Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bid to guide the Division of Well being and Human Companies may come down to 1 senator. That senator, Bill Cassidy (R-La.), mentioned he was deeply torn about his vote throughout a listening to of the Senate committee in control of well being coverage on Thursday.
Cassidy, the panel’s chair and a gastroenterologist earlier than coming into politics, spoke of his personal expertise with life-saving vaccines and repeatedly requested Kennedy to disavow his previous anti-vaccine advocacy.
Kennedy mentioned he’d overview the proof and “apologize for any assertion that misled folks” if confirmed incorrect, but in addition indicated he didn’t assume he was incorrect when he spent years linking vaccines to rising autism and chaired an anti-vaccine advocacy group.
Showing annoyed, Cassidy mentioned, “I’ve bought to determine that out for my vote” and mentioned he may attain out to Kennedy over the weekend to speak about it extra.
Cassidy’s vote is crucial as a result of he additionally sits on the Finance Committee, which heard Kennedy’s testimony yesterday and can resolve whether or not to suggest Kennedy’s affirmation to the Senate. The Republicans have a one-seat edge there, so if all of the members of the Democratic caucus oppose Kennedy, Cassidy may deny him the panel’s advice.
Cassidy may additionally permit Kennedy’s nomination to proceed to the Senate flooring with out the Finance panel’s advice, however Majority Chief John Thune instructed Semafor earlier this week that it wouldn’t be ideal to bring another one of President Donald Trump’s nominees — Tulsi Gabbard, who can also be going through affirmation hearings to guide the nation’s intelligence businesses this week — to the ground with out a favorable committee vote.
When Cassidy requested for a “sure” or “no” as as to if Kennedy would unequivocally say hepatitis B and measles vaccines don’t trigger autism, Kennedy certified his reply: “If the info is there, I’ll completely try this.”
On the finish of the listening to, Cassidy returned to the query, studying the title of a research that discovered no hyperlink between vaccines and autism.
Cassidy appeared to plead with Kennedy to surrender his previous claims: “Persuade me,” Cassidy mentioned.
However Kennedy declined. “You and I can meet about it,” he mentioned — including that he would convey his personal research, a few of which present “the other.”
Over the course of the Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee listening to, Kennedy mentioned he would make declarations on vaccine security “if the info is there” or if offered with additional proof.
Democrats on Cassidy’s well being panel identified that there is a consensus amongst scientists concerning the security of the vaccines Kennedy has lengthy questioned and argued that the vociferousness of Kennedy’s anti-vaccine views belied the assurances he was providing Cassidy about learning the info.
“There have been, as I perceive, dozens of research completed all around the world that make it very clear that vaccines don’t trigger autism,” the panel’s rating member, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), mentioned. “I heard you simply say, if the proof is there. The proof is there.”
Democrats additionally raised Kennedy’s shaky responses on Medicare and Medicaid, arguing that he didn’t perceive the packages he can be in control of managing. Cassidy had questioned Kennedy concerning the packages when the Finance Committee heard from Kennedy yesterday.
However Republicans on the committee made the case that Kennedy’s want to disrupt the general public well being institution and focus on discovering and combating the basis causes of illness — the main focus of Kennedy’s “Make America Wholesome Once more” motion — had been refreshing.
Some additionally argued Kennedy’s skepticism about vaccines was wholesome and that the nation’s prime well being official needs to be prepared to query scientific dogma.
Kentucky Republican Rand Paul turned towards Cassidy and argued that in some circumstances authorities steerage on vaccination was debatable, citing the advice that every one infants obtain the hepatitis B vaccine and that youngsters and wholesome, younger folks get Covid pictures. “You’re not going to let him have the controversy since you’re simply going to criticize and say, ‘It’s this and admit to it or we’re not going to nominate you.’”
That prompted an alternate with Cassidy over the need of toddler vaccination for hepatitis B, with Cassidy arguing it was.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) later counseled Kennedy for questioning the vaccine schedule. “A problem that I’ve as a father of six is that when my children come out from getting their vaccines they seem like a freakin’ pin cushion,” he mentioned. “Once you begin trying on the rise of autism, why wouldn’t we be taking a look at every thing?”
Kennedy at occasions tried to assuage considerations about his anti-vaccine historical past, saying he would “restore vaccine uptake.” He repeatedly recommended that authorities leaders aren’t reliable and argued that’s the reason many individuals refuse vaccines.
Democrats regarded united of their opposition to Kennedy, nevertheless it wasn’t clear whether or not they may hope for any Republican allies past Cassidy.
Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who’ve each proven a willingness to interrupt from Trump, voting final week towards his alternative to guide the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, recommended concern about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine work.
Murkowski was one in every of few senators to attend your entire listening to, however didn’t ask Kennedy about vaccination, and ended by questioning Kennedy about well being care in Alaska. After the listening to, she mentioned she didn’t assume there was something “model new” from the listening to and declined to elaborate on how she’d vote.
Requested whether or not she was satisfied Kennedy shouldn’t be a vaccine skeptic, Murkowski mentioned she was ignoring the query. However she went on to say that some questions had been “telling,” that he appeared skeptical of the security of some vaccines however not others.
“When the science has been on the market for a very long time and been confirmed, do it is advisable to proceed being the skeptic?” she requested after the listening to.
Collins arrived late to the listening to and requested Kennedy whether or not he’d put money into discovering a vaccine for Lyme illness and whether or not he backed polio vaccination. Kennedy mentioned sure.
Robert King contributed to this report.
