Collins right to have pushed flu funds out of stimulus ; The swine flu outbreak doesn't change what would best jump-start the economy.

Portland Press Herald | Editorial Board

April 28, 2009

The blogosphere has already started to buzz with recriminations aimed at Sen. Susan Collins in light of the international swine flu outbreak.

Maine's junior senator stood tough in negotiations over the federal stimulus bill, insisting that some items that belonged in the regular budget process come out of that legislation.

Among these was more than $800 million to beef up the government's ability to respond to a flu pandemic. As a moderate Republican and ranking member of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Collins got her way.

But the senator never said the United States didn't need a better plan for a flu pandemic. Collins' point - and it was a good one - was that the economic stimulus package wasn't the place for new federal programs that didn't have a direct impact on economic growth.

Setting aside for a moment that any stimulus spending would not have come quickly enough to help with the current swine flu situation, such a program is not stimulus. True, while the spending will create government jobs, a program of this type is not like building a road or researching alternative energy, which spur growth beyond any government spending.

A flu pandemic program is more of a direct government service, one that is necessary for the public welfare, but there are better ways to jump-start an economy. The stimulus bill was supposed to focus on those better ways.

So far, there isn't reason to panic because of the swine flu. While public health agencies around the world should be cautious, its impact has not yet surpassed other recent flu outbreaks. Travel advisories and sensible precautions are the right response for the time being.

As far as having to muster an extraordinary response, Collins does not bear extra responsibility for what may or may not be possible at this time.