Boom! Rep Jim Jordan Questions Dr. Lurie on NIH Funding Allocations

by Kim D.

After the first case of Ebola landed in Dallas, Texas, sparking immediate concern, one of the criticisms immediately screamed by the Libcrib was that Republicans cut NIH funding for infectious disease research and vaccine creation. But, is that really true when a Democrat President proposed the the sequester upon which any funding cut is blamed?

But should Americans really be looking at what funds were cut or how they were spent? Senator Coburn's Wastebook 2014 should illuminate this issue. Caution: blood may begin boiling by page three upon learning that the NIH approved funding for Swedish massages for rabbits yet could not find the resources to begin developing Ebola vaccines.

Today via C-Span2, the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee held a hearing on the effectiveness of the United States' response to the Ebola crisis. Among those testifying was Dr. Nicole Lurie, who had been suspiciously missing from any initial government response to the Ebola threat.

Have you seen me? Dr. Nicole Lurie, DHHS Asst Secy for Preparedness&Response. Missing since beg of Ebola outbreak. pic.twitter.com/MVCm5GvmIr
— Robert Bell (@TennLion) October 21, 2014

Rep. Jim Jordan (R) of Ohio questioned a stumbling Dr. Lurie on her role in funding allocation within the NIH. After asking a straightforward question of whether Lurie was the key person in the government for medical preparedness and public health emergencies, she tried to dance around the title, but, finally, when confronted with her own webpage, she confirmed this was her role.

So, if Dr. Lurie is in charge of how NIH spends funds (in 2013 the amount budgeted was $28.92 billion), then why on earth isn't the United States better prepared in its response to the Ebola crisis? According to Rep, Jordan, 39 million dollars was frivolously wasted. Dr. Lurie's response? It's simply not up to her to decide how NIH funding is spent, but Jordan pointed out that she was the point person required to sign off and give the final okay to any NIH funds spent.

Rep. Jordan then asked wouldn't we be closer to vaccine development if $39 million dollars wasn't wasted? Dr. Lurie's response? No because the development of a vaccine is a long and costly process. Then when pressed further, Lurie, as the point person for NIH funding, claimed she wasn't in a position to speak for resource allocation.

Hmmmm . . . . just let that simmer.