Tom Price BACKGROUND Personal Information Thomas Edmunds Price Education University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, 48109 (LinkedIn Accessed 11/21/16) Family Tom’s Wife, Betty Price, Is A Representative In The Georgia State House - She Was Elected In 2015. “Betty Price, currently a member of the Roswell City Council, is one of three candidates vying for the District 48 seat made vacant by the May death of state Rep. Harry Geisinger. She is also the wife of U.S. Rep. Tom Price.” (Jim Galloway, “A Summer House Race Could Give Georgia Politics Its First Power Couple,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 6/3/15) Work Experience 2015 – Present: House Budget Committee - Chairman 2011 – 2013: House Republican Policy Committee - Chairman 2009 – 2011: Republican Study Committee Chairman January 2005 – Present: US House of Representatives Congressman (GA-6) (Bio Accessed 11/21/16) January 1997 – December 2004: Georgia State Senate State Senator (LinkedIn Accessed 11/21/16) 1995 – 2000: Grady Memorial Hospital Medical Director of the Orthopedic Clinic 1995 – 2000: Emory University Assistant Professor 1980 – 1995: Private Practice Orthopedic Surgeon 1978 – 1980: Emory University Resident (Bio Accessed 11/21/16) Political Affiliation According To GOP Data Center, Tom Price Is Listed As A Registered Unaffiliated Voter In Fulton County, GA. According To Nexis, Thomas Price Is Not Listed As A Registered Voter. (GOP Data Center and Nexis, Accessed 11/21/16) QUESTIONS FOR TOM PRICE Political Vulnerabilities Initial Criticisms of Mr. Trump 1 Background: During the earlier stages of the campaign, Price suggested the President-elect was not a “reasonable” candidate for public office. Price also called the President-elect an “empty policy vessel” and a danger to the economy. • Given the tumultuous nature of this campaign season, would you commit to standing by the President and express full public support during turbulent periods should you serve in the administration? • Do you have any specific reservations to putting full support behind the President-elect’s issues agenda and policy platform? Criticisms of Management Ability Background: Price’s time as the chairman of the House Budget Committee was described as “rocky” and “marred by division.” Price famously clashed with conservative Republicans and Democrats. • Given the President-elect’s desire for a cooperative and functional government, do you believe you would have the ability to effectively lead a government agency? • Do you feel that you possess the skillset to bring people together outside of your direct political circles? Vocal Opponent of Gay Marriage Background: Price has consistently been a vocal opponent of gay marriage and went as far to assert that the Supreme Court ruling that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples was a “sad day for marriage.” • Given your outspoken opposition to same-sex marriage, will you support the Presidentelects position that the issue has been settled by the Supreme Court and will remain settled? Policy Questions Department of Health and Human Services • Do you have a plan to go about dismantling the Affordable Care Act and are there any policies or programs that you would want to keep for future plans or as standalone initiatives? • What would you prioritize in the formulation of a new healthcare plan? • The repeal of the Affordable Care Act will leave many Americans without insurance and unsure about future insurance prospects. What safeguards would you implement to ensure that people who still want coverage are able to get it while new policies are created and implemented? • What role do you see HHS as playing with regards to private insurance companies? Is it a regulator or a facilitator? • What changes would you make to Medicare to keep costs down while keeping the program intact for those who rely on it? 2 • What reforms, if any, would you suggest to the Medicaid program, such as eligibility changes or expansion of coverage, and how would you keep costs down given these changes? • HHS oversees the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in addition to other social service programs. Politics aside, will you commit to running that program as efficiently and effectively as possible? • The FDA is under the purview of HHS. Would you suggest any changes in how the FDA regulates and classifies its material? Opponent of the CHIP Program Background: Price opposes expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which is a program ran by HHS. • Would the effectiveness and the efficiency of the CHIP program suffer under your management at HHS? Advocate of Global Trade Background: Price is an outspoken advocate for global trade and was an initial supporter of the TransPacific Partnership. • Will you be able to publicly back the President-elect’s opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership if necessary? • Will you be able to support the President-elect’s desire to renegotiate U.S.-international trade deals? o If called upon, would you be willing to help with these negotiations? TRUMP-PENCE CRITICISM Price Was Highly Critical Of Trump In March 2016 But Reversed Course Once Trump Had Secured The Nomination In March 2016 Price Said That He Did Not Believe Trump Was A Reasonable Candidate For The Presidency. “When asked about Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, Price said that he does not believe Trump to be a reasonable candidate for office.” (Joseph Asaro, “Congressman Tom Price Talks Trump, Conservatism on Campus,” The Emory Wheel, 3/26/16) • Price Asserted That Trump Was An “Empty Policy Vessel” And Was “Dangerous For Politics And The Economy.” “Price supported his claim by highlighting Trump’s inexperience and added that he has an ‘empty policy vessel’ and is ‘dangerous for politics and the economy.’” (Joseph Asaro, “Congressman Tom Price Talks Trump, Conservatism on Campus,” The Emory Wheel, 3/26/16) Price Supported Marco Rubio In The Republican Primary Until He Withdrew From The Race. “Price said that he supported Marco Rubio and voted for the Florida senator prior to his withdrawal from the presidential race.” (Joseph Asaro, “Congressman Tom Price Talks Trump, Conservatism on Campus,” The Emory Wheel, 3/26/16) However, On June 20th Price Was Described By The New Yorker As A “Trump Super Fan.” “Price has turned into something of a Trump super fan, akin to Chris Christie. He even compared Trump to Reagan.” (Ryan Lizza, “Occupied Territory,” The New Yorker, 6/20/16) 3 • Price Said Trump Was “Absolutely” Qualified To Be President. MSNBC’S JOE SCARBOROUGH: “Congressman is Donald Trump Qualified to be President?” REP. TOM PRICE (GA-R): “Absolutely” SCARBOROUGH: “There we go!” PRICE: “This is down to two individuals at this point and the question is who is better to take this country forward and I don’t think there is any question about that at this point.” (MSNBC S Morning Joe 6/27/16) CHAIRMAN/RNC COMMENTS No Relevant Records Found. GENERAL CONTROVERSY Tom Price Was Investigated By The House Ethics Committee But The Investigation Was Dropped In 2011 In 2010, The House Ethics Committee Began An Investigation Into Price And Other Lawmakers’ Fundraising Activities Around Votes On The Financial Regulation Overhaul Bill. “House investigators have recommended that three lawmakers be further investigated to determine whether political contributions were improperly linked to votes on the huge financial overhaul bill. The independent House Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the member-run House ethics committee pursue potential rules violations by Republicans John Campbell of California and Tom Price of Georgia and Democrat Joseph Crowley of New York.” (Larry Margasak, “House Panel Recommends 3 For Further Investigation,” Associated Press, 9/1/10) • • “Price Said It Was ‘Truly A Mystery’ That His Case Was Referred For Further Investigation, ‘There Being No Evidence Of Any Wrongdoing Or Any Inconsistency In My Policy Position.’ ‘As a member of Congress, I have always complied with the letter and the spirit of the law,’ Price added. ‘To suggest otherwise is unfounded and untrue. In addition, my voting record and opposition to a culture of taxpayer-funded bailouts has been and always will be unshakable.’” (Larry Margasak, “House Panel Recommends 3 For Further Investigation,” Associated Press, 9/1/10) “All Three Lawmakers Referred For Further Investigation Had Fundraisers Last December, Around The Time Of Crucial House Votes. Price Had Two Fundraisers, Including A Breakfast On Dec. 2 And A Luncheon Dec. 10 Billed As A Financial Services Event. “A special guest was Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the House Financial Services Committee.” (Larry Margasak, “House Panel Recommends 3 For Further Investigation,” Associated Press, 9/1/10) In January 2011, The House Ethics Committee Cleared Price Of Any Wrongdoing. “The House ethics committee has found no connection between fundraising by seven lawmakers and their votes on a major financial overhaul bill in 2009. The committee dismissed cases against all seven after finding no evidence they appeared to give donors special treatment or access, or that contributions were linked to official actions. The independent Office of Government Ethics, which recommends cases for further review, had asked the ethics committee to investigate three of the members: Republican Reps. John Campbell of California and Tom Price of Georgia, and Democratic Rep. Joseph Crowley of New York.” (Larry Margasak, “House Ethics Committee Dismisses Fundraising Cases,” Associated Press, 1/27/11) • “An Ethics Committee Statement [Said Price, Et Al] ‘Had Strict Separation Between All Fundraising Activities And Legislative Activities.’ “The report noted they hired professional fundraising consultants to manage all aspects of fundraising. ‘These fundraising consultants had no interaction whatsoever with the three members or their legislative staff or legislative activities,’ the report said.” (Larry Margasak, “House Ethics Committee Dismisses Fundraising Cases,” Associated Press, 1/27/11) Dysfunction And Division Has Haunted Price’s Leadership Of The House Budget Committee 4 The New York Times Described Price’s Leadership Of The House Budget Committee As “Rocky” And “Marred By Divisions Between Fiscal Hawks And Defense Hawks.” “Disadvantages: Personal popularity does not always translate to power. Mr. Price has been knocking on the door ever since he called for ‘Red State leadership’ after the Republican election losses of 2012. He has not gotten anywhere. And his leadership of the Budget Committee has been rocky, marred by divisions between fiscal hawks and defense hawks.” (Jonathan Weisman And Carl Hulse And David M. Herszenhorn And Jennifer Steinhauer, “Possible Candidates For A Brokered House Speaker Race,” The New York Times, 11/21/16) The National Review Described Price As “Not Popular Among House Republicans” And Repeatedly Engaged In “High-Profile Fights With National-Security Hawks Over Defense Spending.” “Such comments underline the particular weaknesses of each candidate: Price lacks Scalise’s gregarious nature and has engaged in high-profile fights with national-security hawks over defense spending; he is not popular among House Republicans.” (Joel Gehrke, “Flawed Candidates Keep Majority Leader s Race Close,” National Review, 10/2/15) Price Has Engendered Resentment Among Many Hawkish Conservatives Who At One Point Joined Democrats To Block One of Price’s Budget Proposals Price Has Clashed With Hawkish Republicans Who Helped Democrats Block One Of His Budget Proposals. “Price’s fiscal conservatism is a double-edged sword, though. He alienated most nationalsecurity hawks in March by refusing to write a budget that increased discretionary defense spending unless at least some of the expenditure was offset by other spending cuts. His preferred proposal died on the House floor, as 139 Republicans with the prominent support of Scalise joined Democrats in voting against the bill. Just 105 Republicans endorsed Price’s plan.” (Joel Gehrke, “Flawed Candidates Keep Majority Leader s Race Close,” National Review, 10/2/15) As A State Senator, Price Alienated Members Of His Own Party After Refusing To Compromise On A Medical Malpractice Reform Bill When In The State Senate, Price Angered Some Members Of His Own Party When He Refused To Negotiate With Trial Lawyers On A Medical Malpractice Reform Bill. “Price mentions support for the war on terrorism, tax reform and alleviating traffic congestion as his priorities. He's also interested in medical malpractice liability reform, though his position on the issue alienated some members of his own party. While the Georgia House and Senate approved bills addressing tort reform in the spring, neither contained a provision Price favored --- a $250,000 limit on jury awards for pain and suffering caused by malpractice. State Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) complained about Price and two other senators' seeming obsession with limiting damages, which the Senate had initially adopted but subsequently killed.” (Mark Bixler, “Tom Price Surgeon Takes Sharp Mind, Doctors Cause To D.C.,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 12/7/04) Price Was Removed By Members Of His Own Party As One Of The Negotiators Working To Reconcile The Malpractice Reform Bill. “Shortly before the Senate adjourned, with negotiations going nowhere, the Senate removed the three as a negotiating team working to reconcile its bill with the House. Price described it as ‘a cynical ploy on the part of a trial lawyer, albeit a Republican trial lawyer, to thwart the work’ of his team, though it was the whole Senate, not just Harp, that voted to boot the three Republican negotiators. ‘I've never seen that happen,’ said Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who had faced Price across the negotiating table. ‘There were senators who wanted a comprehensive tort reform bill without caps.’” (Mark Bixler, “Tom Price Surgeon Takes Sharp Mind, Doctors Cause To D.C.,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 12/7/04) Some Said Price Used The Issue To Run For Congress, In Which Medical Groups Accounted For 16 Of His Top 20 Campaign Contributors. “She said Price's insistence on limiting damages doomed tort reform in the General Assembly and gave him an issue to run on during his race for Congress, in which doctors and medical organizations accounted for 16 of his top 20 campaign contributors.” (Mark Bixler, “Tom Price Surgeon Takes Sharp Mind, Doctors Cause To D.C.,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 12/7/04) 5 Price Was Criticized For Receiving Contributions From Countrywide Financial While At The Same Time Calling For An Investigation Into The Company Price Was Criticized For Receiving Contributions From Countrywide Financial. “Several Republican lawmakers said last week that they will keep recent campaign contributions from Countrywide Financial even as those Members call for House investigations into the mortgage company over allegations it gave sweetheart loans to VIP borrowers, including two Senate Democrats. According to Federal Election Commission records, Countrywide Financial contributed to nearly three dozen Members’ campaign funds or leadership political action committees in the first few months of 2008, including more than a dozen GOP lawmakers who in recent weeks have signed on to letters requesting hearings. … A spokesman for Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who sits on Financial Services, said the Congressman would not be influenced by the $2,000 contribution he received from Countrywide’s PAC in early May. ‘Anyone who donates to Congressman Price’s campaign supports his views, not the other way around,’ spokesman Brendan Buck said. ‘Congressman Price continues to seek a hearing on whether or not there are any improprieties.’” (Jennifer Yachnin, “Biting A Feeding Hand,” Roll Call, 6/30/08) Price Was Criticized In 2009 For Participating In A Tea Party Organization’s Conference Call With Another Doctor Who Was Accused Of Being A Racist In 2009, Price Participated In A Conference Call Hosted By A Tea Party Group With A Fellow Doctor Who Had Forwarded Around Racist Images Of President Obama. “The election of our first black president has brought with it a strange proliferation of online racism among conservatives. And we've got the latest example. On Sunday night, Dr. David McKalip forwarded to fellow members of a Google listserv affiliated with the Tea Party movement the image below. Above it, he wrote: ‘Funny stuff.’ Now, Tea Party activists trafficking in racist imagery are pretty much dog bites man. But McKalip isn't just some random winger. He's a Florida neurosurgeon, who serves as a member of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates. He's also an energetic conservative opponent of health-care reform. McKalip founded the anti-reform group Doctors For Patient Freedom, as well as what seems to be a now defunct group called Cut Taxes Now. Last month he joined GOP congressmen Tom Price and Phil Gingrey, among others, for a virtual town hall to warn about the coming ‘government takeover of medicine.’” (Zachary Roth, “Conservative Activist Forwards Racist Pic Showing Obama As Witch Doctor,” TPM, 7/23/09) CONTROVERSIAL POLICY STANCES/STATEMENTS Price Has Voiced Support For Partial Privatization Of Medicare Price Has Voiced Support For Partial Privatization Of Medicare And An Overhaul Of The Program In The Next 6-8 Months. “Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) said he expects lawmakers to push forward with an overhaul ‘within the first six to eight months’ of President-elect Donald Trump's administration. He said it would be tackled through the budget tactic in the Senate called ‘reconciliation,’ which allows major spending-related bills to pass the upper chamber without a veto. ‘I think that’s probably in the second phase of reconciliation, which would have to be in the fiscal year 2018 budget,’ Price added. It's the first time that a House GOP leader has said officials are planning to fast-track an overhaul of Medicare in 2017. It's unclear how far House Republicans will go in making changes to Medicare a process that will especially tricky through reconciliation. House Republicans have released a range of proposals, from eliminating the ObamaCare cost-cutting panel called the Independent Payment Advisory Board to a major shift that would phase out the publicly run program into private plans.” (Sarah Ferris, “House GOP Eying Major Medicare Overhaul In 2017,” The Hill 11/17/16) • New York Magazine Has Called Price’s Efforts An Attempt To Privatize Medicare. “Tom Price, chairman of the House Budget Committee, says that Republicans will pass Medicare privatization 6 in a budget reconciliation bill this year.” (Jonathan Chait, “Republicans Might Be Serious About Going After Medicare,” New York Magazine, 11/17/16) • New York Magazine Implied That Price Was Involved In An Attempt To “Drive A Stake Through The Welfare State” Through The Privatization Of Medicare. “They may well fail to bring along a majority, since their plan requires persuading Trump and Senate Republicans to go along with it. And there’s a strong chance they won’t, as cutting spending on Medicare even if the cuts are limited to future beneficiaries would give Democrats a massive opponent for a counterattack. But Ryan is not the only Republican believing that this is his last chance to drive a stake through the welfare state.” (Jonathan Chait, “Republicans Might Be Serious About Going After Medicare,” New York Magazine, 11/17/16) Price Supported Deep Cuts To Medicare And Medicaid One Of Price’s Budget Proposals Would Cut Medicare By $148 Billion Through 2025 And Cut $913 Billion Over The Course Of The Same Period Of Time. “Price’s budget would cut Medicare by $148 billion through 2025. Starting in 2024, Medicare beneficiaries would choose from a range of options, including traditional Medicare and private coverage. The government would issue fixed payments directly to the plan. The budget would cut $913 billion from Medicaid, the health-care system for the poor, over the same time period by issuing block grants to states. They would manage their own programs, either by cutting benefits or generating their own revenue to fund any shortfalls.” (Heidi Przybyla And Erik Wasson, “House Republicans Seek Medicare Cuts That Senate Is Sure To Reject,” Bloomberg Politics 3/17/15) Price’s Budget Proposal Was Criticized By Some Republicans For Being Too Draconian On Cuts To Government Programs Price’s Budget Also Included Cuts To Food Stamps- But, Price Said The Reductions Are “Hardly Draconian,” And His Proposed Cuts Should Be A “Floor, Not A Ceiling.” “Food stamps, the federal nutrition program, would be turned over to states to administer beginning in 2021. ‘These reductions are hardly Draconian,’ said Price’s budget proposal. ‘It protects key priorities while eliminating waste.’ While the plan seeks to balance the budget by cutting $5.5 trillion, the plan’s instructions for specific spendingreduction legislation would add up to about $5 billion over 10 years, far short of the amount sought by 2025. Those cuts are a ‘floor, not a ceiling,’ Price told reporters Tuesday.” (Heidi Przybyla And Erik Wasson, “House Republicans Seek Medicare Cuts That Senate Is Sure To Reject,” Bloomberg Politics 3/17/15) Some Senators Were Opposed To Price’s Proposal Because It Didn’t Increase Military Spending. “Senators such as John McCain of Arizona won’t support deep cuts in military spending, which Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, said he plans to keep. Price’s proposal would budget about $94 billion for a special war-funding account that isn’t subject to the spending limit -- the Overseas Contingency Operations account, which funds military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. In February 2012, the website of the Senate Budget Committee -- led at the time by Enzi -- called a similar idea by Democrats a ‘gimmick.’ Price said he is working with Armed Services Committee members to secure their support by identifying specific offsets to pay for increased war funding. About 70 defense hawks had written a letter saying they will block a budget plan that doesn’t increase defense spending.” (Heidi Przybyla And Erik Wasson, “House Republicans Seek Medicare Cuts That Senate Is Sure To Reject,” Bloomberg Politics 3/17/15) Price Has Been Very Conservative Regarding Social Security Expansion Price Supported Legislation That Blocked Additional Funds From Going To The Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund. “The rule, which the House passed earlier this month, puts up a procedural roadblock against legislation that would redistribute the payroll tax to replenish the Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund. To fund Social Security, employees and employers each pay 6.2 percent each month. The main retirement fund, Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI), receives 5.3 7 percent and the disability fund gets 0.9 percent of the tax. Republicans oppose reallocating the payroll tax to keep the disability program solvent because it would hurt the retirement fund, but Democrats assert it’s been done nearly a dozen times before. Meanwhile, the GOP has been short on alternative solutions. ‘We think it’s not wise to continue to take from the Social Security trust fund to prop up the disability fund,’ House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) said this week. Price, who spent part of his career as an orthopedic surgeon, said weeding out abuse and fraud within the disability program could be one solution to keep it solvent.” (Rebecca Shabad, “Congress Torn Over Depleted Disability Fund,” The Hill, 1/25/15) Price Said Social Security Reform Should Be On The Table, Including Raising The Eligibility Age At CPAC In 2015, Price Said He Wanted To Go Further Than Paul Ryan’s Efforts To Reform Medicare And Medicaid And Tackle Social Security Reform As Well – Price Said Raising The Age Of Social Security Eligibility Has To Be “On The Table And Discussed.” “Roswell Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Price intends to tackle big-ticket entitlement programs as the new chairman of the House Budget Committee including Social Security. In a speech at the Heritage Action for America ‘Conservative Policy Summit’ on Monday, Price said he was excited to work with a GOP-led Senate to end the ‘muddled mess’ of the last few years. Under his predecessor, Paul Ryan, the House Budget included controversial changes to Medicare and Medicaid, but did not touch Social Security. Price hopes to change that this year: ‘On the issue of Social Security, it has indeed been the third rail as Tim [Chapman, COO for Heritage Action] mentioned, and what I’m hopeful is what the Budget Committee will be able do is to is begin to normalize the discussion and debate about Social Security. This is a program that right now on its current course will not be able to provide 75 or 80 percent of the benefits that individuals have paid into in a relatively short period of time. That’s not a responsible position to say, “You don’t need to do anything to do it.” So all the kinds of things you know about whether it’s means testing, whether it’s increasing the age of eligibility. The kind of choices whether it’s providing much greater choices for individuals to voluntarily select the kind of manner in which they believe they ought to be able to invest their working dollars as they go through their lifetime. All those things ought to be on the table and discussed.” (Daniel Malloy, “Tom Price hopes to reform Social Security in House budget,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 1/12/15) Price Once Supported A Flat Tax National Sales Tax In Place Of Existing Income Taxes Price At One Point Supported Eliminating All Income, Corporate, Capital Gains, And Estate Taxes, And Replacing Them With A 23% National Sales Tax. “Price advocates an equally sweeping tax code overhaul. He would replace virtually all existing taxes -- including payroll, income, corporate, dividend, capital gains and inheritance taxes -- with a 23 percent national sales tax.” (Peter Harrell, “New House Member Profile Tom Price, R Ga.,” Congressional Quarterly, 11/5/04) Price Is A Vocal Opponent Of Gay Marriage And Voted Against A Bill That Would Have Prohibited Job Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation In 2015, In The Aftermath Of The Obergefell Ruling, Price Asserted That It Was A “Sad Day For Marriage” And Asserted That It Showed A Clear Downward Slide Of The American Judiciary. ‘Thirty States have held statewide ballots banning gay marriage since the year 2000, and yet legislating from the bench has superseded both public approval and our elected representatives,’ said House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, R-Ga., ‘This is not only a sad day for marriage, but a further judicial destruction of our entire system of checks and balances.’” (Susan Davis, “In Congress, Gay Marriage Decision Highlights Divide Between Parties,” USA Today, 5/26/15) In 2013, Price Was On A Conference Call With Members Of Tea Party United And Told A Caller They Were “Absolutely Right” That There Are Negative Health And Economic Impacts Of Legalizing Gay Marriage. Price: “Yes, thank you rabbi and you’re absolutely right. The consequences of 8 activity that has been seen as outside the norm are real and must be explored completely and in their entirety prior to moving forward with any social legislation that would alter things. I’m always struck by people who wake up one morning and think that they’ve got a grand new way of doing something when as you all know that the tried and true traditions in history that made us great are preserved and have survived because they are effective. I hear you, medical health and costs; you talk about a huge costdriver to state pensions and other things, many of these areas would significantly alter state balance sheets.” (Brian Tashman, “Rep. Tom Price Fears Negative Health and Economic Impacts of Gay Rights Bills,” RightWingWatch 5/2/13) In 2011, Price Was A Vocal Supporter Of DOMA And Aggressively Condemned President Obama’s Decision To Abandon It. “‘Millions of Americans are still out of work and our economy is under considerable strain thanks to the burdens imposed by the Obama Administration’s debt-inducing agenda in Washington,’ said Chairman Price. ‘Rather than focus its attention on working with Republicans to cut spending and get our economy moving again, the administration is diverting its attention and abandoning the government’s defense of marriage. This announcement by the Obama Administration is a political move at a time when the American people need leaders in Washington working together to solve our great challenges. Those who have fought to redefine marriage have often relied on the court to legislate from the bench rather than through their duly elected representatives in both Congress and state legislatures. Today’s action by the White House will only encourage others to use the courts as a springboard to enact an agenda outside the legislative branches of government. Once again, this demonstrates a woeful lack of leadership on the part of the president and his administration.’” (Press Release, “Price Responds To White House Decision To Abandon The Defense Of Marriage Act,” Tom Price Official Website, 2/23/11) In 2007, Tom Price Voted No On Prohibiting Job Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation. “HR3685: Employment Non-Discrimination Act: Makes it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against an individual on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, including actions based on the actual or perceived sexual orientation of a person with whom the individual associates or has associated. Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims. Inapplicable to associations that are exempt from religious discrimination provisions.” (“Tom Price on Civil Rights”, On The Issues Accessed 11/21/16) In 2015, Price Co-Authored A Letter To Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed Opposing The Mayor’s Choice To Fire A City Employee For Penning A Book That Described Homosexuality As A Diversion. “Members of Georgia's congressional delegation have written a letter to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed calling the termination of the city's former fire chief a violation of free speech and religious freedom. Six Republican Georgia representatives wrote a letter to Reed dated Feb. 10 and Rep. Barry Loudermilk released it to the media Tuesday. Reed suspended and later fired Kelvin Cochran after learning of his selfpublished book in which Cochran described homosexuality as a perversion. Reed has said he fired Cochran because he published the book without getting prior clearance and because he gave it to subordinates. Reps. Buddy Carter, Lynn Westmoreland, Tom Price, Austin Scott and Jody Hice also signed the letter. The congressmen accuse Reed of religious discrimination.” (“Congressmen Accuse Atlanta Mayor Of Discrimination In Firing,” Associated Press, 2/17/15) Price Voted Against Efforts To Expand The Violence Against Women Act In February 2013, Tom Price Voted No To Amend The “Violence Against Women Act” To “Add Or Expand Definitions Of Several Terms Used”. “Voted NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions of several terms used in such Act” (“Tom Price on Civil Rights”, On The Issues, Accessed 11/21/16) Price Voted To Hold Lois Lerner In Contempt Of Congress In 2014, Price Voted To Hold Lois Lerner In Contempt Of Congress. “‘Today, the House of Representatives had to take unfortunate, but necessary, action to hold Lois Lerner in contempt of 9 Congress for her refusal to comply with the investigation into the IRS targeting scandal. She is at the center of the repeated and systemic harassment of conservative organizations and individuals by the Internal Revenue Service. Had Ms. Lerner cooperated with our Constitutional oversight responsibility on behalf of the American people, we would not have been forced to take this action. We expect, and the American people demand, full and truthful answers from this executive branch in these matters. The House will not rest until they are provided.’” (Press Release, “Price On Vote For Lerner Contempt Charge An ‘Unfortunate, But Necessary Action, ” Tom Price Official Website, 5/7/14) Price Was Accused Of Wasting Time In Congress In 2011, After President Obama Criticized Republicans For Wasting Time By Passing A Resolution To Affirm “In God We Trust” As Our National Motto, Price Defended The Resolution And Said They Did It To “Remind The President What The Motto Of Our Great Country Is.” “Yesterday, President Obama mocked Congress for wasting time on a resolution to reaffirm ‘In God We Trust’ as our national motto instead of working on passing jobs legislation. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) appeared on Fox News this morning to defend the Republican-controlled House by pointing out that the resolution didn’t take any time at all. However, he didn’t exactly help his overall thesis that they’re not playing politics when he basically admitted that, yeah, they only did the darn thing to stick it to Obama. Fox News’ Bill Hemmer repeatedly asked Price the reasoning for spending whatever time it took on the resolution and, four separate times in the three minute clip, Price cheerfully admitted it was only to ‘remind the president what the motto of our great country is.’ At one point, Hemmer even gave him a potential out, asking if he was worried the country faced “a crisis of identity” with regards to its religious heritage. Nope, Price replied. Just “reminding” Obama.” (Job Bershad, “Rep. Tom Price ‘In God We Trust Resolution Passed Purely As Reminder To President Obama,” Mediate, 11/3/11) Price Called The $20 Billion BP Escrow Account After The BP Oil Spill A “Chicago Style Political Shakedown” Price Called The $20 Billion BP Escrow Account After The BP Oil Spill A “Chicago Style Political Shakedown.” “The Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative members of the House, released a statement today calling the $20 billion BP escrow account a ‘Chicago-style political shakedown.’ ‘BP's reported willingness to go along with the White House's new fund suggests that the Obama Administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics,’ wrote chairman Tom Price (R-GA). ‘These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this Administration's drive for greater power and control.’” (Rachel Sladja, “House Conservatives Call Escrow Account Chicago Style Shakedown, ” TPM, 6/16/10) Price Was More Measured On The Proper Response To The Ebola Outbreak Than Some Of His Georgia Colleagues Price Called The Federal Governments Response To The Ebola Outbreak “Inadequate” And Called For Better Screening Procedures, But Did Not Call For An Outright Travel Ban To West Africa. “U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) on Thursday called for restricted travel from Ebola-stricken nations in West Africa to the United States. … U.S. Rep Tom Price (R-Ga.), a surgeon, also released a statement Thursday calling the federal government's actions so far ‘inadequate.’ ‘Screening procedures of visa holders traveling here from countries where this outbreak has occurred need to be equal to the challenge before us,’ Price said. ‘Denying entry to the U.S., or requiring a period of quarantine prior to entry, to anyone from an affected country ought to be on the table.’” (“Georgia s Senators, Reps Call For Ebola Action, Flight Restrictions,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, 10/16/14) Price Is Steadfastly Pro-Life 10 Tom Price Voted Against Family Planning Assistance That Includes Abortion And Federal Funding for Abortion. Also Voted For Constitutional Rights For The Unborn. “Price co-sponsored Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act… Price signed No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act…Price cosponsored granting the pre-born equal protection under 14th Amendment” (“Tom Price On Abortion”, On The Issues Accessed 11/21/16) In 2012, Price Said That It Is A Myth That There Are Women In America Who Lack Access To Birth Control And Health Insurance Should Not Be Forced By Government To Cover It. THINK PROGESS: “Obviously one of the main sticking points is whether or not contraception coverage is going to be covered health insurance plans and at hospitals and whether or not they’re going to be able to pay for it, especially for low-income women. Where do we leave these women if this rule is rescinded?” PRICE: “Bring me one woman who has been left behind. Bring me one. There’s not one. The fact of the matter is, this is a trampling of religious freedom and religious liberty in this country. The president does not have the power to say that your First Amendment rights go away. That’s wrong.” (Scott Keyes & Travis Waldron, “House Republican Leader Price ‘There s Not One Woman Who Doesn t Have Access To Birth Control,” Think Progress 2/10/12) In 2012, John Koster, A Republican Running For Congress In Washington, Said At A Fundraiser Hosted By Price That He Would Not Support Abortion Rights To Women Who Are Survivors Of Incest Or “The Rape Thing.” “John Koster, a Republican running for Congress in Washington, became the latest candidate to opine on abortion exceptions in cases of rape and incest over the weekend at a fundraiser with Rep. Tom Price (R-GA). Koster said he would support abortion only if the woman’s life was in danger, but would not extend the same right to women who are survivors of incest or ‘the rape thing,’ as he casually termed it. To justify his opposition, Koster insisted that incest is rare and argued that abortion would only further hurt rape survivors.” (Aviva Shen, “GOP Candidate Opposes Abortion Exception In Cases Of ‘The Rape Thing, ” Think Progress 10/31/12) Price Voted Against Expanding The CHIP Program In 2007, Price Voted Nay On The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act Of 2007. (H.R. 3963 (110th) Children s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act Of 2007,” govtrack.us Accessed 11/21/16) • The Bill Would Have Expanded The SCHIP Program. “Tom Price, R-Ga., said it would result in 53 percent of the nation's children enrolled in Medicaid or SCHIP. ‘I think it's poor policy to expand government-run medicine to include over half the nation's children in a government-run program,’ Price said. The only way Democrats could satisfy that concern would be to reduce the cap on eligibility to less than three times the poverty level, which they say they will not do.” (“SCHIP Supporters Still Trying For Deal,” Congressional Quarterly Today, Alex Wayne) Price Voted Against Expanding Embryonic Stem Cell Research In 2006, Price Voted Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research. “The House on Wednesday failed, 235 for and 193 against, to reach the two-thirds majority needed to override President Bush's veto of a bill (HR 810) to expand federal financing of embryonic stem cell research beyond limits he set in 2001. The bill would have increased the number of colonies, or lines, available to federally funded scientists from the Bush-approved figure of about two dozen to as many as several thousand. The latter number represents colonies at fertility clinics that otherwise would be frozen or discarded. A yes vote was to enact the bill. ALABAMA: Voting yes: Bud Cramer, D-5; Artur Davis, D-7. Voting no: Jo Bonner, R-1; Terry Everett, R-2; Mike Rogers, R-3; Robert Aderholt, R-4; Spencer Bachus, R-6. GEORGIA: Voting yes: Sanford Bishop, D-2; John Barrow, D-12; David Scott, D-13. Voting no: Jack Kingston, R-1; Jim Marshall, D-3; Tom Price, R-6; John Linder, R-7; Lynn Westmoreland, R-8; Charlie Norwood, R-9; Nathan Deal, R-10; Phil Gingrey, R-11. Not voting: Cynthia McKinney, D-4; John Lewis, D-5.” (“Rollcall,” Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/23/06) Price Has Been Criticized By The NAACP 11 In 2006, Price Drew Criticism From The NAACP For Seeking To Amend, And Voicing Apprehension About, The Rosa Parks And Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization And Amendments Act Of 2006. “The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued the following news release: NAACP President and CEO Bruce S. Gordon said today that Congress should not allow a few extremists to hijack the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 to extend one of the most effective civil rights laws in American history. Gordon said: ‘Last month a handful of representatives from states with some of the most egregious violations of the Voting Rights Act blocked a vote on H.R. 9 in the House of Representatives. We cannot let that happen again. Let's be clear about who stands in the way of this legislation.’ In a letter to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert on June 9, 44 representatives expressed apprehensions about Section 5 and Section 203, two of the three key provisions in the law set to expire August 2007.They asked that possible amendments to the bill be considered. The group included: Reps. Lynn Westmoreland (Ga.), Charlie Norwood (Ga.), Steve King (Iowa), John R. Carter (Texas), Jeb Hensarling (Texas), William Thornberry (Texas), Kay Granger (Texas), John Culberson (Texas), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Rodney Alexander (La.), Henry Bonilla (Texas), Ralph M. Hall (Texas), Mike Conaway (Texas), Joe Barton (Texas), Sam Johnson (Texas), Pete Sessions (Texas), Bob Beauprez (Colo.), Michael McCaul (Texas), Ron Paul (Texas), Joel Hefley (Texas), Dana Rohrabacher (Cal.) Marilyn N. Musgrave (Colo.), Joseph R. Pitts (Pa.), Phil Gingrey (Ga.), Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Tom Price (Ga.), Patrick McHenry (N.C.), Nathan Deal (Ga.), Terry Everett (Ala.), Jo Bonner (Ala.), Tom Tancredo (Colo.), Barbara Cubin (Wyo.), Geoff Davis (Ky.), Virgil H. Goode Jr. (Va.), Jack Kingston (Ga.), John Linder (Ga.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.). Section 5 requires jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to obtain pre-clearance from the Department of Justice or U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C. before implementing changes to voting practices or procedures. In addition, Section 203 requires covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance to citizens with limited-English proficiency and Sections 6-9 authorize the federal government to use observers in elections to monitor Voting Rights Act (VRA) compliance.” (“Congress Should Not Let Extremists Hijack Voting Rights Act Reauthorization,” Targeted News Service, 7/11/06) Price Has Opposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform In 2013, Price Said A Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill Was “Highly Unlikely” To Pass Because There Wasn’t Enough Trust That The Administration Can Enforce Current Laws. “A comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes a path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally is ‘highly unlikely’ to pass the Republican-majority House of Representatives, Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Price, the vice chair of the House Budget Committee, said. During a Christian Science Monitor breakfast meeting Wednesday, a reporter asked Price if a majority of House members could support a path to legality for immigrants similar to the provision in the bill currently moving through the Senate. ‘I think at this point, that would be highly unlikely,’ Price said. ‘Because I don't think there's a trust of our conference in the administration to enforce the current laws that are on the books as they relate to much of immigration. And not just this administration it has been previous administrations as well.’” (Chris Moody, “Path To Citizenship ‘Highly Unlikely To Pass House Rep. Tom Price,” Yahoo News, 6/5/13) “Price Said That The Obama Administration Would Need To Prove That It Can Enforce Current Laws Before He Would Consider Supporting New Comprehensive Legislation.” (Chris Moody, “Path To Citizenship ‘Highly Unlikely To Pass House Rep. Tom Price,” Yahoo News 6/5/13) Price Supported A Piecemeal Approach To Immigration Reform. “In the meantime, Price said he would rather Congress take a piecemeal approach. ‘There's no trust at all. The first step in regaining that trust is living up to the promise that was made to the nation back in 1986, and that is controlling and securing the border,’ Price said. ‘So until the administration is able to do that, I don't think that there's any trust that whatever could pass would be enforced or made certain that it would work in a positive way.’” (Chris Moody, “Path To Citizenship ‘Highly Unlikely To Pass House Rep. Tom Price,” Yahoo News 6/5/13) 12 In 2015, Price Refused To Answer A Reporters Question About Whether He Supports A Pathway To Citizenship, Instead Saying That Nothing Should Happen On The Issue Until The Borders Are Secured. REPORTER: “OK, is it financially feasible to deport up to 12 million people?” PRICE: Well, I suspect you could do that from a financial standpoint, but the question is whether that’s the right thing to do. And my response to that is you’ve got to control and secure the border. If, for example, the federal government said, this administration said, ‘Everybody who’s here illegally must go home now’ and then brought that about, it wouldn’t make any difference until you control and secure the border. You’ve got to control and secure the border first. This is a stepwise process. Unless you control and secure the border, we can do anything we want and it doesn’t make any difference at all because the border is porous. You’ve got to solve this that’s what frustrates people so much is that Washington gets hung up on things that are actually not the real problem. The real focus and the problem right now, one, is the trust that the American people don’t have in their federal government, and two is that the government hasn’t done what they said they were going to do: controlling entry to the United States. So, once we do that, again, I think the conversation gets much more reasonable and much more sobering.” REPORTER: “Would you support a pathway to citizenship of some kind?” PRICE: “I think that until the border is controlled and secured, then all those questions are moot because it doesn’t make any difference what you do.” (“Rep. Price Talks Iran Deal, Immigration,” Marietta Daily Journal, 8/29/15) In 2007, Price Opposed The Immigration Reform Bill Supported By Some Republicans In The Senate. “‘Though the border security measures would be potentially helpful, this bill is one step forward and two steps backward,’ said Price, who helps draft the Republican message strategy for the House. ‘All that is compromised with this proposal is America's rule of law.’” (Tom Baxter, “Isakson On Immigration Deal So Far, So Good,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 5/17/07) In 2006, Price Criticized The Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill Supported By President Bush As A Thinly Veiled Attempt To Promote Amnesty. “Bush's embrace of the Senate approach has not been well received by some House Republicans. ‘It offers a perverse incentive -- the longer and more flagrantly you have broken immigration laws, the easier it will be to get on the so-called path to citizenship,’ Rep. J.D. Hayworth, an Arizona Republican, told CNN. ‘I don't believe the American people will appreciate that.’ Rep. Tom Price, a Georgia Republican, issued a statement saying that ‘thinly veiled attempts to promote amnesty cannot be tolerated.’” (“GOP Resists Bush s Immigration Pitch,” CNN, 5/16/06) In 2003, While In The Georgia State Senate, Price Voted In Favor Of An Amendment That Would Have Made It Easier For Illegal Immigrants To Obtain Georgia Driver’s Licenses, But Later Led A Move To Reconsider The Bill And Have The Amendment Withdrawn. “Price also said he will work to reduce illegal immigration. ‘The fundamental problem is our borders aren't secure,’ he said. ‘And without secure borders, nothing will work. I've talked to illegals here and asked if they are worried about being deported. They chuckle and say, ‘We'll be back in a few days.’ Price voted in 2003 for an amendment by Sen. Sam Zamarripa to legislation that would have made it easier for illegal immigrants to obtain Georgia driver's licenses. He later led a move to reconsider the bill, and Zamarripa withdrew his amendment.” (Richard Whitt, “Election 2004 Price Keys On Tax, Health Care Systems,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 6/17/04) Price Previously Supported TPP Price “Was A Supporter Of The Trans-Pacific Partnership Deal.” “Price, viewed as a top contender for Health and Human Services Secretary, was a supporter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal that is now in tatters.” (Greg Bluestein, “Tom Price Makes A Case For Global Trade In The Era Of Trump,” Politico, 11/21/16) Price Recently Made A Speech That Advocated For More Global Trade During A Recent Speech, Price Said That The U.S. “Absolutely [Needs] To Engage From A Trade Standpoint,” Later Saying It Was Not Intended As A Rebuke To Trump. “Price told the crowd that 13 educators, particularly in elementary and middle schools, have done a ‘very poor job’ teaching students about the benefits of a strong U.S. role in international affairs. And he pointed to a Wall Street Journal story about China leading an Asian trade deal involving 16 nations. ‘When we don’t engage in this way, we create a vacuum in this world,’ he said, adding: ‘If not the United States, then it will be somebody else. We absolutely need to engage from a trade standpoint.’ His call to action, he said, was not intended to be a rebuke to Trump, whose ‘America First’ campaign warned that free trade deals have devastated the U.S. economy. Price said Trump isn’t opposed to trade pacts but is ‘adamant about making sure the trade deals we reach are mutually beneficial to both countries, but especially the United States.’” (Greg Bluestein, “Tom Price Makes A Case For Global Trade In The Era Of Trump,” Politico, 11/21/16) Price Dodged On The Fate Of ObamaCare During A Recent Speech, Price Dodged On The Fate Of The Affordable Care Act, Instead Discussing The Populist And Protectionist Streak That Has Taken Hold Globally. “The man who could be Donald Trump’s top health administrator dodged questions about the fate of the Affordable Care Act but said the U.S. political establishment must come to terms with the populist streak that’s reshaping the Western world. U.S. Rep. Tom Price spoke at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition on Monday about how Trump’s victory, fueled in part by his vow to renegotiate free trade deals and support economic nationalism, is a wakeup call to those who took globalist forces for granted. ‘America’s leadership role in the world has never been questioned inside the country until now,’ said the Roswell Republican, adding that U.S. leaders must learn to coexist with ‘a populist and protectionist streak not just in this nation but around the world.’” (Greg Bluestein, “Tom Price Makes A Case For Global Trade In The Era Of Trump,” Politico 11/21/16) Price’s ObamaCare Replacement Plan Has Been Criticized By Some For Being ObamacareLite Price Said He Believes His Proposal To Cover The Uninsured “Gets Everybody Covered.” “Think Republicans don't have proposals to cover the uninsured? Not so. Take an ambitious plan laid out by Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, a House Ways and Means Committee member who chairs the Republican Policy Committee. ‘I think it gets everybody covered,’ Price says of his proposal (HR 3000).” (John Reichard, “What If Republicans Go Big On Health Care? Dr. Price Has A Plan,” Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/12) Price’s Replacement Plan Goes Further Than Previous Republican Health Care Plans To Guarantee More Americans Health Care Coverage. “‘Republican leadership proposals introduced in 2009 and since would reduce the uninsured population by ‘only several million relative to a base of 48 million uninsured,’ says Gail Wilensky, who ran Medicare and Medicaid in the President George H.W. Bush administration. Those proposals would allow people to buy coverage across state lines, cap noneconomic damages in malpractice suits and combine small employers into pooled purchasing arrangements called association health plans. ‘There's nothing wrong with their legislation. It just doesn't really reduce the numbers of uninsured in a substantial way,’ Wilensky says. Price would go much farther. ‘Our proposal is, I think, probably the most comprehensive on our side of the aisle,’ he said in an interview. ‘Everybody knows that the status quo is not acceptable and that there has to be some kind of comprehensive solution.’” (John Reichard, “What If Republicans Go Big On Health Care? Dr. Price Has A Plan,” Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/12) “Price Is One Of The Fiercest House Critics Of ‘Obamacare.’ Yet His Proposal, If Looked At In The Broadest Terms, Shares Some Similarities With The Health Law. “Price is one of the fiercest house critics of ‘Obamacare.’ yet his proposal, if looked at in the broadest terms, shares some similarities with the health law. It aims to give most, if not all, Americans access to health care. It would give lower income people financial help to buy coverage. And it relies on pooled purchasing to help insurance buyers get a better deal.” (John Reichard, “What If Republicans Go Big On Health Care? Dr. Price Has A Plan,” Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/12) 14 Price’s Plan Would Institute A Refundable Tax Credit To Every American To Purchase Health Insurance. “Price would rely on tax breaks to give people the means to buy health insurance. Americans who aren't covered by employers or existing government programs would get tax credits of up to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples to buy coverage on the individual market if their incomes were below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. Another $500 per dependent would be available. People with higher incomes would get smaller credits or tax deductions to defray some of their insurance costs.” (John Reichard, “What If Republicans Go Big On Health Care? Dr. Price Has A Plan,” Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/12) “To Address The Problem Of People With Pre-Existing Medical Conditions That Exclude Them From Coverage In The Individual Market, Price Would Give States Block Grants For High-Risk Pools Or Reinsurance Mechanisms To Give Such People Access To Coverage.” (John Reichard, “What If Republicans Go Big On Health Care? Dr. Price Has A Plan,” Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/12) Price’s Plan Places Caps On Damages That Can Be Awarded In Some Types Of Malpractice Lawsuits And Also Creates “Health Courts” That Specialize In Malpractice Cases. “Tax breaks would be funded by an overhaul of the medical malpractice system. Capping non-economic damages ‘pain and suffering’ awards -- would be part of those revisions. But price goes farther than other GOP proposals by creating ‘health courts’ that would specialize in malpractice cases. He also would establish a ‘safe harbor’ in which doctors who follow the clinical practice guidelines of their medical societies would be immune from suits. … Price says eliminating ‘defensive medicine’ in this way -- the ordering of unnecessary tests and procedures to build a defense in malpractice cases -- would easily save $70 billion a year, enough to fund needed tax breaks.” (John Reichard, “What If Republicans Go Big On Health Care? Dr. Price Has A Plan,” Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/12) Price Opposed An American Medical Association Policy Stating Doctors Should Not Sell Some Health-Related Products For Profit In 1999, The American Medical Association Adopted A Policy Stating Doctors Should Not Sell Health-Related Products Such As Dietary Supplements, Skin Creams And Child-Safety Seats In Their Offices For Profit. “The American Medical Association narrowly adopted a policy Tuesday saying that doctors should not sell health-related products such as dietary supplements, skin creams and childsafety seats in their offices for profit. The practice is akin to the ‘snake oil’ peddling of the 1800s, and part of the AMA's founding purpose in 1847 was to oppose such abuses, said Dr. Robert E. McAfee, a retired surgeon from Portland, Maine, and a former AMA president. … In-office sale of such products ‘presents a financial conflict of interest, risks placing undue pressure on the patient and threatens to erode patient trust and the primary obligation of physicians to serve the interests of their patients before their own,’ according to a five-page report by the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs.” (Brenda Coleman, “AMA Takes Stand Against Doctors Peddling Of Health Goods For Profit,” The Association Press, 6/22/99) Price Criticized The Policy Change, Saying There's Nothing Wrong With Doctors Making Money Off Products, Since It Helps Make Up For Losses Due To Managed Care And The Treatment Of Uninsured Patients. “‘This report, as I read it and as I understand it, precludes me as an orthopedic surgeon from selling a patient a pair of crutches if I'm to make even a dollar on that pair of crutches,’ said Dr. Thomas E. Price of Roswell, Ga. Price said there's nothing wrong with doctors making money off products, since it helps make up for losses due to managed care and the treatment of uninsured patients. The AMA policy says physicians may distribute such products ethically free or at cost. Physicians should inform patients about their financial arrangement with the manufacturer or supplier, it added.” (Brenda Coleman, “AMA Takes Stand Against Doctors Peddling Of Health Goods For Profit,” The Association Press, 6/22/99) Price Was Criticized By The Senate Conservative Fund For Supporting An Organization Tied To Establishment Republicans 15 In 2013, Price Was Criticized By A Conservative Organization For Voicing Support To An Organization Backed By Karl Rove And With The Purpose Of Defeating Far-Right Republican Primary Challengers Who Are Unelectable In General Elections. “Karl Rove, a prominent strategist with deep ties to the Republican establishment, recently disclosed creation of a Conservative Victory Fund with the stated goal of backing electable conservatives in party primaries. But when Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, a longtime conservative and possible Senate contender, was quoted in the National Review as saying he didn't oppose the objectives espoused by Rove's group, he drew a slap from a rival organization with close tea party ties. ‘The Republican establishment is becoming increasingly hostile to the conservative movement, and Congressman Price should openly and aggressively oppose their efforts, not defend them,’ blogged Matt Hoskins, head of the Senate Conservatives Fund, an organization founded by former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint.” (David Espo, “GOP Senators Are Treading Carefully With Tea Party,” The Associated Press, 2/21/13) POLITICAL ACTIVITY Price Ran For Majority Leader And Was Considered By Some To Be Speaker Material Price Was Considered A Frontrunner For The Position Of House Majority Leader In September 2015. “Budget Chairman Tom Price hasn't officially declared his candidacy for majority leader, but two high-profile endorsements Monday sent as clear a signal as any that the Georgia Republican is in the game.” (Emma Dumain, “Tom Price Scores Influential Endorsements In Majority Leader Bid,” Roll Call, 9/28/15) Price Was A Considered A Possible Candidate For House Speaker If There Was A Brokered House Race In 2015. “Advantages: Mr. Price is the chairman of the powerful Budget Committee and is well liked by a fairly broad spectrum of his party. He has not been able to break into leadership, but like Mr. Roskam he seems to want a job that others are spurning. Mr. Price called for a temporary speaker: ‘Now is the time for our members to come together and have an honest conversation about how we unify our conference. The best course would be for us to select a candidate for speaker who will serve in that capacity for the next 15 months.’ That call might be heeded by an exhausted Republican conference.” (Jonathan Weisman, Carl Hulse, David M. Herszenhorn and Jennifer Steinhauer, “Possible Candidates For A Brokered House Speaker Race,” The New York Times 9/25/15) Price Lost A Contested Race For Conference Chairman To Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers In 2012 Price Lost A Contested Race For Conference Chairman To Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers In 2012. “The Republican, who lost a contested race for conference chairman to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers in 2012, is better known as a policy wonk and budget hawk than a pop-music fan.” (“GOP Congressman Invites Donors to Justin Timberlake Concert,” The Atlantic, 1/31/14) Price Was A Leader In The Georgia State Senate Price Quickly Rose Through The Ranks Of The Georgia State Senate, Becoming Minority Whip Until Republicans Took Control Of The State Senate When He Became The First Republican Majority State Senate Leader In Georgia History. “When voters sent Roswell surgeon Dr. Tom Price to the Georgia Senate in 1996, he did something few new legislators do: He read a rule book that was hundreds of pages long. Republican colleagues say Price's scientific approach helped him master legislative mechanics faster than other first-term legislators. He rose through the ranks quickly, becoming minority whip. After Republicans won the state Senate for the first time in 2002, they named Price majority leader --- the first Republican to hold that post in Georgia history.” (Mark Bixler, “Tom Price Surgeon Takes Sharp Mind, Doctors Cause To D.C.,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 12/7/04) Price Traveled Around Georgia In The Early 1990’s To Oppose Clinton’s Plan To Overhaul Health Care 16 Price Reportedly Traveled The State In The Early 19905 To Oppose President Clinton's Plan To Overhaul Health Care While Working With The Medical Association Of Georgia. ?Price has worked closely with the Medical Association of Georgia, traveling the state in the early 19905 to oppose President Clinton's plan to overhaul health care. Active in the local Republican Party, Price said he and his wife decided that he would get into politics after state Sen. Sallie Newbill of Atlanta called in 1995 to say she was retiring and asked whether he wanted to run for her seat representing District 56, which included parts Of Cherokee, and Gwinnett counties." (Mark Bixler, "Tom Price Surgeon Takes Sharp Mind, Doctors Cause To Atlanta journal Constitution, 12/7/04) Political Contributions According To Opensecrets, Health Care Related Industries Are By Far The Top Contributors To Price Over The Course Of His Career. -- .. - Accessed 11/21/16) Health Professionals $3,556,329 Insurance $829,121 Real Estate $664,405 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $588,825 Retired $453,968 Securities Investment $384,933 Health Services/HMOs $319,450 Hospitals/Nursing Homes $305,778 Lawyers/Law Firms $280,632 Commercial Banks $279,325 According To Opensecrets, Health Care Companies And Organizations Are A Majority Of The Top Contributors To Price Over The Course Of His Career. {Center for Respective l?olitics Accessed 11 /21/16) 17 Contributor Total Indivs Resurgens Orthopaedics $220,335 $220,335 American Assn of Orthopaedic Surgeons $97,499 $23,500 United Parcel Service $87,449 $13,450 Georgia Power $85,700 $11,700 Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic $82,713 $82,713 National Beer Wholesalers Assn $80,000 $0 American Medical Assn $75,500 $8,500 AFLAC Inc $74,000 $1,000 American College of Radiology $73,500 $0 Home Depot $71,000 $6,000 American Academy of Otolaryngology $70,000 $0 Wells Real Estate Funds $68,895 $37,450 American Society of Anesthesiologists $66,500 $0 American College of Cardiology $66,000 $0 American College of Surgeons Prof Assn $65,000 $0 American College of Emergency $64,999 $0 Physicians College of American Pathologists $63,000 $0 American Academy of Ophthalmologyl $61,500 $2,500 PACs $0 $73,999 $73,999 $74,000 $0 $80,000 $67,000 $73,000 $73,500 $65,000 $70,000 $31 .445 $66,500 $66,000 $65,000 $64,999 $63,000 $59,000 According to Opensecrets, Price Has Personally Contributed To Only Republicans, None Of Which Appear To Be Problematic. . Accessed 11/21/16) 18 Contributor pmcc, THOMAS PRICE, THOMAS PRICE, THOMAS PRICE. THOMAS PRICE, THOMAS DR PRICE, THOMAS PRICE, THOMAS PRICE, THOMAS PRICE, THOMAS MD PRICE, THOMAS DR PRICE, THOMAS PRICE, THOMAS MD Occupation FULTON ORTHOPAEDIC cu Self-Employed/Physician Self-Employed/Physician DOCTOR Resurgens Orthopedics DOCTOR PHYSICIAN ORTHO DOCTOR ORTHOLINK ORTHRAPEDICS NORTH FULTON ORTHO NORTH FU LTON ORTHO Date Amount 2/5/96 5500 7/27/02 $1,000 8/28/02 $1,000 5/4/99 3295 8/24/99 $1,000 12/27/93 $1,000 10/14/92 $2 50 11/11/94 $250 10/31/94 $1,000 10/23/00 3250 10/31/94 $1,000 7/22/93 $1,000 Recipient Millner, Guy (R) Gingrey, Phil (R) Gingrey, Phil (R) Republican Party of Georgia (R) Dole. Elizabeth (R) Fitzgerald, Brenda Cody (R) Linder, John (R) Linder.John (R) Republican Party of Georgia (R) Republican National Cmte (R) Gingrich, Newt (R) Gingrich, Newt (R) 19 PRICE, THOMAS PHYSICIAN 8/11/94 $500 Barr, Bob (R) PRICE, THOMAS PHYSICIAN 11/28/94 $250 Barr, Bob (R) PRICE, THOMAS FULTON ORTHO CLINIC 3/17/94 $1,000 Clayburgh, Ben) Dr (R) PRICE, THOMAS NO FULTON ORTHOPAEDIC CL 10/31/94 $1,000 Coverdell, Paul (R) PRICE, THOMAS PHYSICIAN 11/19/92 $250 Coverdell, PauI (R) PRICE, THOMAS DR DOCTOR 1/22/04 $2,000 Bush, George (R) PRICE, THOMAS NO FULTON ORTHOPAEDIC CL 8/27/93 $1,000 Coverdell, Paul (R) PRICE, THOMAS MD DOCTOR 12/2/94 $1,000 Republican Party of Georgia (R) PRICE. THOMAS MRS ORTHOLINK ORTHRAPEDICS 10/23/00 $250 Republican National Cmte (R) PRICE, THOMAS MD DR DOCTOR 10/14/92 $1,000 Gingrich. Newt (R) PERSONAL FINANCES According To Opensecrets, Price Has A Net Worth Of About $13.5 Million. ?Tom Price (R- Ga) ranks 44th in the House with an estimated net worth* of$13,640,072 in 2014." Im? Respective 1mm?.- Accessed 1 1/21/16) Price Has Several Health Care Related Company Stocks Listed As Personal Assets. ((Iunler I'm' mm; Accessed 11/21/16) No Relevant Records Found. 20