Robert F Kennedy JR and Sen Bernie Sanders had an explosive collision about the tires of the senator to Big Pharma when Trump's Health -nominee came out in the second day of his confirmation hearing.
The spit began when RFK JR, who was tapped as head of health and human services (HHS), promised that he would make America healthier than other countries in the world. ”
Sen Sanders wondered how RFK JR could do this without guaranteeing free health care for every American, who postponed the nominated laymen.
Referring to an earlier point in the hearing about corruption in the health care system, RFK JR said: 'By the way, Bernie, the problem of corruption is not only in the federal agencies – it is in Congress at.
“Almost all members of this panel, including yourself, accept millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry and protect their interests.”
Applause was heard from the gallery before Sen Sanders, his face visibly blushed, furiously reacted with denials.
He said: “I ran for president like you. I got millions and millions of contributions – they did not come from the managers, not one nickel from PAC [political action committee] Money from the pharmaceutical [industry executives]. They came from workers. '
RFK JR, however, refuted and said in his offer of the presidential election in 2020, Sen Sanders was 'the largest recipient of pharmaceutical money' and accepted $ 1.5 million.
Sen Bernie Sanders and Robert F Kennedy JR clashed during the confirmation hearing of the latter for the Secretary of Health and Human Services
The senator, with his face, became red and louder, shouted back: 'Because I had more contributions from employees throughout this country.
“Employees, no nickel from corporate PACs … from employees in the industry.”
Sen Sanders emphasized that the $ 1.5 million of employees within the pharmaceutical industry was small compared to the $ 200 million that he received in donations in that campaign.
During the 2020 election cycle, data shows that President Joe Biden received the most money from the pharmaceutical and/or health products, at $ 13 million.
President Donald Trump received the second most at $ 6.9 million and Sen Sanders received the third most at $ 1.4 million during the 2020 election cycle, making him the highest recipient of pharmaceutical money in the congress.
Sen Sanders insisted that he did not receive any money from pharmaceutical managers, but small donations may have been made by people who work at pharmaceutical companies.
Despite the donations, Sen Sanders is an old champion of lower drug prices and increased access to health care.
Last year the senator kept a hearing from the committee to keep 'Big Pharma responsible and to help Americans understand why we pay by far the highest prices in the world for prescription medicines'.
He called on the CEOs of some of the greatest pharmaceutical companies, including Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson to testify during the hearing.
In 2019, Sen Sanders, together with Democratic House leaders, introduced new accounts aimed at strengthening high drug prices on prescription in the US
After Thursday's exchange, Sen Sanders returned to the committee issue and said that RFK JR did not answer his first question how he would make America healthy again without connecting to offering health care for all Americans.
When Sen Sanders asked for 'one last question', a senator of the camera noted that Sen Sanders 'time was over and said:' Chairman we are now literally three minutes here. How long will it continue?
“At some point you just sniff the witness.”
To which Sen Sanders, who had gone through the assignment, had passed, the claim denied and said, “I am not abuse the witness. I just try to get an answer. '
This is not the first time that the two men collide during the hearing.
On Wednesday, Sen Sanders RFK JR asked how he can say that he is not an anti-vaccine if the group he has founded sells baby onesies with anti-vaxxing messages about them.
The senator showed two onesies that were sold by the RFK Foundation Children's Health Defense, one of which said: “Unvaxxed, Unrequid,” while the other said, “No Vax, no problem.” They each cost $ 26.
The two men also clashed over vaccines during the hearing on Wednesday
Sanders said: 'You started with a group called Children's Health Defense. You are the founder. At the moment, as I understand, that they sell on their website what ones are called – these are small things, clothing, for babies,
'Now you come for this committee and you say you are pro-vaccine. And yet your organization earns money that the product of a child sells to parents for $ 26 dollars, which causes fundamental doubts about the usefulness of vaccines.
“Can you now tell us that you – now that you are Pro -vaccine – that you have your organization removed from the market?”
The senator continued: 'Do you support this? Do you support these onesies? '
Kennedy said he “had no power over that organization” and had taken a resignation from the board.
RFK JR resigned from the board a few months ago, but he found the organization.
