Robert F. Kennedy Jr. scrambled to fend off robust questions on his file of anti-vaccine statements, meals security, abortion rights and authorities well being applications as he began two days of Senate hearings on his bid to change into President Trump’s Secretary of Well being and Human Companies.
Dealing with harsh assaults from Democratic senators, the longtime vaccine critic repeatedly sought to distance himself from earlier stances questioning the protection and effectiveness of lifesaving vaccines which have nearly eradicated killer illnesses like measles and polio.
Secretary of Well being and Human Companies nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies throughout a Senate Finance Committee listening to on his nomination to be Well being and Human Companies Secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP through Getty Pictures)
Kennedy famous that his personal kids are absolutely vaccinated and dodged a query about his assertion that he would “do anything” to have the ability to return in time and have them not get the pictures.
“Are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine?” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) shot again.
Kennedy is taken into account one of many hardest sells amongst Trump’s cupboard picks.
He can probably afford to lose not more than three Republican votes to get the 50 votes he must be confirmed, with Vice President JD Vance holding a tie-breaking vote.
A handful of average and institution Republicans have mentioned they’re nonetheless on the fence, together with Sen. Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor who credit the vaccine with saving his life.
Kennedy faces two days of questioning, with Thursday’s well being committee listening to probably to supply much more fireworks.
He appeared flustered at instances as he sought to aggressively defend his checkered file on vaccines and lack of expertise operating sprawling authorities applications just like the Medicaid and Medicare applications that serve tens of thousands and thousands of People.
He struggled to reply pretty sympathetic questions from Republican members of the finance committee who requested how he hoped to chop well being prices and enhance care and outcomes as Trump has repeatedly vowed to do.
Kennedy’s Make America Wholesome Once more mantra contains his declare that pharmaceutical, agriculture and meals corporations are poisoning generations of People with harmful merchandise.
Taken at face worth, these stances may put him sharply at odds with Republicans, particularly from farm states, who’re shut political allies of large agricultural manufacturing and meals processing pursuits.
Kennedy confronted questions from each side of the aisle on his shifting place on abortion rights.
He has a protracted file of unequivocal help for abortion that might usually make him unacceptable to pro-life Republicans, however he now says he’ll help Trump’s stances and depart abortion to the states.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) trashed Kennedy as a political chameleon by quoting his earlier statements that abortion needs to be left as much as the pregnant lady, not the federal government of any state or the federal authorities.
“I believe every abortion is a tragedy,” Kennedy mentioned, successfully avoiding giving a solution.
