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You're Hired: Tracking the Trump Administration Transition - January 19, 2017
Trump Administration (first term)  Vice President Mike Pence Cabinet • White House staff • Transition team • Trump's second term |
Domestic affairs: Abortion • Crime and justice • Education • Energy and the environment • Federal courts • Firearms policy • First Amendment • Healthcare • Immigration • Infrastructure • LGBTQ issues • Marijuana • Puerto Rico • Social welfare programs • Veterans • Voting issues Economic affairs and regulations: Agriculture and food policy • Budget • Financial regulation • Jobs • Social Security • Taxes • Trade Foreign affairs and national security: Afghanistan • Arab states of the Persian Gulf • China • Cuba • Iran • Iran nuclear deal • Islamic State and terrorism • Israel and Palestine • Latin America • Military • NATO • North Korea • Puerto Rico • Russia • Syria • Syrian refugees • Technology, privacy, and cybersecurity |
| Polling indexes: Opinion polling during the Trump administration |
This is the January 19, 2017, edition of an email sent from November 2016 to September 2017 that covered Donald Trump's presidential transition, cabinet appointees, and the different policy positions of those individuals who may have had an effect on the new administration. Previous editions of "You're Hired" can be found here.
Confirmation hearings
Yesterday saw four of Trump’s cabinet nominees appear before Senate committees for their confirmation hearings. As with past nominees, we learned a good deal about their priorities and policy stances on issues related to their (potential) new jobs. Below are some of the key highlights.
There are also two hearings taking place today: Rick Perry, nominee for Secretary of Energy, and Steven Mnuchin, nominee for Secretary of the Treasury. We will cover those in detail in tomorrow’s briefing.
Tom Price, nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services
Rep. Tom Price (R) is an orthopedic surgeon and six-term House member from Georgia. He has been an outspoken critic of Obamacare and began offering alternatives to the law as early as 2009, when Obamacare was first being debated in Congress. Last June, at an American Enterprise Institute event, Price said, “They believe the government ought to be in control of health care. We believe that patients and doctors should be in control of healthcare.” Read more about Price’s policy stances here.
Price appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is the chair of the committee, and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) is the highest ranking Democrat. The committee has 12 Republicans and 11 Democrats. Here is some of what we learned about Price’s policy stances and priorities from his hearing.
- On his approach to healthcare policy. Price outlined his philosophy on federal healthcare policy in his opening statement. He said, “If confirmed, my obligation will be to carry to the Department of Health and Human Services both an appreciation for bipartisan, team-driven policymaking and what has been a lifetime commitment to work to improve the health and well-being of the American people. That commitment extends to what I call the six principles of health care – six principles that, if you think about it, all of us hold dear: affordability, accessibility, quality, choices, innovation, and responsiveness. We all want a health care system that’s affordable, that’s accessible to all, of the highest quality, with the greatest number of choices, driven by world-leading innovations, and responsive to the needs of the individual patient.”
- On repealing and replacing Obamacare. To repeal Obamacare first and replace it later or to repeal and replace it simultaneously has been a fundamental question for Republican lawmakers since Trump’s election in November. Trump himself has advocated for a simultaneous repeal and replacement plan. Asked by Sen. Alexander how the process of a simultaneous repeal and replacement approach might work, Price said, “Nobody's interested in pulling the rug out from under anybody. We believe that it is absolutely imperative that individuals who have health coverage should be able to keep health coverage and move, hopefully, to greater choices and opportunities … I think there's been a lot of talk about individuals losing health coverage That is not our goal or our desire, nor is it our plan.”
- On Medicare and Medicaid. Asked by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) if he would commit to not to using his administrative authority as HHS secretary to cut funding for Medicare or Medicaid, Price responded, “What the question presumes is money is the metric. In my belief, from a scientific standpoint, if patients aren’t receiving care, even though we’re providing the resources, then it doesn’t work for patients. I believe that the metric ought to be the care that the patients are receiving.”
- On Telemedicine. Telemedicine is healthcare provided remotely through the use of the various telecommunication technologies. Asked by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) about what he sees as the future of telemedicine, Price responded, “telemedicine is one of the those exciting innovations … and is absolutely vital. I think we need to accentuate the ability to use telemedicine. Oftentimes, telemedicine is not paid for, it's not compensated. People eat, the clinicians eat those costs. They assume those costs that help the patient, yes, but make it so it's much more difficult for them to be able to provide the quality care necessary.”
Scott Pruitt, nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Scott Pruitt has been the attorney general of Oklahoma since 2011. He has been a vocal critic of environmental policy under the Obama administration, once calling himself a “leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda.” Read more about his policy stances here.
Pruitt appeared before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) is the chair of the committee, and Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.) is the highest ranking Democrat. Eleven Republicans and ten Democrats serve on the committee. Here’s some of what we learned about Pruitt’s policy stances and priorities.
- On climate change. Asked by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) if he believes that human activity is causing climate change, Pruitt said, “the climate is changing, and human activity contributes to that in some manner.” He added, “I believe the ability to measure with precision the degree of human activity’s impact on the climate is subject to more debate on whether the climate is changing or whether human activity contributes to it.” Pressed further by Sanders on what he believes is causing climate change, Pruitt said, “The job of the administrator is to carry out the statutes as passed by this body … My personal opinion is immaterial.”
- On the role of states in environmental policy. Pruitt stressed the role of individual states in shaping environmental policy in his opening statement. He said, “cooperative federalism must be respected and applied by the EPA with regard to our environmental laws. Congress has wisely and appropriately directed the EPA through our environmental statutes to utilize the expertise and resources of the States to better protect the environment, and for the States to remain our nation’s frontline environmental implementers and enforcers. If we truly want to advance and achieve cleaner air and water the States must be partners and not mere passive instruments of federal will. If confirmed, I will utilize the relationships I have forged with my counterparts in the States to ensure that EPA returns to its proper role, rather than using a heavy hand to coerce the States into effectuating EPA policies.”
- On litigation against the EPA. As was discussed at several points during the hearing, Pruitt has been involved in several lawsuits aimed at challenging the enforcement of EPA rules. Asked by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) about whether those lawsuits were more about the actual regulations or the process and rule of law, Pruitt responded, “when we talk about rule of law, as you deal with mercury, as you deal with CO2, as you deal with water issues around [Waters of the United States rule] and its definition, it’s important that you do so within the framework that’s been established within this body. … That gives confidence to the people who are regulating it. … That rule of law is not something that’s academic, in my view, it’s not something that’s just legal. I think it’s important to ensuring good outcomes as far as improving our air and protecting our waters.”
Wilbur Ross, nominee for Secretary of Commerce
Wilbur Ross is a billionaire investor and chairman of the private investment firm WL Ross & Co. Throughout the 2016 campaign, he was a supporter of both Trump and his views on the U.S. economy and international trade. In August 2016, for example, he echoed Trump’s criticisms of trade agreements like NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying, “Free trade is like free lunch, there is no free lunch. Somebody wins and somebody loses and unfortunately we’ve been losing with these stupid agreements that we’ve made.” Read more about Ross’ policy stances here.
Ross appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is the committee’s chair, and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida) is the highest ranking Democrat. Fourteen Republicans and 13 Democrats sit on the committee. Here’s some of what we learned about Ross’ policy views.
- On Trade. In an opening statement, Ross offered an overview of his general philosophy on international trade. He said, “I also understand that at the end of the day, each of our trading partners want access to our market. The United States should provide that access to nations who agree to play by our standards of fair trade. We should not put up with malicious trading activities, state owned enterprises, or subsidized production. So I am not anti-trade. I am pro trade. But I am pro sensible trade, not trade that is detrimental to the American worker and to the domestic manufacturing base.”
- On NAFTA. Trump made renegotiating the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement a key part of his 2016 campaign. Ross noted that it will be a top priority of the incoming administration, saying, “As to Canada and Mexico, the president-elect has made no secret in his public remarks, nor have I, that NAFTA is logically the first thing for us to deal with. We ought to solidify relationships in the best way we can in our own territory before we go off into other jurisdictions.” Regarding the actual negotiations, Ross added, “All aspects of NAFTA will be put on the table.”
- On Tariffs. Asked about the potential role of tariffs in the Trump administration’s approach to international trade, Ross said, “I think the pro-growth thing is stimulating exports, much more than just curtailing imports. But ... countervailing duties and punishment to people for dumping is essential because there are inappropriate and illegal trade practices being performed, and if you don't really punish them, you're never going to modify their behavior.” Regarding Trump’s proposal to impose a 35 percent tariff on U.S. companies that relocate jobs to facilities in other countries, Ross responded, “The president has done a wonderful job preconditioning other countries with whom we will be negotiating that change is coming.”
- On NOAA and data gathering. Sen. Nelson asked Ross if he would place restrictions on how employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—which falls under the Department of Commerce’s jurisdiction—share and publicize data related to climate change. Ross said, “I support the dissemination of valid information to the public. I don’t think valid information should be concealed, and in general I have great respect for the scientific quality of NOAA. It’s my understanding that there are four Noble prize winners at NOAA, and that is certainly a measure of their expertise.”
- Ross commented more generally on the Commerce Department’s data gathering programs in his opening statement, saying, “like many other business people across the United States, I have been a consumer of the data and information the Department provides an a periodic basis. Data the Department gathers and makes public, such as the Census data, the data that the BEA puts out and NOAA’s reports, to name a few, are essential functions. I believe there is greater potential in the breadth and the depth of the data the Department provides to encourage new investment.”
Nikki Haley, nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on November 23, 2016. Haley’s experience with international relations comes largely from her economic and environmental initiatives as governor. Read more about her policy stances here.
Her confirmation hearing took place yesterday before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which has 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats and is chaired by Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). Ben Cardin (Md.) is the committee’s highest-ranking Democrat.
- On Israel and Palestine. In her opening statement, Haley condemned the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which seeks to protest Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory by economically harming Israel. She said, “I will not go to New York and abstain when the UN seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel. In fact, I pledge to you this: I will never abstain when the United Nations takes any action that comes in direct conflict with the interests and values of the United States.” In June 2015, Haley signed into South Carolina law a prohibition on the state contracting with businesses engaged in boycotts on the basis of race, religion, gender, or national origin.
- Haley also characterized the passage of UN Resolution 2334—defining Israeli settlements as legally invalid—as evidence of UN bias against Israel. When asked by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) how she would address the effects of this resolution, Haley said that Israel must be reassured that it’s an ally by the White House, Congress, and the National Security Council. She added that the U.S. embassy should be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
- On withdrawing U.S. funding from the United Nations. Haley said that she “won’t shy away” from using U.S. contributions to the UN as leverage for reform. After Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.) discussed the negative impact that reduced funding could have on UN health and food programs, Haley said, “I do not think we need to pull money from the UN. We don't believe in slash and burn. … I think what’s important is that we look at every organization, see if it’s working for us, see if it’s something we want to be a part of, and then I report back to you and the president-elect on whether that’s something we need to be a part of.”
- On Russia. Haley said that the U.S. should be cautious with Russia and that its military actions, like the annexation of Crimea, were cause for concern. She also agreed with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) that Russia had committed war crimes by indiscriminately striking civilian targets in Aleppo, Syria. When asked by Sen. Cardin to discuss maintaining and strengthening sanctions against Russia, Haley said, “I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift sanctions. … What I do believe is important is that we get together with the National Security Council and the president-elect and we decide a plan for Russia: what we expect from them, what we plan on looking at as we go forward, what violations will trigger additional sanctions, and when we say it, we should do it and follow through with it.”
Nominations
Sonny Perdue is Trump’s pick to head the Department of Agriculture (USDA). With this nomination, Trump will have officially finalized the roster of his Cabinet. Perdue was the governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011 and also served in the Georgia State Senate. He was the state’s the first Republican governor since the end of Reconstruction in the 1870s.
The USDA helps to shape U.S. policy on food, agriculture, farming, natural resources, rural development, and nutrition. It oversees assistance programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) and federal agencies such as the Farm Service Agency, the Forest Service, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Agricultural Marketing Service, which helps develop international marketing opportunities for U.S. farmers. (Note: the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, falls under the Department of Health and Human Services.)
See also
- You're Hired: Tracking the Trump Administration Transition
- Donald Trump presidential transition team
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