Bill Nelson to vote against Tom Price HHS Secretary nomination

They resumed discussion of the nomination this morning and Price’s confirmation seems likely.

Democrats criticized Price for his stock trading as well as his opposition to Obamacare, his ideas about restructuring the Medicare program for the elderly, and his support for cutting federal funds to Planned Parenthood, a women’s healthcare organization that provides abortions. The doctor stayed in Georgia and specialized in orthopedics before winning his seat in the state senate in 1998, which was followed by his winning his seat in Congress in 2004.

Much of the floor debate from opponents to Price was centered on his criticism of the Affordable Care Act and its provisions, as well as concerns about Price’s plans for Medicare. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Trump was shaping a Cabinet that “benefits those at the top and their allies, but really hurts the workers and families”. Republican senator Orin Hatch told CNN last week that his party should “try and fix the law”.

In a statement about the nomination, Trump said Price has earned a reputation for being a “tireless problem solver” and “the go-to expert on healthcare policy”.

CNN and Time reported last month that he had invested in health-related companies shortly before introducing or supporting legislation that benefited them.

Before assuming office in 2005 as the House member representing Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, Price worked as an orthopedic surgeon for almost 20 years and was a professor at Emory University School of Medicine. Price may be torn between a Trump administration executive order calling for rolling back ACA enforcement and pressure from insurers to preserve rules such as the individual mandate that keeps younger and healthier people in the market.

An orthopedic surgeon by training, Price has his own ACA alternative, “The Empowering Patients First Act“, which includes common Republican themes: buying insurance across state lines, establishing risk pools, and offering refundable tax credits instead of subsidies to make coverage more affordable. “No, I can’t afford it”, he said. That frequency alone is enough to suggest an investigation may be necessary, they said, according to the report. Sherrod Brown, Ohio Democrat.

Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn (R. -Texas) said it was wrong for Democrats to delay President Donald Trump’s appointees from taking office, especially when they know that Republicans have the votes.

“After all the questions have been asked and all the investigating has taken place, just delaying for delaying sake again serves no useful objective”, said U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, as President Trump’s attorney general.

Democrats have been trying to stall all of Trump’s remaining Cabinet picks on the Senate floor. Vice President Mike Pence, who serves as the Senate president, was forced to cast a vote in favor of DeVos to break the 50-50 tie. “When it comes to the health care of older Americans, confirming Rep. Price to be HHS Secretary is akin to asking the fox to guard the henhouse”.