U.S. Senator BILL CASSIDY (courtesy of Office of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy)
After casting what was, for all intents and purposes, the deciding vote that sealed his confirmation as health secretary, Senator Bill Cassidy sparred with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his health policies during a Senate Finance Committee hearing this morning. After Kennedy said he agreed with Cassidy’s assertion that President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for his role in Operation Warp Speed – expeditiously developing COVID-19 vaccines – Cassidy took him to task for something he told Colorado Senator Michael Bennet.
Cassidy: “You just told Senator Bennett that the COVID vaccine killed more people than COVID.”
Kennedy Jr.: “I did not say that.”
Cassidy: “Okay. Then let me ask because you also–”
Kennedy Jr.: Senator, I just want to make clear, I did not say that.”
Cassidy: “I will check the record. That’s a question of fact.”
Cassidy then expressed concern that many people Kennedy has nominated for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have received money for serving as expert witnesses for plaintiffs’ attorneys suing vaccine makers.
Cassidy: “If we put people who are paid witnesses for people suing vaccines, that actually seemed like a conflict of interest. Real quickly, do you agree with that?”
Kennedy Jr.: “No, I don’t. It may be a bias. And that bias, if disclosed, is okay”.
Cassidy told Kennedy that his policies are causing great confusion as to who can get COVID-19 vaccines and who can’t get them.
Cassidy: “Pharmacists are requiring a prescription now even for patients over 65, creating a huge headache. I would say effectively, we’re denying people vaccine.
Kennedy Jr.: “You’re wrong.”
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