Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ketanji Brown Jackson Tells Panel: I Interpret Law 'Without Fear Or Favor'
NBC News: GOP Venting, 2024 Auditions And A Historic Moment: Highlights From Day 1 Of Ketanji Brown Jackson Hearing
The first day of the Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson offered a sharp contrast between the two parties: Democrats focused on the nominee and many Republicans vented about past judicial fights and railed against "dark money." The Judiciary Committee proceedings Monday included opening statements from senators and ended with introductory remarks from Jackson, 51, who is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Questioning begins Tuesday. (Kapur, 3/21)
The Washington Post: Ketanji Brown Jackson Pledges Independence And Neutrality In Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing
Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on Monday promised she would be an independent jurist who will decide cases “without fear or favor” — emphasizing her neutrality on the bench in hopes of heading off the expected criticism from Republicans that she has been a judicial activist. Jackson, who will be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court if confirmed, spent her official introduction before the Senate Judiciary Committee detailing her approach as a judge, describing it as narrowly focused on resolving the issues before her. She has been a federal judge for nine years, both on the trial court and now on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. (Kim, Marimow and Davis, 3/21)
The New York Times: Fact Checking Judge Jackson’s Record On Child Sexual Abuse
Republican lawmakers are misleadingly portraying Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s Supreme Court pick, as uncommonly lenient on felons who possess images of child sexual abuse. During Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearing on Monday, and in social media posts before the hearing, several senators homed in on her judicial record on the issue. In doing so, they omitted the context of her remarks and sentencing decisions. Here’s a fact check. (Qiu, 3/21)
In updates on the health of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas —
AP: What We Know About Justice Clarence Thomas' Hospitalization
The court provided no additional information about the infection that put Justice Clarence Thomas in the hospital other than to say he is responding to intravenous antibiotics. There was no indication about the seriousness of the infection or what caused it, but the court said Sunday evening he was expected to be out in a day or two. ... At arguments at the court Monday, Thomas’ chair to the right of Chief Justice John Roberts was empty and Roberts took note of Thomas’ absence without explaining why. (Gresko and Sherman, 3/21)
And other news from Capitol Hill —
NBC News: House Members From New York Want Info On Federal Contract To Manage Health Care For Some 9/11 Survivors
A bipartisan group of House members from New York says an ongoing probe of a health care program for some 9/11 first responders and survivors shows the program “consistently struggled,” and the members are demanding details about a multimillion-dollar contract that brings in a new company to manage it. In November, NBC News broke the news that LHI — the company responsible for administering World Trade Center Health Program benefits for 9/11 first responders and survivors who live outside metropolitan New York — had lost its government contract to Managed Care Advisors (MCA)-Sedgwick. An NBC News investigation in September reported concerns from nearly two dozen 9/11 first responders and survivors served by the program. (Abou-Sabe and Salam, 3/22)
Dallas Morning News: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Discusses Medical Costs With Dallas Leaders At Health Care Roundtable
Federal funding for COVID-19 testing and treatment is running out, potentially leaving North Texas vulnerable to future virus outbreaks, Dallas health care leaders warned Monday during a discussion with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi joined Dallas Democratic congressman Colin Allred, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Philip Huang in a health care roundtable to discuss the cost of medical care and the financial burden shouldered by community health organizations because of Texas’ high rate of uninsured residents. (Wolf, 3/21)
The Texas Tribune: Ted Cruz Criticized The Harm-Reduction Drug Program. Here’s What It Does
Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz criticized President Joe Biden last month for supposedly funding the distribution of free crack pipes — an assertion federal officials denied and called misleading. Cruz was referring to the Biden administration’s $30 million grant program that aims to mitigate the fallout from the country’s opioid crisis and increased fentanyl overdoses. The program relies on what are called harm-reduction policies, which call for minimizing the detrimental health and economic impacts of drug abuse until users can get treatment rather than criminalizing addiction. (Zhang, 3/22)
The Hill: Daylight Saving Change Faces Trouble In House
Legislation to make daylight saving time permanent passed the Senate last week, but the House is not ready to be a rubber stamp, spelling potential trouble ahead for its passage in the lower chamber. Leaders on both sides of the aisle have made clear they are not in a rush to act on the legislation, with some citing the focus on the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, as well as the need for further review from members before taking up the proposal. (Folley, 3/21)
