Al Franken: “I have to start this over fresh. I don't know if the Congressional Record needs to have this first half paragraph twice…”

“I have to start this over fresh. I don't know if the Congressional Record needs to have this first half paragraph twice, but so be it. On February 3, 2009, Tom Daschle, President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, withdrew his nomination because he hadn't paid his taxes on his car service. On January 9, 2001, Linda Chavez, President George W. Bush's nominee for the Department of Labor, withdrew her nomination after questions were raised about her decision to shelter an undocumented immigrant. Most recently, Vincent Viola, President Trump's nominee to be the Secretary of the Army, withdrew his nomination after it proved too difficult for him to distance himself from his business ties. Congressman Price's conflicted financial investments and his affiliation with conspiracy-theory-peddling extremists should be enough to disqualify his nomination. On top of that, Congressman Price's policy agenda squarely contradicts what the majority of the American people want and the key promises President Trump made during his campaign. It is, frankly, hard to believe that we are seriously considering someone who has advanced policies that would privatize Medicare, gut Medicaid, and rip coverage away from millions of Americans. For all of these reasons, I strongly oppose Congressman Price's nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Let's take these issues one by one. First, Congressman Price's stock trades.…”