Patterico's Pontifications

9/29/2017

Tom Price Resigns Today As Health And Human Services Secretary

Filed under: General — Dana @ 4:45 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Tom Price, secretary of Health and Human Services, has been under fire since it was reported that “his travel tab has exceeded $1 million when accounting for both the overseas trips and the more than two dozen trips he has taken on private planes domestically since May.” Today, he resigned from his position in the Trump administration:

In a letter to Trump, Price wrote that he regretted that “recent events have created a distraction” from the administration’s objectives, and that he was resigning in order for the president “to move forward without further disruption.”

“Secretary of Health and Human Services Thomas Price offered his resignation earlier today and the president accepted,” read a statement from White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, adding that Trump intends to designate Don Wright, the current deputy assistant secretary for health and director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion as acting secretary.

And while Price has said that he would reimburse the government, exactly how much that might be is in question:

A source with knowledge of Price’s intentions earlier said that he would pay $51,887.31 for the flights, just a fraction of the over $400,000 that the chartered flights were said to have cost. Military flights to Africa, Asia and Europe, on which Price was joined by his wife, pushed the total over the $1 million figure, according to Politico.

In 2009, then fiscal conservative Price seemed to be singing a different tune about government spending on private planes. Back then, he was he was critical of House Democrats seeking to increase spending to $550 million on eight passenger jets:

[Price] said a scaled-back request of $220 million for four jets also went too far.

“I think we’ve made it halfway of where we ought to and that is cut it from eight to four jets,” Price said at the time. “Now we need to cut it from four jets to zero jets. This is just another example of fiscal irresponsibility run amok in Congress right now.”

It’s interesting to note that Price’s resignation comes also on the heels of Congress failing for the third time to repeal and replace Obamacare, which was one of President Trump’s priority campaign promises.

There is now a long-term unintended consequence to face because of Price’s transportation decisions:

But the story also shows you why Priceโ€™s travel habits have become such a liability for the White House: Now every trip taken by every cabinet official is being scrutinized by the media now, and every time they find one that smells, it becomes part of a narrative that the populist presidentโ€™s fatcat cabinet is living large on the taxpayer dime.

But with that, this is a good reminder that not every incriminating report put out about a Trump cabinet member or official is as it appears. Further, we know there are deliberate attempts made by the press to mislead the public about members of this administration.

Anyway, judging by the number of Trump administration officials who have resigned, it appears the swamp is draining itself.

(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)

–Dana

70 Responses to “Tom Price Resigns Today As Health And Human Services Secretary”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (023079)

  2. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-kids-ski-vacation-incurs-over-300000-in-security-costs/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=42939789

    Are we paying for private security when we have Secret Service payrolls?? This doesn’t have good optics either Mr president.

    Ben burn (07eab3)

  3. the reason commercial air travel in failmerica sucks like a tranny-pooper is cause sleazy congresstrash like Dr. Price and corrupt swamp-sluts like loretta lynch think they’re immune to it

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  4. Leavin’ on jet plane; don’t know when he’ll be back again.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVQAhhlq798

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  5. The Elites just don’t see the problem…

    Ben burn (07eab3)

  6. Who did Price think he was? One of Obama’s kids on Spring Break?

    nk (dbc370)

  7. “harvard” “material”

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  8. 6. Who did Price think he was?

    A fiscally conservative ideologue.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  9. 10. Eh?

    “Perry sent his policy proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Friday. The letter asks FERC to create an electricity pricing regime that allows power plants to recover the costs of providing baseload power. It will likely be seen as a lifeline to coal and nuclear power plants.”

    Translation: rate increase for consumers..some grid overhaul. Rick Perry indeed.

    Ben burn (07eab3)

  10. Do you actually read your own links narco?

    Ben burn (07eab3)

  11. Sadly, Price may have carried over his sense of entitlement to freebies and junkets from his position as Congressman. Those porkers are notorious for being feted, wined and dined, not only by business and special interest lobbyists but also by executive branch officials overseen by the committees they’re on.

    nk (dbc370)

  12. He was a doctor, darnmit, it was much better when we had cruella Seville who wanted to put out a welcome mat for gitmo detainees,

    Of course he put his foot in his mouth, but the goal was to prevent alteration of any of Obama edicts

    narciso (d1f714)

  13. Fire the couple Kushner before you implode, Trump.

    mg (31009b)

  14. Who would be considered a trustworthy replacement, some of mcturtles crittersm

    narciso (d1f714)

  15. How about that doctor who called him the healthiest President ever?

    nk (dbc370)

  16. Replace him with nurse Ratched

    mg (31009b)

  17. This was from Hugh Hewitt, and it’s disappointing to see him try to make an excuse for what was very poor decision making, and incredible short-sightedness:

    Sigh. Fmr @SecTomPriceMD a very good man, smart, connected. The new rules of the new era are unforgiving.

    What new rules? What new era? When one is in such a position of immense power, crappy decision making, at the expense of the taxpayer, begets serious consequences. As it should.

    Dana (023079)

  18. being mindful is not a new rule

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  19. Chief of Staff John Kelly must now approve all travel on government aircraft.

    Dana (023079)

  20. Trump was elected to shake up Washington. But what Washington is getting instead is a shake-down.

    Tillman (a95660)

  21. Under Obama, the whole country was getting a shake-down. Not to mention a shuckin’ and jivin’.

    nk (dbc370)

  22. Obama officials raveled all the time on chartered flights http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/29/flight-furor-obama-officials-also-took-pricey-non-commercial-planes.html

    but somehow that didn’t bother the Democrat operatives with bylines.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  23. Racist much nk?

    Tillman (a95660)

  24. No more than any person who voted for Obama because he was black.

    nk (dbc370)

  25. and they traveled, as well.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  26. You need to have that conversation, Tillmenz

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  27. 24. Colonel, don’t you think that if Price’s spending spree was half-way excusable that Trump and others would have stood up for him? No, they didn’t because they know that his exorbitant flights were indefensible, regardless of what Fox News says.

    Tillman (a95660)

  28. As do all the other alt-left mooks here.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  29. What Price did was wrong and clueless, but it’s this selective outrage horsesh*t that is nauseating. But consistency has never been a strong point for the Democrat operatives with bylines.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  30. Wha’ happen? http://ace.mu.nu/archives/Fiction.jpg

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  31. @24 Did you even read the article?

    Because of their jobs, these officials were required to take government planes for security and communications purposes.

    Davethulhu (3a2442)

  32. How about comparing apples to apples? Did Obama’s HHS charter private flights?

    Davethulhu (3a2442)

  33. Did Holder, Lynch and Panetta? Yes, they did.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  34. Squidtastic ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  35. Because I guarantee you that Sessions, Wray, and Pompeo are also taking private flights.

    Davethulhu (3a2442)

  36. Standard Haiku response when he doesn’t have a response.

    Davethulhu (3a2442)

  37. I’ll use small words.

    Some people have sensitive jobs, like the CIA or FBI director. These people often need private flights. Some people do not have sensitive jobs, like the HHS secretary. These people do not need private flights.

    The phrase “comparing apples to apples” means that you compare similar things. Trump’s HHS secretary took private flights. Obama’s HHS secretary did not.

    Hope this helps.

    Davethulhu (3a2442)

  38. Trumpโ€™s HHS secretary took private flights. Obamaโ€™s HHS secretary did not.

    And they were both fired. It’s not fair.

    nk (dbc370)

  39. 40

    They grok Obama for their own reasons.

    Ben burn (266dcf)

  40. Obama is on disaster relief like a blue Jay on a June bug..

    Bankruptcy on PR golf course filed.

    Ben burn (266dcf)

  41. Obama joins Prince Harry at Invictus Games

    two poncey bastards playing grab-ass at a stupid sports event doesn’t really smell like disaster relief to me

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  42. No she replayed by another bloodless apparatchik, not the same thing,

    narciso (2bd68a)

  43. On Friday, Trump declared that “We will not rest, however, until the people of Puerto Rico are safe.” Oh really?
    Trump jetted to New Jersey that Thursday night to spend a long weekend at his private golf club there, save for a quick trip to Alabama for a political rally. Neither Trump nor any of his senior White House aides said a word publicly about the unfolding crisis.

    Trump did hold a meeting at his golf club that Friday with half a dozen Cabinet officials โ€” including acting Homeland Security secretary Elaine Duke, who oversees disaster response โ€” but the gathering was to discuss his new travel ban, not the hurricane. Duke and Trump spoke briefly about Puerto Rico but did not talk again until Tuesday, an administration official said.

    Administration officials would not say whether the president spoke with any other top officials involved in the storm response while in Bedminster, N.J. He spent much of his time over those four days fixated on his escalating public feuds with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with fellow Republicans in Congress and with the National Football League over protests during the national anthem.

    Ben burn (266dcf)

  44. the CNN Jake Tapper fake news propaganda slut media’s already started to do a blackout on their coverage of the puerile NFL pedophile league

    doing fake news Katrina on Puerto Rico is so much easier and they have a template for it

    but do they have the credibility they need to sell it?

    Doubtful.

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  45. oops two poncey *unemployed* bastards playing grab-ass at a stupid sports event i mean

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  46. Such an A-hole..

    Trump tweeted. “Such poor leadership ability by the mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help.”

    “They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort,” he continued. “10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.”

    Ben burn (266dcf)

  47. President Trump is right them puerto ricans think Maria’s their golden ticket to the wonka factory

    this is what happens when you politicize everything like a kaepertwat

    but next summer you can bet i’ll be in rockport having tasty crabcakes to support them good pickleheads down there

    and Marmalade in San Juan’s off my bucket list now

    i ain’t got the stomach for puerto rico, they are too poopy

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  48. The mayor describes the hurricane as genocidal. Okay then…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  49. Like private Ogilvy coronello, it’s an inconvenient fact just like mr Samson is.

    narciso (1bf542)

  50. I call “Boomer”

    Bang Gunley (5a4596)

  51. Dem voter ranks continue to swell… http://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/creature.jpg

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  52. Trump nailed it. After saying how good the federal response was, the mayor got calls from the DNC: “Whas the matter witchoo, you dumb puta, sayin’ nice thins ’bout Trump? You better get on the ‘genda, b!tch, if you wan’ help from the Democratic Party to bail out jo’ bankrupt ass!”

    nk (dbc370)

  53. As Bouton would say, “that’s table p*ssy”…

    http://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ahefnersolongthankas.jpg

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  54. Nope. I cannot confidently say, “He’s in a better place, now”.

    nk (dbc370)

  55. Price may have carried over his sense of entitlement to freebies and junkets from his position as Congressman.
    I agree and I would have thought he was smarter than this. Too bad as I think, on policy, he would have been good.

    It’s interesting to see, Patrick, all your new commenters since you went NeverTrumper.

    Distinct change of political themes.

    Mike K (b3dd19)

  56. How Tom Price was taken out. Why didn’t he know better?

    The first and most obvious line of reasoning is the old seduction trap that has undone so many crusaders of various sorts. …

    But there is a second possible explanation: that when Priceโ€™s travel plans were put together, the charter option appeared to be reasonable when presented to him by the professional staff that had been in place for decades. Am I paranoid if I wonder if some of the bureaucrats at HHS would present precedents for such use of jets? And later someone would leak this? Do you think the deep state has a branch at HHS?

    Hmmm… friar Ockham says could be

    crazy (d99a88)

  57. 63

    So someone, somewhere knew Trump was only concerned with ‘optics than substance?

    He’d rather look good than BE good?

    Ben burn (266dcf)

  58. gary fu##en cohn says a family can renovate their kitchen and buy a new car for a thousand bucks thanks to the new tax proposal.
    If donny boy doesn’t fire this elitist puke, bring on impeachment. wtf is going on?

    mg (31009b)

  59. The mayor with that shirt should be ridiculed to the day she dies. What a pathetic azz.

    mg (31009b)

  60. Trump is no Shrub. He’s giving her what for.

    nk (dbc370)

  61. puerto rico help us we are dying halloween costume chic

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  62. No @64. Cabinet secretaries don’t make travel arrangements or decisions, administrative departments and staff do. If Price ignored and overruled them that’s one thing. If he followed existing policy and procedure it’s another. Internal reviews are ongoing. In the meantime, you don’t have to be Expedia to recognize that WH policy guidance to run all non-commercial travel through the COS to ensure uniformity is fine but will overwhelm the COS if it’s strictly followed. Kelly’s got more than enough to do without becoming the non-commercial travel agent.

    Whether Price is an honest public servant or a tool he handed Trump an easy way to dump him and the failed Obamacare repeal and replace strategy he authored.

    crazy (d99a88)

  63. i’m doubtful dr. pricey pickles really needed to travel all that much

    happyfeet (28a91b)


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