Samessentially agree Heruled that Utah's obseu: bribery statute, used only to prosecute kickback schemes, wasnever meant to applyto the Olympic lobbying process. ‘Therefore, Welch and Johnson had no way of knowing their conduct violated state or fed a constitutionalre. quirement known as “fair notice. In addition, Sam said the state law's wording was too am biguous becauseit outlaws con ferring“any benefit" designed to influence the conduct of em. ployees, agents orfiduciaries. andsoforth,” Sam wrote. Added Johnson: “Under the government's theory, legislators whoacceptedtickets to the closing ceremonyviolated the the grand jury's deliberations were tainted bytheallegations sizing rehabilitation over prison for drug offenders, a policy shift that has flooded treatment providers with new clients. According to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, about 85 percent of the county’s criminal offenders have a drug or alcoholproblem. Said Fleming, “Utah's accounting and investment scandals has gutted public con- fidence in corporate accountability. Federal prosecutor Richard Wiedis said the Olympic briberycase“fits right in” with the Justice Department's new fo- cus on rooting out corporate fraud. However, defense lawyers say it is folly to compare the Olympic case with thoseof Enronand WorldCom. Welch and Johnson never profited from their deeds, and SLOC andits so-called shareholders reaped the spoils; the Games turneda $100million profit “What was doneduring the Johnson problem is its asked the court to rule that Welch and Johnson cannotbe substance-abuse problem.” charged with fraud because they did not seek any personal ties plummetedin the wakeof last year’sterrorist attacks, as dollars went to Sept. 11 vic- gain anddid not intendto inflict economic harm onthe bid Donations to Utah chari- tims’ funds instead. Then the committee. In its appeal, the government Utah Legislature trimmed al- insists that the payments Welch and Johnson made are not lawyer, Max goodwill gifts meant to build substance-abuse budget for fiscal year 2003. This cut, compounded by the loss of matching federal business relationships, but bribes prohibited by Utah law. “Anyone knows thedifference between a souvenir or enter- tainment expenditureora fistful of cash,” prosecutors wrote. Besides, they argue, a grand most $200,000 from thestate's funds, meant a reduction of almost $400,000 in treatment services statewide, Fleming said. The pinch has been felt mood does not trump the rule of law, it could jury would have indicted for most in populous Salt Lake ouwhich gets about half of money for charges evenif there had been cietneeie affect the appellate bribery statute. post-Olympic ofbribery. traditionally to line the pockets of executives,” sai Johnson's Wheeler. “If anyone was hurt it was Tom and Dave.” While the ‘Travel Act.” Samalsothrewoutthefraud andconspiracycharges,saying But that was a year ago. The threat that the Olympics would be overshadowedby a trial no longer exists. And a spate of process was done to further the whether providing dinner is legal under the statute, but providing lodging is not; and so @ Continued from A-1 we figured bid members to and fromtheairport is sanctioned . . but providing dinner for themis not; Will End Ordeal investigating, “The statute leaves defen dants to guess whether such gestures as transporting IOC that court’s willingness to overrule Sam and revive the case against Welch and Johnson. “It's not something the judges are supposedto takeinto account, but it may be in the back of their minds,” said former U.S. Attorney Brent Ward. “They're not completely immune.” The central questions the court must consider are whether Welch and Johnson hadadequate noticethat giving inducements to IOC members violated Utah's bribery law and whether Sam correct in dismissing the other charges. Defense attorneys also have the mail and wire fraud no mention of the commercial Both sides havea lottolose. If the court upholds Sam's ruling, it would provide a strong precedent for challenging future prosecutions involving the Travel Act. And if the government pre- vails, Welch and Johnsonrisk ajury trial anda possible guilty verdict. “It is inconceivableis to me The county's 16 To save money, providers increasingly are laying off staffers and recommending outpatient or short-term resithe long-term programs. “We're having to make the dollars stretch farther and farther,” said Robert Rosenblatt, business relations spe- cialist at The Haven,a 14-bed Salt Lake City treatment center. “A lot of people out there whoneed help just aren't goingto getit.” To make matters worse, Utah treatmentcenters are seeing an explosion in the numbers of methamphet- amine addicts, who tend to require longer, more expen- sive rehabilitation than users of mostother drugs. Ten years ago, Salt Lake Countytreated 20 such addicts; last year, the county saw 2,080. More Salt Lake area addicts are hooked on meth than any other sub- stance, except for alcohol. At the sametime,thestate is making contracted treat ment centers work harder to earn their funding. For the first time, state and county substance-abuse officials are requiring providers to submit monthly data showing how they spend their treatment dollars. “The days of us giving out big blocks of money are com- ing to an end,”said Salt Lake County's Whalen, “We want to make sure our providers are doing a good job. So it's more difficult these days for them to get money.” publicly programs before its treatment funded treatment providers, whobetweenthem saw almost 12,000 clients last year, saw their funding slashed up to 30 percent, “Every treatment program in the county has been hurt. I've been in the substance- abuse field for 15 years, and thisis the worstI've ever seen it,” said Kory Bond, ex ive pursuing what was a commu pening is that theoptions for nityeffort,” Welch said. “Equally numbing is the fact clients are being reduced four years. As positive as the clients was two months; now, addicts must wait eight that is hard to shake,” Substance Abuse. The Salvation Army scrambled to place about 30 clients in other treatment director of First Step,a residential treatment center for adult men. “What's hap- Olympics have beenin my life, it certain'y has beenatar baby treatment manager for Salt Lake County's Division of treatment. that the federal government would spendmillions of dollars that this has nowgone onfor less effective that treatment tendsto be, said Tim Whalen, dential treatment instead of economy, squeezes Utah treatment providers at a time crime Ex-Bid Leaders terrorism will everbe perfect. “We don’t do everything alwaysright,” he said. “We're like a soccer goalkeeper. We can block 99 Peace signs,anti-war slogans and a death mask graced downtown Houston as a couple hundred people demonstrated outside the hotel where resolution. ney’s wife, Ann, counterterrorism division, said no defense against Pat Sullivan/TheAssociated Press agreement within Congress on an Iraq ata lake with his sons. The ad also features Rom- Roberts read a dictionary definition of dissemble that included “to hide undera false appearance.” that the hearings would only demoralizeintelligence agencies during wartime,then offered his personal last week to decide whatspecifi Qaida’s alleged presence in Iraq could be released without revealing intelligence Romney may be trying to boost his image as a gentleman, after being labeled a “bully” by cratic U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, women supported | history of developing weapons onhis ow! gression” agreement, he added. men. Eight years ago, when Rom Sen.Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told Black that a hearing briefing book prepared by inquiry staff predicted Black would “dissemble” if asked certain questions. chersaid. “It’s tied to Saddam Hussein's been out of town andI don’t know anything about an orchestrated” effort to portray Iraq as an al-Qaida ally. women, though he led among ry, issued three reports overthe past week outlining missed clues and warningsthat could have led the the need for regime changeis not directly tied to anything involving al-Qaida,” Fleis- also have discussed a “reciprocal nonag- withouthisshirt,” O'Briensaid. A Boston Herald poll last week showed Romney trailing O'Brien by 15 points among people in the eye.” ‘The appearancesof Black and Watson cameafter Eleanor Hill, staff director of the committee’s inqui- | CIA, FBI and other agencies toward the Sept. 11 hijackings. gressional and U.N.resolutions approving the useofforce. “The case the president is making about evening from Poland, Rumsfeld said, “I've Further, Rumsfeld said, there is “credible evidence that al-Qaida leaders | creased effort to tie the two together was part of the president's campaign for con- going back a decade” betweenal-Qaida and leaders, the defense secretary said. Saddamregimeandal-Qaida leaders Notingthathe had beenoffered — butdeclined — screen, Black said, “I want to look the American National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice unveiled someofthedetails about the allegedlink between Baghdad andal-Qaida inatelevision interview Wednesday. Fleischer and Rumsfeld denied that the in- Baghdad “in the past period of days or weeks,”hesaid, adding that someinformation he was releasing came from interro- Despite limitations, intelligence officials had successes, including thwarting a 1998 attack on the U.S. embassyin Albania and a millennium plot in Jordan, and uncovering threats to the U.S. embas- ifting justifications” for taking action against In an appearance with members ofCon: gress, the president cited the risk that Iraq ment aid al-Qaida as one reason “the Iraqi ‘tator must be disarmed.” ing day could be the one on qi regimegives anthrax or VX nervegas or someday anuc weapon toa terrorist ally,” Bush declared. Iraq has given Osama bin Laden's ter- | | cking comfort,” White House press secretary Ari @ Continued from A-1 were overwhelmed butdid an excellentjob with the limited resources they had. | claim”ofties betweenal-QaidaandIraqas for a possible war was “unsettlin, “Al-Qaida and Iraq are too close for Romney TV Ads May Be Aimed At Female Voters | have sought contacts in Iraq who could help. them acquire weapons of mass Top U.S. officials Officials on Missed Clues A year ago, First Step's waiting list for low-income months for a bed. The longer addicts wait for treatment, the center closes Oct. 20. The agency also will move its family services program in January toits downtownSalt Lake City headquarters at 252 S, 500 East, whereit will occupy space vacated by the treatment center, In the meantime,the county’s other treatment centers are seeking to house some Salvation Armyclients, “Hopefully we can pick up the slack,” said Catholic Community Services execu. tive director Maggie St Claire. “Theseare people who don't have anyotherresoure. es. So if theydon't have resi. dential treatment, they're homeless. street.” They're on the |
