By AMANDA SEITZ and STEPHEN GROVES, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial environmental lawyer turned public well being critic, is ready to search out out on Tuesday if he has cleared the primary hurdle to change into the nation’s prime well being official when the Senate Finance Committee votes on his nomination.
Democrats are nonetheless elevating issues about Kennedy’s potential to revenue from anti-vaccine advocacy and lawsuits, however Republicans seem like rallying behind President Donald Trump’s well being secretary nominee. On Monday, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican as soon as seen as a potential “no” vote, introduced he would again Kennedy.
Kennedy wants help from all however three Republicans if Democrats uniformly oppose him.
What’s going to physician and Republican Invoice Cassidy do?
One key vote stays in query: Republican Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Louisiana doctor who sits on the finance committee that can vote on Kennedy’s affirmation. Final week, throughout Kennedy’s hearings, Cassidy repeatedly implored Kennedy to reject a disproven principle that vaccines trigger autism, to no avail. He ended the listening to by saying he was “struggling” with the vote.
“Your previous, undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or deceptive arguments, issues me,” Cassidy advised Kennedy.
On Monday night, Cassidy advised reporters that he had “very cordial” conversations with Kennedy over the weekend however was “nonetheless working by way of” the way to deal with his vote.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky are all seen as potential no votes, too, as a result of they voted in opposition to Trump’s protection secretary nominee and have expressed issues about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine work.
In a CBS “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday, McConnell declined to say how he would vote on Kennedy’s nomination however reiterated “vaccines are critically vital.”
Democrats nonetheless have questions for Kennedy
Democrats, in the meantime, proceed to boost alarms about Kennedy’s potential to financially profit from altering vaccine tips or weakening federal lawsuit protections in opposition to vaccine makers if confirmed as well being secretary.
“It appears potential that many various kinds of vaccine-related choices and communications — which you’d be empowered to make and affect as Secretary — may lead to important monetary compensation for your loved ones,” Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote in a letter despatched over the weekend to Kennedy.
Kennedy stated he’ll give his son all of the referral charges in authorized instances in opposition to vaccine makers, together with the charges he will get from referring purchasers in a case in opposition to Merck. Kennedy advised the committee he’s referred a whole bunch of purchasers to a regulation agency that’s suing Merck’s Gardasil, the human papillomavirus vaccine that forestalls cervical most cancers. He’s earned $2.5 million from the deal over the previous three years.
As secretary, Kennedy will oversee vaccine suggestions and public well being campaigns for the $1.7 trillion company, which can also be accountable for meals and hospital inspections, offering medical insurance for hundreds of thousands of Individuals and researching lethal ailments.
Who’re the wild card votes?
Kennedy’s allies are nonetheless holding out hope that they might entice a Democrat or two to their aspect. A stress marketing campaign has been targeted on Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who has expressed help for Kennedy’s push to make American meals extra wholesome. Pennsylvania’s Democratic Sen. John Fetterman has additionally been a spotlight, though he advised Fox Information Channel this weekend that the nomination was “difficult.”
A Democratic-led opposition marketing campaign, constructed round Kennedy’s anti-vaccine advocacy and affect in Samoa throughout a measles outbreak that left dozens of youngsters and infants lifeless in 2019, has additionally narrowed in on Republican Sen. John Curtis, who represents Utah, residence to one of many nation’s largest Samoan populations.
Tuesday’s vote is simply the beginning
The Senate finance committee, made up of 25 senators, will vote on whether or not to suggest Kennedy for a vote on the Senate ground, the place all 100 senators could have the prospect to vote on the nomination.
The committee vote will probably be a powerful indicator of the place issues are headed for Kennedy, nevertheless it’s not essentially the ultimate phrase. Even when the committee votes in opposition to his affirmation — seemingly unlikely — Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., may nonetheless push for a ground vote.
If Kennedy will get the committee’s suggestion, he may nonetheless have work to do to win over Collins, Murkowski and McConnell. Cassidy additionally may doubtlessly vote in opposition to Kennedy’s remaining affirmation even when he votes in favor of him Tuesday.
What’s ‘MAHA’?
Kennedy, a longtime Democrat, ran for president however withdrew final 12 months to throw his help to Trump in change for an influential job in his Republican administration. Collectively, they’ve solid a brand new and weird coalition made up of conservatives who oppose vaccines and liberals who need to see the federal government promote more healthy meals. Trump and Kennedy have branded the motion as “Make America Wholesome Once more.”
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