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Price, Pruit on Defensive from Democrats in Hearings Price: ‘Nobody’s Interested in Pulling the Rug Out’ on Health Coverage
(35 minutes later)
Right Now: Four hearings for President-elect Donald J. Trump’s cabinet nominees are underway in Washington, including two of the most contentious choices.Right Now: Four hearings for President-elect Donald J. Trump’s cabinet nominees are underway in Washington, including two of the most contentious choices.
■ Representative Tom Price of Georgia, the nominee for health and human services secretary, will talk about how he thinks regulation hurts the system. ■ Representative Tom Price of Georgia, the nominee for health and human services secretary, said Americans will not suddenly lose their health insurance.
■ Scott Pruitt, Mr. Trump’s selection to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, will discuss his philosophy of putting states first on regulatory matters.■ Scott Pruitt, Mr. Trump’s selection to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, will discuss his philosophy of putting states first on regulatory matters.
■ Wilbur Ross, the nominee for commerce secretary, echoed Mr. Trump’s line that China is protectionist on trade.■ Wilbur Ross, the nominee for commerce secretary, echoed Mr. Trump’s line that China is protectionist on trade.
Mr. Price was prepared for a contentious confirmation hearing, with an earthy life story, and a conservative rationale for his views on health care. ■ Gov. Nikki Haley, nominated to be ambassador to the United Nations, says no to a Muslim registry.
The 62-year-old orthopedic surgeon from the affluent northern suburbs of Atlanta said he had been interested in medicine from an early age. His father and his paternal grandfather were also physicians, and he said he had made house calls with his grandfather to see patients. Mr. Price was quick to offer a reassurance that the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act would not leave millions of people suddenly without health insurance, echoing other Republicans who have tried to soothe anxieties over the swift march toward repeal.
In remarks prepared for the committee hearing, Mr. Price explained how he became concerned about the burden imposed on doctors by insurance companies and federal regulators. “One of the important things that we need to convey to the American people is that nobody’s interested in pulling the rug out from under anybody,” Mr. Price said. “We believe that it’s absolutely imperative that individuals that have health coverage be able to keep health coverage and move, hopefully, to greater choices and opportunities for them to gain the kind of coverage that they want for themselves and for their families.”
“I noticed that there were more individuals within our office who were dealing with paperwork, insurance filings and government regulations than there were individuals actually seeing and treating patients,” Mr. Price said. “It was in those moments that it became crystal clear that our health care system was losing focus on the No. 1 priority – the individual patient.” “I think there’s been a lot of talk about individuals losing health coverage,” Mr. Price added. “That is not our goal nor is it our desire nor is it our plan.”
It remains unclear, however, what exactly Mr. Trump’s plan is to repeal and replace the health care law. Mr. Price did not shed much light on that.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who ran for president as a Democrat, pressed Mr. Price on whether he viewed health care as “a right.”
Mr. Price deflected. “We’re a compassionate society,” he said.
“No, we’re not a compassionate society,” Mr. Sanders shot back, lamenting the United States’ treatment of some of its neediest citizens.
Mr. Sanders also parsed Mr. Price’s remark that Americans deserved “access” to high-quality health care. “I have access to buying a $10 million home,” Mr. Sanders said. “I don’t have the money to do that.”
Mr. Price said he was qualified to lead the Department of Health and Human Services because of his experience as a doctor and a legislator. He practiced surgery for about 20 years, served in the Georgia State Senate from 1997 through 2004 and since 2005 has been a member of Congress, serving most recently as chairman of the House Budget Committee.Mr. Price said he was qualified to lead the Department of Health and Human Services because of his experience as a doctor and a legislator. He practiced surgery for about 20 years, served in the Georgia State Senate from 1997 through 2004 and since 2005 has been a member of Congress, serving most recently as chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Mr. Price is a top critic of the Affordable Care Act and a proponent of overhauling the Medicare system, Mr. Price has seen his nomination consumed recently by several damaging news reports.
(Among them: a Wall Street Journal article reporting that Mr. Price traded more than $300,000 in health care stocks over four years while advocating or sponsoring legislation that could have increased their value, and a CNN report that he purchased shares in a medical device company shortly before introducing legislation to delay regulations that could have significantly harmed the company.)
Mr. Price, like other candidates for cabinet jobs in the Trump administration, will be subject to confirmation by the full Senate.Mr. Price, like other candidates for cabinet jobs in the Trump administration, will be subject to confirmation by the full Senate.
The hearing on Wednesday is being held by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, headed by Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee. But that panel does not vote on the nomination. You can watch the confirmation hearing for Scott Pruitt, Mr. Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, live here, at the website for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The hearing on Wednesday is being held by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, headed by Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee. But that panel does not vote on the nomination.
Another hearing for Mr. Price has been scheduled for Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee, which will vote on whether to recommend confirmation. The two committees share authority over issues for which the Health and Human Services Department is responsible.Another hearing for Mr. Price has been scheduled for Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee, which will vote on whether to recommend confirmation. The two committees share authority over issues for which the Health and Human Services Department is responsible.
You can watch the confirmation hearing for Mr. Pruitt, Mr. Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, live here, at the website for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Taking a swipe at what he sees as overzealous government regulation, Mr. Pruitt said his “first and primary goal” as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency would be “to return the agency to that core mission of protecting the American people through common sense and lawful regulations.”Taking a swipe at what he sees as overzealous government regulation, Mr. Pruitt said his “first and primary goal” as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency would be “to return the agency to that core mission of protecting the American people through common sense and lawful regulations.”
In Oklahoma, he said, he acted on behalf of “hardworking Americans who want to do the right thing by the environment,” including farmers, ranchers, landowners and small-business owners. “But recently they have felt hopeless, subject to a never-ending torrent of new regulations that only a lawyer can understand. They fear the E.P.A., and that just shouldn’t be the case. If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to ensure that the E.P.A. acts lawfully, sensibly and with those hardworking Americans ever in mind.”In Oklahoma, he said, he acted on behalf of “hardworking Americans who want to do the right thing by the environment,” including farmers, ranchers, landowners and small-business owners. “But recently they have felt hopeless, subject to a never-ending torrent of new regulations that only a lawyer can understand. They fear the E.P.A., and that just shouldn’t be the case. If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to ensure that the E.P.A. acts lawfully, sensibly and with those hardworking Americans ever in mind.”
Outside the Senate hearing room, environmental protesters were lined up around the corner, preparing to demonstrate. Groups like the Sierra Club, the Moms Clean Air Task Force, and 350.org, which led the protests against the Keystone XL oil pipeline, were also planning street protests outside the Senate building.Outside the Senate hearing room, environmental protesters were lined up around the corner, preparing to demonstrate. Groups like the Sierra Club, the Moms Clean Air Task Force, and 350.org, which led the protests against the Keystone XL oil pipeline, were also planning street protests outside the Senate building.
One of the elements of Mr. Pruitt’s record that has drawn the most criticism: his handling of a 2005 pollution case brought by his predecessor against about a dozen Oklahoma and Arizona poultry farms that had fouled the waters of Oklahoma’s Illinois River watershed with runoff from the animals’ manure.One of the elements of Mr. Pruitt’s record that has drawn the most criticism: his handling of a 2005 pollution case brought by his predecessor against about a dozen Oklahoma and Arizona poultry farms that had fouled the waters of Oklahoma’s Illinois River watershed with runoff from the animals’ manure.
After executives of those chicken companies donated tens of thousands of dollars to Mr. Pruitt’s 2010 campaign for Oklahoma attorney general, Mr. Pruitt put the brakes on the lawsuit, instead reaching a settlement — which has since expired — that simply required a study of the river’s pollution, with no penalties for the polluting companies.After executives of those chicken companies donated tens of thousands of dollars to Mr. Pruitt’s 2010 campaign for Oklahoma attorney general, Mr. Pruitt put the brakes on the lawsuit, instead reaching a settlement — which has since expired — that simply required a study of the river’s pollution, with no penalties for the polluting companies.
Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, the nominee to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations, was the subject of rather mild questioning, even from Democrats. Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, the nominee to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations, was the subject of rather mild questioning, but that did not mean the hearing was substance-free.
“I am concerned with your lack of foreign policy experience,” said Senator Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland and the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. But he then praised Ms. Haley for leading the fight to take down a Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina statehouse property. This seemed to signal: We will be tough on you, but maybe not that tough.“I am concerned with your lack of foreign policy experience,” said Senator Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland and the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. But he then praised Ms. Haley for leading the fight to take down a Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina statehouse property. This seemed to signal: We will be tough on you, but maybe not that tough.
Ms. Haley introduced her family, including her brothers and parents and husband, “the coolest first man ever” and one of her children as well as her in-laws. She told her friends, “if I started to mess up, act like a protester,” drawing laughs. So far, none here. This is a mellow hearing. For her part, Ms. Haley pivoted to an issue of central concern to Republicans, and many Democrats: the United Nations’ relationship with Israel.
“My story is an American story,” she said, recalling her parents’ immigrant history from India. “We were not white enough to be white, we were not black enough to be black. My father wore a turban, my mother wore a sari,” she noted. “Any honest assessment also finds an institution that is often at odds with U.S. interests,” Ms. Haley said, noting the body’s 20 resolutions against Israel, more than against Syria, Iran and North Korea. “This cannot continue,” she said, also criticizing the United State’s abstention from the latest such resolution against Israel.
“I will never abstain when the United Nation takes any action that comes in direct conflict with the interests and values of the United States,” she said. Also, noting the United States’ contributions to the United Nations, she asked, “Are we getting what we pay for?”
She was asked whether she agreed with sanctions on Russia. “I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia.” She hedged on additional sanctions, however, as some in the Senate have sought, noting she needed to talk to the incoming Trump administration.
What about a Muslim registry? Nope, Ms. Haley said, not going to happen.
Wilbur Ross, a billionaire investor who is Mr. Trump’s pick for commerce secretary, kicked off his confirmation hearing by taking a tough stance on China. He described the country as protectionist, with high barriers to trade.Wilbur Ross, a billionaire investor who is Mr. Trump’s pick for commerce secretary, kicked off his confirmation hearing by taking a tough stance on China. He described the country as protectionist, with high barriers to trade.
“They talk much more about free trade than they actually practice,” he said. “We would like to levelize that playing field and bring the reality closer to the rhetoric.”“They talk much more about free trade than they actually practice,” he said. “We would like to levelize that playing field and bring the reality closer to the rhetoric.”
Mr. Ross’s stance echoed Mr. Trump’s own hard-line approach. The president-elect rankled many by accepting a congratulatory phone call from the president of Taiwan, challenging the long-acknowledged One China principle and heightening tensions with the country before he even takes office.Mr. Ross’s stance echoed Mr. Trump’s own hard-line approach. The president-elect rankled many by accepting a congratulatory phone call from the president of Taiwan, challenging the long-acknowledged One China principle and heightening tensions with the country before he even takes office.
A bicameral boycott? Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, the top Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, pressed Mr. Ross to make a commitment not to silence the scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which falls under the purview of the Department of Commerce.
It has become the question du jour for every Democrat on Capitol Hill: Will you join the growing boycott of Mr. Trump’s inauguration? Mr. Ross expressed admiration for the NOAA staff, adding that the fact that multiple scientists there have Nobel Prizes is “certainly a measure of their expertise.”
The list of House Democrats skipping the event has ballooned to more than 50 since Mr. Trump lashed out at Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia, the civil rights icon who had questioned the legitimacy of Mr. Trump’s victory. “I support the dissemination of valid information to the public,” he said. “I don’t think that valid information should be concealed.”
So far, most of the boycotters come from districts that decisively favored Hillary Clinton. What bears watching now is whether any Senate Democrats will see it fit to join. Do you consider data showing sea levels are on the rise “valid information,” Mr. Nelson asked. Mr. Ross demurred, saying he looked forward to the release of a new NOAA report on the Earth’s climate.
Two weeks ago, senators seemed to offer a preview. At a joint session of Congress to validate the Electoral College results, several House Democrats sought to object to Mr. Trump’s election, citing claims of voter suppression and Russian interference in the process, among other issues. But the members were permitted to make only formal, written objections if a senator joined the effort as well. None did. “It’s very hard for me, Senator Nelson, to parse which part of data is what,” he said.
In fact, the findings of that report were released almost as Mr. Ross spoke: For the third year in a row, the Earth has reached its highest temperatures on record, indicating that temperatures are heading toward levels that many believe will pose a profound threat to civilization.