By Max Cacas
Washington, DC – Congress is continuing to review President Bush's $7.9 billion plan to combat the possible outbreak of the avian flu. One New York lawmaker has some serious doubts about the proposal.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton says she's troubled by aspects of the President's plan that depend heavily on the involvement of local health officials.
"As the President is talking about more than $7 billion to prepare us for a potential flu pandemic, his budget is cutting resources for state and local public health departments," Clinton said.
The Bush plan also calls for states to share the cost of bird flu vaccine when its developed, something the New York Democrat objects to.
"The idea that you would ask states to pay for the medications they would need in the middle of an epidemic strikes me as backwards," Clinton said.
Clinton says current shortages of vaccine for the seasonal flu suggest that the government has a lot more work to do to properly prepare for an avian flu panedemic.