Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said Tuesday that he’s never seen Democrats so opposed to a Republican president as they are to Trump.
“While the overriding sense of comity and courtesy among senators has admittedly been in decline in recent years, I have never seen this level of partisan rancor when it comes to dealing with a president from an opposing party,” the Utah Republican said as he kicked off a hearing with Rep. Tom Price, Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Price faces the committee Tuesday morning for his second confirmation hearing to lead the agency that oversees the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid. He is expected to face pointed questions about how he would follow an executive order from Trump to halt the healthcare law and ethical concerns about some of his stock purchases.
Price is facing skepticism from Democrats, who are demanding an investigation into stock trades he made in medical companies while sponsoring legislation that could potentially benefit them.
Ranking member Ron Wyden raised the issue of Price’s investment in an Australian biomedical firm, where he purchased stocks below market value after consulting with Rep. Chris Collins.
Price has said he was unaware he paid a lower price, but Wyden said that “doesn’t pass the smell test.” Wyden also criticized Price’s support for repealing the Affordable Care Act.
“Congressman Price is the architect of repeal and run,” Wyden said.
