Senator Bill Cassidy Casts Deciding Vote to Approve Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Nomination

After much speculation, and not just a little pressure from conservative Republicans, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy ended up being the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee that will send President Trump's nomination for Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to a full Senate vote.

ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley said that the fact that Cassidy voted to progress Kennedy to the Senate might have saved his political career.

“Voting to deny Kennedy would have killed Kennedy’s confirmation, given the number of Democrats in the party line vote on that committee and would have put Senator Cassidy in the crosshairs of his own party,” Stockley explained.

 

Louisiana Senator Cassidy Faces Uphill Re-Election Battle

There are those in Louisiana who think it wouldn't matter what Cassidy does at this point, after voting with the Democrats to impeach President Trump during Trump's first term.  Cassidy faces re-election next year with at least one serious contender in State Treasurer and former Congressman John Fleming.

There have also been rumblings out of Baton Rouge that  State Senator Blake Miguez, another prominent conservative Republican, will throw his hat into the ring.  But as of this writing, he hasn't confirmed yet whether or not he'll run.

Senate Holds Confirmation Hearings For HHS Secretary Nominee Robert Kennedy
Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Not long after Cassidy voted to advance Kennedy's nomination, he explained his decision on the Senate floor.

“We had in-depth conversations about the medical literature, about the science behind the safety of vaccines. He referred me to studies and to people. I reviewed them and spoke to those whom he mentioned I should speak to,” Cassidy said.

Previous statements about vaccines by Kennedy has raised concerns from many about his qualifications to serve as the Health Secretary.

“Regarding vaccines, Mr. Kennedy has been insistent that he just wants good science, and to ensure safety. But on this topic, this science is good. The science is credible. Vaccines save lives. They are safe. They do not cause autism,” Cassidy said.

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