"White House Is Urged to Help States With Nuclear Plants Stockpile Thyroid Drug"

"After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress passed a law instructing the federal government to help states build bigger stocks of a simple, cheap drug to protect people near nuclear power plants in the event of an accident or terrorist attack.

But the 2002 law left a legal loophole allowing the White House to forgo distribution if officials found that there was a better way to prevent cancer than administering the thyroid drug, potassium iodide. And after years of delays, the Bush administration dropped the plan in 2007, saying evacuations would be a better alternative.

Now advocates are trying again, bargaining on a new administration that is re-examining Bush-era policies."

Matthew L. Wald reports for the New York Times December 6, 2009.