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What to Watch: Cabinet Hearings Resume on Capitol Hill Trump’s Pick for Health Secretary Faces More Ethics Questions in Hearing
(about 4 hours later)
WASHINGTON — The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, says Republicans are trying to ram through a “swamp cabinet” for President Trump. The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, says Democrats need to “stop playing political games.” WASHINGTON — Two nominees for President Trump’s cabinet, including his choice for health secretary, are facing new questions on ethics issues from senators overseeing their confirmation hearings.
That bitter back-and-forth over the pace of approving Mr. Trump’s nominees will continue to play out on Tuesday with more hearings on Capitol Hill. ■ Amid a continuing debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Trump’s pick to be secretary of health and human services, Representative Tom Price of Georgia, is now appearing before the Senate Finance Committee.
■ Amid a continuing debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Trump’s pick to be secretary of health and human services, Representative Tom Price of Georgia, appears before the Senate Finance Committee.
■ The president’s choice to be budget director, Representative Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, goes in front of two congressional panels.■ The president’s choice to be budget director, Representative Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, goes in front of two congressional panels.
■ Linda E. McMahon, the billionaire former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Small Business Administration, will appear before the Senate’s Small Business Committee.■ Linda E. McMahon, the billionaire former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Small Business Administration, will appear before the Senate’s Small Business Committee.
Here’s what to watch:Here’s what to watch:
This is Round 2 for Mr. Price, who appeared for four hours last week before the Senate health committee. A background investigation of Mr. Price says he understated the value of his investments in an Australian pharmaceutical company and claimed income tax deductions that he could not substantiate.
Mr. Price has been a focus of Democratic criticism of his views on issues like Medicare and Medicaid spending, and he has also faced scrutiny over stock trades during his time in Congress. The findings emerged from a review of Mr. Price’s tax returns and other official documents by committee staff members from both parties.
Neither line of criticism seems likely to imperil his confirmation, but he will probably face more uncomfortable questioning about his investments in health companies and his legislative actions that could have affected them. In a questionnaire in December, the committee staff said, Mr. Price understated the value of 400,613 shares of the Australian company that he purchased in August 2016 through “a private placement offering.”
Then there is the issue of the Affordable Care Act, which Mr. Trump and congressional Republicans are moving quickly to dismantle. At his hearing last week, Mr. Price shed little light on how the Trump administration wants to go about replacing the measure, but he did try to reassure people about the possible ramifications of repealing the existing health care law. The value of the shares was listed on the questionnaire at $50,000 to $100,000, but that reflected the purchase price, the staff reported. At the request of the committee, Mr. Price recalculated the value of his holdings, to reflect their market price. The revised value was $100,000 to $250,000.
Expect some discussion of how the Senate confirmations are playing out. In addition to voicing support for Mr. Price, the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, plans to criticize Democrats for trying to “delay and derail” the confirmations of Mr. Trump’s nominees, according to prepared remarks. In addition, the committee staff said, Mr. Price “took improper deductions on his 2016 tax returns” for the depreciation of land associated with condominiums that he owns in Washington and in Nashville, Tenn.
Mr. Mulvaney will make the rounds in the Senate as he tries to lock up his confirmation to become Mr. Trump’s budget director. He will make appearances before two panels, the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Moreover, the staff said, Mr. Price and his wife, both physicians, claimed “miscellaneous employment deductions totaling $19,034” for various expenses in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
While he is sure to be peppered with questions on taxes and deficits, questions about his personal finances could prove to be the most challenging. Neither Mr. Price nor his wife works as a physician, the staff report said, and “proper documentation could not be located,” so Mr. Price’s tax returns will be amended to remove the $19,034 in deductions.
Mr. Mulvaney is making the rounds in the Senate as he tries to lock up his confirmation to become Mr. Trump’s budget director. His morning appearance is before Senate Budget Committee, followed by one this afternoon before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
With a new report forecasting a spike in the federal deficit, Mr. Mulvaney will be peppered with questions on taxes and deficits, along with questions about his personal finances.
In a statement to the Budget Committee as part of the confirmation process, Mr. Mulvaney disclosed that he failed to pay more than $15,000 in nanny taxes from 2000 to 2004. It is the kind of oversight that has derailed presidential cabinet nominees in the past, and Mr. Mulvaney is likely to face tough questions on the matter from Democrats who have been looking to topple one of Mr. Trump’s appointments.In a statement to the Budget Committee as part of the confirmation process, Mr. Mulvaney disclosed that he failed to pay more than $15,000 in nanny taxes from 2000 to 2004. It is the kind of oversight that has derailed presidential cabinet nominees in the past, and Mr. Mulvaney is likely to face tough questions on the matter from Democrats who have been looking to topple one of Mr. Trump’s appointments.
A deficit hawk, Mr. Mulvaney will also have to justify Mr. Trump’s plans to ramp up infrastructure spending while cutting taxes.A deficit hawk, Mr. Mulvaney will also have to justify Mr. Trump’s plans to ramp up infrastructure spending while cutting taxes.
Ms. McMahon is among Mr. Trump’s more unusual cabinet choices. But unlike several of his other wealthy nominees, she has been in the political arena before, as a candidate.Ms. McMahon is among Mr. Trump’s more unusual cabinet choices. But unlike several of his other wealthy nominees, she has been in the political arena before, as a candidate.
She spent around $100 million on unsuccessful campaigns for a Connecticut seat in the Senate in 2010 and in 2012.She spent around $100 million on unsuccessful campaigns for a Connecticut seat in the Senate in 2010 and in 2012.
But she appears likely to fare better in her latest pursuit of a government post. The two Democrats who defeated her, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Christopher S. Murphy, offered praise for her after Mr. Trump selected her for his administration.But she appears likely to fare better in her latest pursuit of a government post. The two Democrats who defeated her, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Christopher S. Murphy, offered praise for her after Mr. Trump selected her for his administration.
Republicans are eager to confirm more of Mr. Trump’s nominees, and they are contending with an abbreviated week. Republican members of the House and Senate will travel to Philadelphia for a retreat later in the week.Republicans are eager to confirm more of Mr. Trump’s nominees, and they are contending with an abbreviated week. Republican members of the House and Senate will travel to Philadelphia for a retreat later in the week.
It remains to be seen if any of the president’s nominees will get a Senate vote on Tuesday.It remains to be seen if any of the president’s nominees will get a Senate vote on Tuesday.