House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Friday blamed Democrats for holding up the confirmation of President Trump’s top health official, which has led to delays in the effort to repeal Obamacare.
“Since Obamacare was passed and we know what is in it, it gives a great deal of power to the secretary [of Health and Human Services],” McCarthy said on the House floor Friday. “You have to have a secretary in place if you want to reform Obamacare because you gave so much power to the secretary.”
McCarthy was referring to his colleague Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. McCarthy blasted Senate Democrats for failing to show up to the Senate Finance Committee this week to vote on Price’s nomination.
“They wouldn’t even show up in committee,” he said. “How much do they really want to work?”
House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., shot back that Democrats are opposing Price because he hasn’t produced “full disclosure of his financial dealings with respect to legislation that he introduced and supported.”
Price’s stock trades have been scrutinized by Senate Democrats, including a sweetheart deal that allowed Price to buy discounted stock in a small biotech firm. He is likely to be confirmed, however, and Senate leadership has said it expects to take up the nomination next week.
Hoyer also said Republicans don’t need Price to be secretary to bring legislation to the floor.
“This is not an issue that is new this year or the result of the November election last year,” he said.
Meanwhile, four panels with the House and Senate are drafting Obamacare repeal legislation that can be approved in the Senate under reconciliation, a procedure that enables a bill to be approved via a 51-vote majority in the Senate.
