The political dogs were frothing recently. They blamed George W. Bush for the Ebola outbreak. One TV ad proclaimed that “Republican Cuts Kill.” It claimed big health-care cuts slowed down development of an Ebola vaccine.

A top doc at our National Institutes of Health (NIH) claimed we likely would have had a vaccine. But NIH lacked the money. The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said something similar.

Meanwhile, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee lamented the deep health-care cuts. He assured us they have held back our response to the Ebola outbreak.

There are just a few problems with this. One is that the CDC budget today is 25 percent higher than in 2008. It is 188 percent higher than it was in 2000. As for the NIH budget, it is double what it was 14 years ago. NIH is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Its budget is up 9-fold since 1970. Does this sound like a starvation diet to you?

Besides, if the Republicans are so horrible, how did the NIH budget this year get to be $1 billion more than the president asked for? The CDC budget this year is also higher than the president requested.

Getting back to the flat-lining of the NIH budget. Before the flat-lining began, its budget soared 58 percent in four years.

Over the last 10 years, HHS asked for and received billions for an outbreak of this type. It got funds for a new office devoted to this and this alone. Two other big bills gave the agency billions to handle situations like Ebola. So what happened to that money?

Meanwhile, was Ebola really so important to the NIH? Over the last few years it has granted $400,000 to research diseases among male sex workers in Peru. 

Also, $600,000 to study why chimps fling feces. Also, $1 million to study sexual attraction among fruit flies.

Then there was $700,000 to study the impact of TV and gas generators on villages in Vietnam. And $175,000 granted to a university to study how cocaine affects the sex drive of Japanese quail. And $500,000 for a study that will send text messages in “gay lingo” to meth addicts. Do you suppose some of this might have better gone to Ebola research?

The CDC spent $106 million for a swanky visitors’ center — duplicating one it already had. It spent $10 million for new furnishings for its lavish headquarters. 

And $1.7 million to advise Hollywood on medical plots. Also, the CDC has a multi-billion-dollar slush fund. Much of it spent on other whacky projects.

All of this certainly shows that George W. Bush’s screw-ups brought on the Ebola crisis. 

So what is the truth in this Ebola mess? With such conflicting claims, who can tell? The following is strictly a guess — based on human nature. The part of human nature that causes guilty people, backed into a corner, to come out fighting.

My guess is that the NIH and CDC guys know that their agencies have screwed up. Their first reaction: Blame Congress. Blame the Republicans. Blame the cleaning ladies. Blame the Koch brothers. Blame … Hey, let’s blame Bush!

From Tom…as in Morgan.                   

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and TV show. For more information about him, visit his website at www.tomasinmorgan.com 

New York’s roads and bridges give us all a way to connect with each other. They are our way to get to work, to school, and to friends and family. Without a strong and reliable network of critical infrastructure, New York risks losing a resource that drives the economy and allows us to be competitive in the national and global job market. For this reason, I support initiatives aimed at maintaining and improving New York’s means of transportation.

Windfall money should be used for long-term solutions
A recent infusion of several billion dollars from settlements with the French bank BNP Paribas has given state decision-makers a unique opportunity. By using this money to make long-term fixes to lingering problems plaguing communities, we can ensure a more fiscally sound future.

The transportation of commuters, goods, and emergency supplies is vital to a successful economy and keeps our communities running on all cylinders. I proudly supported an additional $75 million in funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), which was included in the 2013-2014 State Budget. We must continue to provide adequate funding for our local roads and highways, which account for nearly half of the mileage of all New York’s cars.

Poorly maintained roads and bridges lead to wear-and-tear on vehicles and increased chances of accidents. Nationally, potholes cost drivers more than $6 billion, according to inflation-adjusted statistics from AAA. Crumbling infrastructure also affects commerce and leads to longer travel times for residents, businesses, and emergency-service vehicles.
 
Planning ahead
The new Tappan Zee Bridge is still a giant question mark for New Yorkers. The lack of a financial plan, inappropriate money-grabs for funding not meant to build bridges and a complete lack of planning and organization have led many to question how this project will be funded, what it will cost taxpayers, and whether it will drive up tolls. The secrecy surrounding the project is inexcusable. Using the BNP settlement money to help offset project costs would decrease the need for taxpayers to finance this project and limit the interest needed to pay for it.

Investing in our infrastructure is a commitment to our communities and to our economy. With the BNP settlement, we are fortunate to have the means to make improvements that will produce immediate and long-term benefits.        

Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C–Canandaigua) is the New York Assembly Minority Leader and represents the 131st Assembly District, which encompasses all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County. Contact him at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us