Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) continues to show no intention of uncritically embracing the Democratic Party’s agenda in his bid to secure its presidential nomination. The rebellious candidate took a principled stand on Wednesday to criticize the White House’s newest agency chief.
Just after the Senate confirmed Dr. Robert Califf to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in an 89 to 4 vote, Sanders fired off a statement saying he was “disappointed.”
“I opposed his nomination because I was not convinced that he would stand up to the greed of the pharmaceutical industry, one of the most powerful special interests in Washington,” the democratic socialist stated.
“At a time when one in five Americans cannot afford to pay for the medications that have been prescribed to them, we have got to do everything we can to lower the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs,” he added.
During a brutal round of questioning at Dr. Califf’s nomination hearing last November, Sanders bluntly said the prospective FDA chief was not the right person for the job. “As you know, you and I chatted a while back and I told you that I would not support you,” Sanders said. He went on to hit out at the nominee for opposing the removal of the drug importation ban, which would allow US citizens to buy prescription drugs from Canadian suppliers at cheaper prices.
Before the hearing, the senator’s office released information on Dr. Califf’s cozy ties to the pharmaceutical industry. It noted paid consulting gigs Califf accepted for seven major drug manufacturers and a medical device company.
Other senators lodged their opposition to Dr. Califf’s confirmation this week, with Sen. Joe Manchin (W. Va.) on Monday calling on the FDA to “break its cozy relations with the pharmaceutical industry.” Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) also voted against the nominee.
Sanders wasn’t in Washington for the vote Tuesday because he was campaigning in South Carolina and Oklahoma, which hold primaries on Feb. 27 and March 1.
