A top Democrat won’t say yet whether he will oppose Rep. Tom Price for Health and Human Services secretary, but he expressed deep disappointment in Price’s confirmation hearing Tuesday.
“I’ll make a statement about that at the right time,” Sen. Ron Wyden, top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters after the four-hour hearing ended.
“I think we’ve always known where the votes are,” Wyden said. “The question is whether we’re going to get commitments on health issues that are in line with what the president said working families were going to get.”
Wyden pressed Price during the hearing to explain if he supports several promises President Trump has made, including cracking down on high drug prices and ensuring everyone has health coverage. Price didn’t answer some of the questions directly, instead repeatedly reiterating that he’s committed to ensuring everyone has access to affordable plans.
Wyden said Price mostly ducked his questions. And he said he was disappointed that Price wouldn’t commit to ensuring everyone has insurance coverage, only that they have access to it.
“Lots of people have access to lots of things,” Wyden said. “They don’t have money, so it doesn’t really mean a lot in the real world.”
If confirmed, Price would lead the agency most deeply involved in carrying out the Affordable Care Act and that oversees Medicare and Medicaid.
