Trump’s Pick For HHS Draws Democrats’ Scrutiny Over Health Care Stock Trading
Senate Democrats are calling for a delay in the confirmation hearings for Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., who has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Democrats want to investigate trades he made while handling legislation in Congress that could impact the value of those shares. A Trump transition team spokesman responded that similar questions could be aimed at Democratic senators who also own health-related stocks. Meanwhile, Trump reportedly is considering former Henry Ford CEO Nancy Schlichting to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Bloomberg:
Senate Democrats Want Probe Of HHS Nominee Price’s Stock Trades
Senate Democrats called for a delay in confirmation hearings for Representative Tom Price, Donald Trump’s pick to be secretary of Health and Human Services, for an investigation of his trades in health-care stocks while handling legislation that could affect the shares. “He did this repeatedly and in such large numbers he’s likely to have made tens of thousands of dollars in one trade alone,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said at a news conference. Schumer pointed to a complaint filed Thursday by the watchdog group Public Citizen. (Litvan, 1/5)
The Wall Street Journal:
Senate Democrats Scrutinize Trump Cabinet Pick Over Possible Conflicts Of Interest
A spokeswoman for Mr. Price wasn’t immediately available to comment. A spokesman for the Trump transition said in a statement that questions raised about Mr. Price could also be directed at Senate Democrats who own drug and health-care stocks. “Hypocrisy is apparently alive and well this morning in Washington,” said spokesman Phil Blando. “Today’s stunt is simply an effort to deflect attention away from Obamacare’s dismal record.” (Hughes, 1/5)
The Associated Press:
Dems Want Probe Of Trump Cabinet Pick Over Stock Sales
Top Senate Democrats said Thursday that the House ethics office should investigate whether stock sales by a congressman who is now one of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks broke any laws. The Democrats cited a Wall Street Journal report last month that Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Trump's selection to head the Department of Health and Human Services, had traded over $300,000 worth of shares in health care companies over the past four years while pushing legislation that might affect those stocks' values. (Fram, 1/5)
Reuters:
Democrats Demand Probe Of Trump Health Nominee
Democratic Senator Patty Murray said lawmakers want to know what nonpublic information Price may have had when the transactions at issue were made. ... Price, asked by Reuters in a Capitol hallway for a reaction to Schumer's comments, replied, "We're looking forward to a positive and productive confirmation hearing." (Cornwell and Heavey, 1/5)
The Hill:
Dems Demand Ethics Investigation Of Health Nominee
The Democrats said they did not know whether Price has broken any laws, but that they need an ethics investigation to find out. "Every American should be shocked by this," Schumer said. Democrats have also targeted Price over his stance on Medicare, calling for a set amount of government assistance to be given to seniors rather than the current more open-ended guarantee from the program. (Sullivan, 1/5)
Roll Call:
Schumer Seeks Inquiry Into HHS Nominee’s Health Stock Trades
Waiting for the result of an Office of Congressional Ethics investigation into Price’s trades could delay the potential confirmation process for some time. The office declined to comment on Thursday. Information posted on the OCE website suggests that it could take several months to produce information on Price’s trading if the office decides to move forward with an investigation and refer the matter to the Ethics Committee for review. (Dooley Young, 1/5)
Modern Healthcare:
Trump Vets Former Henry Ford CEO Nancy Schlichting For VA Post
Nancy Schlichting, the recently retired CEO of the Henry Ford Health System who last year chaired a commission tasked with finding ways to revamp the Veteran Affairs Department's health system, Thursday met with the Trump transition team in New York. President-elect Donald Trump is considering her for a post he's had trouble filling— VA secretary. Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove withdrew from consideration for that post earlier this week. Luis Quinonez, the other rumored pick, reportedly backed out over the weekend. Quinonez is the president of MAQ Diversified, a Virginia-based physician staffing company. (Barkholz, 1/5)
Also in the news, Katy Talento, a Senate aide with a history of opposing birth control and abortion, will be working on health care policy for the White House Domestic Policy Council; and Trump's cabinet pick for the Department of Defense resigns from the Theranos board --
Stat:
What Trump’s New Health Policy Aide Says About Abortion And Birth Control
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to help lead health policy in the White House is a Senate aide with a record of strong rhetoric against birth control and abortion. Trump’s transition team announced Thursday that Katy Talento would work on health care policy for the White House Domestic Policy Council, which coordinates domestic policy-making. She was most recently legislative director for Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican who is a fierce opponent of abortion. (Scott, 1/5)
The Wall Street Journal:
Trump Defense Nominee James Mattis Resigns From Theranos Board
The retired Marine Corps general President-elect Donald Trump has picked to lead the Defense Department resigned from the board of embattled Theranos Inc., people familiar with the matter said. The move distances Gen. James Mattis from a blood-testing startup embroiled in scandal ahead of his confirmation hearings. (Weaver, 1/5)
