Proving that we have the best governor money can buy, Texas recently became the first state to require schoolgirls be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer by executive order. Gardasil, Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the only vaccine for the cancer. Perry received $6,000 from Merck for his campaign. One of Merck's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government, which also receives bucketloads of money from Merck to get girls as young as 11 on the drug. According to the article, Merck has "doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country."

Gardasil was approved by the FDA in June, and Merck has been lobbying state and Federal government to require all girls to get the vaccination. Merck stands to rake in profits in the Billions of dollars if all the states require the vaccine, which costs $360. And they'll make more money if the vaccine has to be re administered. No one knows how long it lasts.

Another example of Legislation by corporation. Ain't Democracy great?