Trump leaning toward former pharma exec Alex Azar for health secretary

[Eugene]

Source: Politico

Trump leaning toward former pharma exec for health secretary

The front-runner to replace Tom Price is Alex Azar, who worked at the Department of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush before joining drugmaker Eli Lilly.

By ANDREW RESTUCCIA, ELIANA JOHNSON, SARAH KARLIN-SMITH and JOSH DAWSEY 10/17/2017 03:03 PM EDT Updated 10/17/2017 03:32 PM EDT

President Donald Trump is leaning toward nominating Alex Azar, a former pharmaceutical industry executive and George W. Bush administration official, to serve as Health and Human Services secretary, according to two White House officials.

If chosen, Azar would replace Georgia Republican Tom Price, who resigned in September after POLITICO reported that he spent more than $1 million in taxpayer money on private and government planes for travel.

One official said Trump had signed off on Azar, but another cautioned that the pick wouldn’t be final until the White House makes a formal announcement. A third Trump administration official confirmed that Azar has been shortlisted for the job.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/17/alex-azar-trump-health-secretary-243876

[NBachers]

1. What, Pharma bro is not available?

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. Isn't he still in jail?

[DBoon]

5. Trump could just pardon him

Otherwise, he is a perfect fit for the Trump admin

[BigmanPigman]

3. Isn't that similar to his other Bizarro World

cabinet choices (the opposite of what they are supposed to protect and represent)? It is like putting the fox in charge of guarding the hen house.

[marylandblue]

4. Actually better than most

Most of his picks are Ben Carson types, no actual related experience. This one at least knows something about healthcare. He won't be good on regulatory issues, but that would be true for an Republican president.

[BigmanPigman]

6. That's true.