Tom Price | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2017 | |
| 23rdUnited States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
| In office February 10, 2017 – September 29, 2017 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Sylvia Mathews Burwell |
| Succeeded by | Alex Azar |
| Chair of theHouse Budget Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Diane Black |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's6th district | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – February 10, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Johnny Isakson |
| Succeeded by | Karen Handel |
| Majority Leader of theGeorgia Senate | |
| In office November 14, 2002 – June 17, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Walker |
| Succeeded by | Bill Stephens |
| Member of theGeorgia Senate from the 56th district | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Sallie Newbill |
| Succeeded by | Dan Moody |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Edmunds Price (1954-10-08)October 8, 1954 (age 71) Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Michigan (BA,MD) |
Price's opening statement at his confirmation hearing to beUnited States Secretary of Health and Human Services. Recorded January 24, 2017 | |
Thomas Edmunds Price (born October 8, 1954) is an American physician andRepublican Party politician who served as theU.S. representative forGeorgia's 6th congressional district, encompassing the northern suburbs ofAtlanta, from 2005 to 2017.[1] While in Congress, Price chaired theHouse Committee on the Budget,[2]Republican Study Committee andRepublican Policy Committee.[3][4] He was appointedSecretary of Health and Human Services by PresidentDonald Trump and served in that role from February to September 2017.
On September 29, 2017, he resigned as head ofHHS following criticism of using government money to pay for private jet travel.[1] In July 2018, the HHS inspector general urged the HHS to recoup at least $341,000 from Price for wasteful expenditures.[5]
Price was born inLansing, Michigan, and grew up inDearborn, where he attended Adams Jr. High andDearborn High School.[6][7] Price's father and grandfather were both doctors. As a child, Price occasionally accompanied his grandfather onhouse calls inToledo, Ohio. Until Price was the age of six, his father worked adairy farm inFowlerville, Michigan.[8]
Price received hisB.A. (1975) andM.D. (1979) degrees from theUniversity of Michigan.[6] He completed a residency inorthopedic surgery atEmory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, and settled in the suburb ofRoswell, Georgia.[9] He entered private practice in 1984 and returned to Emory as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery in 2002.[7][10] He was the director of the orthopedic clinic at Atlanta'sGrady Memorial Hospital, where he met his wifeBetty, who worked there asanesthesiologist.[7][11]
Price was a member of theAssociation of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), a politically conservative group founded in 1943 to "fight socialized medicine" and known to promote a range ofscientifically discredited claims.[12][13] The AAPS opposesMedicare andmandatory vaccination. Price is also a member of theAmerican Medical Association.[14] Before entering the state senate, Price was politically active as a member of the Republican Party and traveled with theMedical Association of Georgia in the early 1990s to oppose theClinton health care plan of 1993.[8]
Price first ran for office after receiving a phone call fromstate senator Sallie Newbill in 1995. Newbill, who represented Georgia's 56th senate district, was planning to retire and personally asked Price if he was interested in succeeding her. Price accepted the offer[8] and defeated Democrat Ellen Milholland in the election, 71–29%.[15] In a 1998 rematch, he won re-election to a second term by defeating Milholland by a margin of 75–25%.[16] In 2000 and 2002, he won re-election to a third and fourth term unopposed.[17][18]
Price has cited discontent with government regulations of the health care industry as his primary reason for becoming involved in politics.[19]
During his tenure as a state senator, Price served on the committees for Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, Education, Ethics, Health and Human Services, Insurance and Labor, Reapportionment and Redistricting, and Rules.[20]
Price was electedminority whip of the Georgia state senate on November 6, 1998.[21] He held this position until November 14, 2002, when Republicans took control of the state senate, and Price was electedmajority leader – the first Republican to ever hold this position in Georgia.[22][23][24] He was replaced as majority leader by Bill Stephens on June 17, 2003.[25]
In late April 2003, Price formally announced his candidacy forGeorgia's 6th congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives.[26][27][28] The seat was being vacated by RepublicanJohnny Isakson, who had decided to pursue an opening in the U.S. Senate.[29]Bob Barr, a former U.S. Congressman, was considered an early frontrunner in the race to replace Isakson, but Barr withdrew his candidacy for personal reasons, shortly before Price entered the race.[30][31][32] Price went on to run against two fellow state senators, Chuck Clay and Robert Lamutt, as well as two state representatives, Roger Hines and Mark Burkhalter.[33][34] Also taking part in the race was John McCallum, a former aide toU.S. House SpeakerNewt Gingrich.[35][36]
At the time, Georgia's 6th Congressional district included parts ofFulton,Cherokee, andCobb counties.[27][36] The district lines had been drawn so as to heavily favor Republicans -The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called the district a "honey pot" for the party and suggested that whoever won that year's primary would likely retain the seat "into the next decade".[35] Isakson had won the previous election with eighty percent of the vote,[29] and no Democrat entered the race to replace him.[33][34][36]
Following Barr's withdrawal from the race, Lamutt, a millionaireventure capitalist who self-financed much of his own campaign, was generally considered to be the new frontrunner;[24] althoughThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggested that Clay, who had previously run an unsuccessful campaign to beLieutenant Governor of the state, likely had the most name recognition of the remaining candidates.[35] Clay had also served as Republican minority leader in the state legislature, several years before Price became the party's majority leader.[21] Price's residence in Fulton County was seen as a disadvantage, because the 6th district had been exclusively represented by Cobb County residents since 1991.[24] All of Price's opponents on the final ballot lived in Cobb.[37][38] Price considered relocating, in order to improve his chances in the race, but he ultimately decided against this.[24][39]
Despite this handicap, Price had out-raised his opponents by late July,[40] and although he was briefly overtaken by Clay,[41] he reclaimed his top position in the 6th district race within a few months.[42] In February 2004, it was reported that Clay and Price were the two highest-funded candidates in that year's Congressional races, nationwide.[41] Federal election law put a limit of $2,000 on individual contributions to the campaigns, but Lamutt activated a clause that raised this limit to $6,000 for his opponents, when he loaned $600,000 to his own campaign.[43] Lamutt would eventually increase this loan to $1.5 million,[24] while Clay loaned at least $500,000 to his own campaign. In late April 2004, it was reported that Price had put a loan of $200,000 into the race. Despite this disparity in self-funding, Price had received contributions from a significantly higher number of donors than his opponents. At least $300,000 of Price's campaign funds came from thehealth care industry.[42]
In the final week of the election, several polls had Price ahead.[44][45][46]The Atlanta Journal-Constitution endorsed Clay over Price and the others, arguing that there was "little difference among the contestants on the issues", but that Clay had exhibited the greatest skill as a negotiator, while in the state legislature.[47] Burkhalter and McCallum were not on the final ballot.[37][45][48] On July 11, 2004, a televised debate was held between the remaining candidates.[44][49] The election was then held on July 20.[48] While early voting results showed Lamutt in the lead,[50] Price overtook him by the end of the night[38] and finished in first with 35% of the vote. Lamutt came in second, earning 28% of the vote, and Clay took third with 21% of the vote.[51] Because Price failed to earn over 50% of the vote, a run-off election between him and Lamutt was scheduled for August 10.[38][52][53]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution proceeded to endorse Price in the run-off election, arguing that he had demonstrated strong leadership abilities in the state senate, during "difficult budget years".[54] Lamutt was generally favored to win though, based on the assumption that he would consolidate the vote in Cobb County.[39][55][56] A televised debate between Price and Lamutt was held on August 1,[39][57] and early voting began the following day - the first time in Georgia state history that early voting was allowed in a runoff election.[58] Price upset expectations by winning 54% of the vote - carrying about 80% in Fulton County and about 40% in Cobb County.[59][60][61] Price then won the general election unopposed.[62][63]
Georgia's 6th Congressional district was redrawn in 2005 to include all of Cherokee County. Additionally, it gained the northern tip of DeKalb County and retained only the eastern section of Cobb County.[64] That Fall, John Konop, a businessman from Cherokee, announced that he would challenge Price in the Republican primary.[64][65][66] Konop ran to the right of Price on immigration policy and criticized Price's support for theCentral American Free Trade Agreement. He also argued that Price's support for transportation and energy bills would increase the federal deficit. Price defended these bills, arguing that the former would return more tax-payer money to Georgia and that the latter could potentially help the United States achieveenergy independence.[67][68][69] Price raised $1.5 million throughout the primary campaign, while Konop merely raised around $50,000.[68]The Atlanta Journal-Constitution endorsed Price in the primary election, suggesting that Price could play an important role in shaping future healthcare legislation.[70] A televised debate between the candidates was held on July 7, 2006, and the election was then held on July 18.[67] Price defeated Konop, 82%–18%.[71][72][73]
Price then faced a Democratic challenger in the general election - Steve Sinton, a media figure from Cobb County, who had co-founded the liberaltalk radio news networkAir America.[66] Sinton argued that the Republican-controlled Congress had been irresponsible in its spending policies and oversight of the Iraq War.The Atlanta Journal-Constitution considered these to be valid concerns but endorsed Price for re-election, arguing that he would better represent the conservative 6th district's constituents.[74] In November, Price won re-election to a second term with 72% of the vote.[75][76]
Price was unopposed in the 2008 Republican primary.[77] He then ran against Democratic candidate Bill Jones, a retiredair forcepilot, in the general election.[78] Jones was described byThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a moderate.[79] He cited Price's opposition to an expansion of theChildren's Health Insurance Program as one of his primary reasons for entering the race.[80] Jones managed to raise over $225,000 - more than any other Democratic challenger in Georgia's congressional elections that year.[81] An easy victory for Price was still predicted though.[80][81] A debate was scheduled for October 21, 2008, but Price was not in attendance, as Congress was in session at the time. Jones was still allowed to deliver remarks at the event.[82] Price carried a large margin of victory over Jones, earning 69% of the vote.[83][84][85]
In 2010, Price was unopposed in both the primary and the general election.[86][87][88] He was again unopposed in the 2012 and 2014 primaries,[89][90] but faced Democratic challengers each year in November.[91][92] In 2012, Jeff Kazanow, a business consultant, narrowly beat Robert Montigel, a small-business owner, in the 6th district's Democratic primary.[89][93] Montigel went on to become the district's Democratic nominee in 2014.[94] Price won re-election to a fifth term in 2012, beating Kazanow with 64% of the vote,[95][96]and to a sixth term in 2014, beating Montigel with 66% of the vote.[97]
After being unopposed in the 2016 Republican primary, Price faced Democratic challenger Rodney Stooksbury in the general election.[98] Stooksbury, said to be a retiredaeronautic,[99] was described by the media as a "ghost candidate", as he had no public photographs, official website, or social media presence. WhenCBS46 sent a reporter to his listed address, there was no answer, and Stooksbury's supposed neighbors had never heard of him.[100] The Stooksbury campaign spent a mere $346.[101] Despite the handicap of possibly not existing, Stooksbury performed better than any of his predecessors - Price won the election, but only carried 61% of the vote.[102][103]
Price was chosen to serve as chair of the Republican Study Committee in November 2008, upon being elected to his third term in Congress.[104] Two years later, he was chosen to serve as chair of theHouse Republican Policy Committee, which made him the "fifth highest ranking Republican in the House".[105] Price was also chosen in 2010 to serve on theWays and Means Committee[106] and on theBudget Committee.[107] In December 2012, he was named vice-chair of the Budget Committee, serving underPaul Ryan,[108] and in November 2014, Price succeeded Ryan as the committee's chair.[109]
In 2012, Price sought the position ofHouse Republican Conference chair, which would have made him the fourth-highest-ranking Republican in the House. He was endorsed by Ryan,[110] as well as by theTea Party-affiliated organizationFreedomWorks, conservative political commentatorErick Erickson,[111] future vice-president and then-governor of IndianaMike Pence, and outgoing Republican Conference ChairmanJeb Hensarling.[112] Ryan said of Price, "He was instrumental in drafting our House Republican budget. His vocal leadership on issues like health care, tax reform, and fiscal matters has been vital to our messaging and policy efforts. No one will work harder than Congressman Price at building a strong and compelling communications and policy strategy that reflects the will of our membership and the needs of the nation."[110] Although then-Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner did not publicly endorse anyone in the race, he was seen as preferring Price's challenger for the position,Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and offered Price a different position if he dropped out of the race for Conference Chairman - Price turned down the offer.[111][112][113] He lost the election to McMorris Rodgers in November.[114][115]
That same year, Price was considered as a possible primary challenger for Republican senatorSaxby Chambliss,[111][116] and in 2014, Price was considered as a possible replacement forEric Cantor as the HouseMajority Leader, but Price ultimately decided against pursuing either of these positions.[24][117][118]
In 2013, theAmerican Conservative Union named Price one of the most conservative members of Congress, giving him a 100% approval rating.[119] Price was also described as one of the most conservative members of Congress by theAtlanta Journal-Constitution and theNew York Times.[112][115]
Price is a member of theRepublican Main Street Partnership.[120]
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In response to questions as to whether or notvaccines causeautism, Price stated in January 2017 "I think the science in that instance is that it does not".[121] Price said in March 2017 that it should be up to individual states to determine whethervaccinations should be required - a position that is in keeping with current U.S. law, which does not require vaccinations on a federal level. All fifty states, however, have laws requiring that children in public schools be vaccinated.[122]
As a U.S. Representative, Price voted multiple times to repeal thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act,[123] as well as portions of theHealth Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[124][125] Price introduced his first post-Obamacare bill as early as 2009, thereafter reintroducing updated versions in every Congress since that point.[126] In May 2015, as House Budget Committee chair, Price released health care legislation which was described byBill Kristol of theNational Review as "the strongest Obamacare alternative offered in Congress to date."[127] Greg Sargent of theWashington Post wrote of the bill, "it's good to have a fleshed out plan, because it helps clarify the differences between the parties on health reform."[128] Sargent also wrote that "GOP reforms would likely translate into lower-quality plans and a coverage expansion that would benefit fewer people. But that would be the trade-off Republicans would make to achieve their goal of less government spending and interference in the market than that which occurs under Obamacare."[128] In 2017, after Price was nominated to beSecretary of Health and Human Services,NPR wrote that Price's 2015 bill would be seen as "one of the main paths forward to repeal portions of the ACA."[123]
Price has supported Paul Ryan's plan toprivatizeMedicare.[11]
Price has received funding from the tobacco industry as well as having a substantial shareholding in tobacco companies Philip Morris International and Altria.[129] Price voted against theFamily Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, a law that for the first time gave theFood and Drug Administration regulatory jurisdiction over tobacco products, i.e., the power to regulate tobacco as a drug.[123]
In 2024 he acknowledged that he was working "as an advisor to PMI Global Services Inc".[130]
Price opposesabortion and voted to withdraw federal funding forPlanned Parenthood.[123] In 2005, heco-sponsored the Right to Life Act, which would have defined life as beginning at the moment ofconception, therefore banning most abortions and many forms ofcontraception.[131] On multiple occasions, Price supported the proposed Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would have implemented a nationwideban on abortions occurring after the twentieth week of pregnancy.[131][132][133][134]
Price supported the proposed Protect Life Act of 2011,[135] which would have amended the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often abbreviated as the ACA) to deny federal subsidies to any health insurance plans offering abortion coverage - exceptions would have been allowed in the cases of rape, incest, or when a mother's life is at risk.[136][137] The ACA already banned federal subsidies from being used to cover abortions, but did allow health insurance plans covering abortions to receive federal subsidies, so long as such funding was not directly used for abortion coverage.[138] The Protect Life Act would have also allowed hospitals to refuse life-saving abortions to women in emergency situations.[139][140]
In 2013, Price co-sponsored the Health Care Conscience Rights Act,[132] which would have amended the ACA to allow all employers opposed to abortion and contraception to offer health insurance plans that do not cover these services. The bill also would have amended thePublic Health Service Act to strengthen protections of health care workers who refuse to participate in abortion procedures.[141][142][143][144]
Among the ACA's other provisions, Price is opposed to the bill's elimination, under most health insurance plans, ofco-pays forbirth control. Price defended his position on this issue in a 2012 interview by suggesting that no women in the country have ever struggled to pay for birth control. He said, "Bring me one woman who has been left behind. Bring me one. There's not one."[145][146][147] Numerous media outlets have refuted this assertion.[145][146][147][148][149] In 2017, during his confirmation hearing to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, Price was questioned about this comment and responded, "What I meant is that when I had patients in my office who could not afford a medication we did everything we could to make sure they could have it. There are avenues in the health care system that doctors and hospitals take to make sure people can get the health care they need."[150]
Price has received perfect scores from theNational Right to Life Committee, while receiving scores of zero from both Planned Parenthood andNARAL Pro-Choice America.[151] He participated in theMarch for Life annually from 2009 through 2013 and also participated in 2015.[152][153][154][155][156][157]
In 2011, Price voted to reduce non-security discretionary spending to 2008 levels[158][159][160] (and subsequently voted against several amendments offered via motions to recommit with instructions).[161]
In 2013, he was the main sponsor of the Require a PLAN Act (mandating that the President identify a fiscal year in which the budget will be balanced).[162][163] He voted for theNo Budget, No Pay Act[164][165] and a resolution establishing a budget for the United States Government for FY 2014 that passed the House of Representatives.[166] In 2011, Price voted to prohibit federal funding ofNational Public Radio.[167] Price voted to terminate the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program.[168] Price voted to reduce federal spending and the deficit by terminating taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions.[169]
Price rejects thescientific consensus on climate change.[170] In 2008, he signed a pledge sponsored byAmericans for Prosperity promising to vote against anyglobal warming legislation that would raise taxes.[171] In 2010, while speaking out against proposed regulations ofcarbon dioxide, Price said that the science behind global warming was filled with "errors and obfuscation".[170][172]
In 2006, Price voted against the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act - a bill which maintained themoratorium on most offshore oil and gas drilling in the United States. Although the moratorium was lifted two years later, it was reinstated underPresident Barack Obama, prompting Price to vote in favor of the Reversing Pres. Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act in 2011.
In 2007, Price voted against theNo Oil and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act, which would have removedsovereign immunity protections forOPEC, allowing the organization's members to be sued in the U.S. court system.[173] Although the bill passed with bipartisan support in Congress, it was vetoed by PresidentGeorge W. Bush.[174]
That same year, Price voted against the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Act, which would have eliminatedtax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies - the newly raised funds would have then been used to support the development ofalternative energy sources. Price also voted against providing funding for domestically producedbiofuels, and on multiple occasions, he voted against providing tax incentives forrenewable energy.[173]
In 2009, Price voted against theAmerican Clean Energy and Security Act,[173] which would have implemented acap and trade system ongreenhouse gas emissions. Although the bill was never voted on in the Senate, the Obama administration proceeded to regulate greenhouse gas emissions through theClean Power Plan.[175] In 2011, Price voted for theEnergy Tax Prevention Act, which would have prevented theEnvironmental Protection Agency from implementing such regulations.[173]
In 2011, Price supported the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act,[176] which would have prevented theEnvironmental Protection Agency from regulating the amount of dust produced through various commercial operations,[177][178] and the Superfund Common Sense Act, which would have removedmanure from thefederal government's list of hazardous or pollutant substances.[179] He also voted for the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012,[180] which had it become law, would have made financial assistance available to ranchers who had lost livestock due todrought. The cost of the assistance would have been offset by cuts to programs intended to prevent future droughts.[181][182][183]
TheAmerican Farm Bureau Federation gave Price a score of 82% in 2005–2006, 23% in 2007–2008, 66% in 2009–2010, 70% in 2011, and 25% in 2014. Price consistently received 0% approval ratings from theNational Farmers Union, during his time in Congress, except for when he received a score of 11% in 2012.[184]
TheLeague of Conservation Voters gave Price a lifetime score of 4%.[185]
Price voted to extend thePatriot Act.[186][187] Price voted against a resolution which would have forced the president to withdraw American forces from Iraq.[188] In 2015, Price stated his belief that states should not have to participate inrefugee resettlement programs.[189]
During Price's first year in Congress, he voted for theUnited Nations Reform Act of 2005, which would have withdrawn up to one-half of US funding for theUnited Nations, unless various reforms were met. In 2011, Price voted for the United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act, which would have limited the kind of funding allowed to be contributed to the United Nations.[190]
In 2005, Price voted against the East Asia Security Act, which would have allowed for sanctions on any country violating thearms embargo on China. In 2007, Price co-sponsored the Syria Accountability and Liberation Act, which would have strengthened the sanctions imposed on Syria under theSyria Accountability Act, and maintained those sanctions untilweapons of mass destruction were seized in the country and dismantled. In 2008, Price voted in favor of theUnited States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act.[190]
Price opposedgun control. Throughout his congressional career, he consistently received high ratings from theNRA Political Victory Fund, as well as from theGun Owners of America, while consistently receiving scores of 0 from theBrady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.[191]
In 2005, Price voted for theProtection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protectsfirearms manufacturers and dealers from facing legal consequences, when crimes are committed with the use of their products.[192]
In 2007, Price co-sponsored the D.C. Personal Protection Act,[192] which would have repealed many ofWashington D.C.'s local gun control regulations, over the protests of D.C.'s elected officials.[192][193] Although the bill failed to become law, the 2008Supreme Court decisionDistrict of Columbia v. Heller found that the absolute prohibition ofhandguns in D.C. was unconstitutional. Price praised this decision,[194] as well as the Supreme Court decision reached two years later inMcDonald v. City of Chicago, which stated that theSecond Amendment applies to the states.[195]
In 2009, Price supported the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, which would have madeconcealed carry permits issued by any state valid nationwide.[192]
Price believes thatillegal immigrants in the United States should bedeported, saying in 2005 ofGeorge W. Bush's plans for immigration reform, "Thinly veiled attempts to promote amnesty cannot be tolerated."[196] In 2009, Price voted for the Birthright Citizenship Act, which would have revised theFourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution to prevent children born to illegal immigrants in the country from attainingbirthright citizenship.[197] Price has written in support of legislation that allows green cards that went unused due to bureaucratic inefficiencies to be reissued to foreign physicians and nurses who are trained to practice in the United States.[198]
In 2006, Price voted for theMarriage Protection Amendment, which would have defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.[123][199] He was one of the proposed amendment's co-sponsors, when it was reintroduced in 2008.[199] On multiple occasions, Price voted against theEmployment Non-discrimination Act, which would have expandedfederal anti-discrimination law to prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis ofsexual orientation (several states already have such a protection and exceptions for religious organizations would have been allowed).[123][199][200] In 2015, he co-sponsored theFirst Amendment Defense Act, which would have prevented the federal government from penalizing businesses that deny services tosame-sex couples.[201][202]
In 2009, Price opposed theMatthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which extended the scope offederal hate crime laws to include crimes in which individuals are targeted due to their sexual orientation,gender, orgender identity.[201][203][204] Price also voted against theDon't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010[123][200][205] and theViolence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, which extended the original bill's protections to cover same-sex couples.[199][201]
In 2016, Price criticized the Obama administration's directive that allowedtransgender students to use restrooms corresponding with their gender identity.[200][201][204] On Facebook, Price wrote, "It is absurd that we need a 'federal restroom policy' for our nation's schools. This is yet another abuse and overreach of power by the #Obama Administration, and a clear invasion of privacy. Schools should not have to fear retaliation for failure to comply."[206]
Price consistently received scores of zero from theHuman Rights Campaign (a gay rights organization) throughout his congressional career, except for between 2007 and 2010, when he received 10% approval ratings.[207]
Price is the sponsor of theEmpowering Patients First Act (EPFA), which he first introduced in the 111th Congress and has reintroduced in each Congress since then. Originally intended to be a Republican alternative to Democratic efforts to reform the health care system, it has since been positioned by Price and other Republicans as a potential replacement for the ACA. The bill, among other things, creates and expands tax credits for purchasing health insurance, allows for some interstate health insurance markets, and reforms medical malpractice lawsuits.
Price introduced thePro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2013 on May 8, 2013.[208] The bill would require theCongressional Budget Office to provide a macroeconomic impact analysis for bills that are estimated to have a large budgetary effect.[209] Price said it was necessary because of the Congressional Budget Office's current method of reviewing bills just to see what they would cost. Price said, "that is a model that has proven to be incapable of providing the type of macroeconomic diagnosis folks need to make sure we are pursuing policies that will help generate economic opportunity and bring down the nation's debt."[210] H.R. 1874 has passed the House but has yet to become law.
Price endorsedMitt Romney in theRepublican Party's 2008 presidential primaries[213] and Newt Gingrich in theparty's 2012 primaries.[214] In 2016, he supportedMarco Rubio and initially opposed Donald Trump, saying in March of that year that Trump would be "dangerous for politics and the economy."[215] Despite this, once Trump became the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, Price switched his allegiance and corralled eight of his fellow House Republicancommittee chairs into joining him.[216] They released a group endorsement of Donald Trump for president on May 13, 2016, which stated, "There is a path to winning in November, and it comes through unity. To solidify this partnership, we endorse Mr. Trump as the Republican nominee for President and call upon all Americans to support him."[217] A month later, Price's efforts in getting those committee chairs to endorse Trump led theWashington Post to name Price as one of Trump's "top six allies in Congress."[218]
On November 29, 2016, Price was nominated for United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) by President-elect Donald Trump.[219] On February 1, 2017, theSenate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved his nomination by a vote of 11–0 with all Democrats boycotting the vote, sending the nomination to the Senate floor.[220] On February 10, 2017, the Senate confirmed Price in a 52–47 vote.[221]
In March 2017, Price endorsed theAmerican Health Care Act of 2017, a bill proposed by House Republicans that would repeal theindividual mandate and make several other major changes to thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[222] When theCongressional Budget Office estimated that the American Health Care Act would insure 24 million fewer Americans than the Affordable Care Act by 2026 and reduce the federal deficit by $337 billion in the same span, Price said he disagreed "strenuously" with the report and found it "not believable".[223]
In April 2017,Public News Service reporter Dan Heyman was arrested by West Virginia police for "aggressively breaching Secret Service agents" and "causing a disturbance by yelling questions" related to proposed healthcare legislation at Price andKellyanne Conway.[224] Price said the arrest was "not my decision to make".[225]
While he was HHS secretary, he said that theindividual mandate (a component of the Affordable Care Act requiring the purchase of health insurance) increased the cost of health care.[226] However, in May 2018, while no longer HHS secretary, Price admitted that the repeal of the individual mandate would reduce participation of young and healthy individuals in the health insurance market and thus drive up the cost of health care for those remaining.[227]
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In a series of reports in September 2017,Politico reported that since May 2017, Price spent more than $1 million of department funds for his own travel on private charter jets and military aircraft.[228][229] Many of the flights were between cities that are easily accessible by train or car and have frequent, low-cost commercial airline service.[230][231] Five Democratic members of Congress requested an inspector general's investigation into Price's use of private aircraft.[232][233] Price's use of private planes was legal but was criticized by ethics experts as a misuse of taxpayer funding.[231][234] Price's spokesperson justified Price's use of private jets as a reasonable precaution, given that Price was once unable to attend an important meeting because a commercial flight was cancelled;Politico noted that the flight in question was cancelled because air travel had been virtually shut down in the region in question at the time, preventing even private jets from taking off.[235] As a congressman in 2009, Price had criticized the use of private jets by government officials as "fiscal irresponsibility run amok".[235][236]
FollowingPolitico's reporting on the matter, Price said that he would stop taking taxpayer-funded private jet flights pending a formal review by his department's inspector general.[229] President Trump said that he was unhappy about Price's expenditures, but declined to state whether he would fire him.[237] Price said later that September that he would reimburse taxpayers for $51,887, which he calculated as the cost of his seat on the more than $400,000 worth of charter flights.[234][238] He also vowed to discontinue the use of private charter flights for his travel.[239] Later that day, it was revealed that the expenditures for Price's charter and military flights were higher than $1 million, including flights taken by Secretary Price and his wife to Europe and Africa.Politico also noted that Price had, in June 2017, defended a proposal to cut $663,000 from HHS's $4.9 million annual travel budget.[228]
The reports fromPolitico sparked a larger inquiry into the use of private planes by Trump administration officials. On September 26, theHouse Oversight Committee started a bipartisan investigation led by RepresentativesTrey Gowdy (R-SC) andElijah Cummings (D-MD) of all use of private and government-owned planes by non-elected government officials of the Executive Branch, citing5 U.S.C. § 5733, which states "The travel of an employee shall be by the most expeditious means of transportation practicable and shall be commensurate with the nature and purpose of the duties of the employee requiring such travel."[240][241] SenatorChuck Grassley (R-IA) also sent a letter to the White House asking to "detail what steps the administration has taken to ensure that cabinet secretaries use the most fiscally responsible travel in accordance with the public trust they hold and the spirit and letter of all laws, regulations, and policies that apply."[239][242]
On September 29, 2017, the White House announced that Price had resigned. Price, with a tenure of 231 days, became the shortest-serving Secretary of Health and Human Services in history.[243] On July 13, 2018, theinspector general of HHS issued a report finding that Price had repeatedly violated government travel rules and had wasted at least $341,000 through his use of chartered jets and military aircraft.[244][245] The report recommended that the government attempt to recoup the money improperly spent on Price's travels.
In 2015–2016, according to congressional financial disclosures, Price purchased shares totaling between $60,000 and $110,000 in value inInnate Immunotherapeutics, an Australianbiotech company. Innate had no approved drugs and just onemultiple sclerosis drug in trial. Price participated in a private placement of more shares in August 2016, paying $.25 and $.34 per share. Price invested between $50,000 and $100,000. On January 13, 2017, the shares were valued at $1.31, giving Price an unrealized gain of 300%–400% in a 6-month period. Price announced plans to sell several health care investments, including Innate, upon his confirmation as HHS Secretary.[246]
On January 16, 2017, CNN reported that Price had purchased shares inZimmer Biomet, a medical devices company.[247] Zimmer Biomet is an S&P 500 component, in that every S&P 500 ETF and numerous mutual funds often trade Zimmer Biomet.[248] Price had a diversified, broker-directed portfolio of hundreds of stocks in which investment decisions were made by a Morgan Stanley financial advisor, and that advisor had purchased these shares, in addition to approximately 70 other stocks, as a part of a periodic portfolio re-balancing.[248] Less than a week after the stock purchase, Price introduced legislation, the HIP Act, that would delay aCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulation until 2018. Industry analysts had warned that those regulations would significantly hurt the company's finances. Following the introduction of the HIP Act, Zimmer Biomet'spolitical action committee donated to Price's reelection campaign.[247]
When questioned about his financial dealings during his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate on January 18, 2017, Price said, "[e]verything that we have done has been above-board, transparent, ethical, and legal."[249]
In March 2017,ProPublica reported that U.S. AttorneyPreet Bharara had been investigating Price's stock trades before Bharara's dismissal from his post by Donald Trump. Price said that he had not received any indication of a federal investigation into his stock trades.[250][251]
Price and his wife, Betty, reside in Roswell, and have one child, Robert Price.[252] Betty served on the Roswell City Council and was elected to theGeorgia House of Representatives in a 2015 special election to succeed the lateHarry Geisinger.[253] Price is aPresbyterian.[132]
In 2014, Price had a net worth of approximately $13.6 million.[254]
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| Georgia State Senate | ||
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| Preceded by | Majority Leader of theGeorgia Senate 2002–2003 | Succeeded by Bill Stephens |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's 6th congressional district 2005–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Budget Committee 2015–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of theRepublican Study Committee 2009–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Republican Policy Committee 2011–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | United States Secretary of Health and Human Services 2017 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Cabinet Member | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Cabinet Member | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Cabinet Member |
| Health, education, and welfare |   | |
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| Health and human services | ||
Chairs of theUnited States House Committee on the Budget | ||
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| International | |
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| People | |
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