NORTH KINGSTOWN − Rhode Island U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse isn’t tipping his hand on how he will vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Whitehouse and Kennedy attended law school together at the University of Virginia, where the two outdoorsmen and environmentalists hiked, hunted and whitewater rafted the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Kennedy, who ran for president as a Democrat last year, is one of the most controversial Cabinet picks of President Donald Trump and, along with Tulsi Gabbard, is seen as most likely to fail to clear Senate confirmation.
How will Whitehouse vote on Kennedy’s confirmation?
Whitehouse has declined to say how he will vote on Kennedy or other nominees before they come up and late last week Talking Points Memo reported that Rhode Island’s junior senator is considering voting in favor of Kennedy.
Kennedy’s Senate hearing is Wednesday.
“I have not been inclined to telegraph my vote before someone has even had their hearing, so people just need to kind of chill on that a bit,” Whitehouse told reporters after a groundbreaking for a REGENT Craft factory in the Quonset Business Park. “Let him have his hearing and then we’ll got forward. I can assure everyone that I will vote in a way that is best for Rhode Island.”
Whitehouse said he has not spoken with Kennedy since Trump nominated him and, regarding their broader friendship, they have “not been in touch for some time.”
Controversy around Kennedy’s nomination
Many Democrats are up in arms about Kennedy becoming health and human services secretary because of his opposition to vaccination, but even if some Republican senators break ranks to reject him, it is unlikely Trump will nominate someone Democrats like.
Under that backdrop, it is not unusual for some members of the Senate minority to see if they can gain something else of value from the administration in exchange for their vote.
Whitehouse has talked about Rhode Island needing regulatory flexibility from Trump’s Health and Human Services bureaucracy.
What does Whitehouse need to know more from Kennedy about?
“I think there is a lot of anti-vax nonsense that need to be corrected,” Whitehouse said Monday. “Then there are some very specific things that Rhode Island needs that I want to make sure don’t get overlooked in the Trump administration.”
Kennedy, a fisherman, hunter and falconer, endorsed Whitehouse for Rhode Island attorney general in the 1998 Democratic primary Whitehouse won over Eva Mancuso and William Guglietta.
Kennedy also endorsed Whitehouse in his ultimately successful 2006 Democratic Senate primary over then-secretary of state Matt Brown.
As the confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services continue to heat up, many are wondering how Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will ultimately vote. While Whitehouse has been known for his progressive stance on healthcare and environmental issues, there are several reasons why he might ultimately vote to confirm RFK Jr.
First and foremost, Kennedy’s strong advocacy for healthcare reform aligns with Whitehouse’s own beliefs and priorities. Kennedy has been a vocal proponent of expanding access to affordable healthcare and addressing the opioid crisis, issues that are close to Whitehouse’s heart.
Additionally, Kennedy’s background as an environmental advocate may also appeal to Whitehouse. As a longtime champion of climate action and conservation efforts, Whitehouse may see Kennedy’s appointment as a step in the right direction for addressing pressing environmental challenges.
Furthermore, Kennedy’s track record of fighting for social justice and civil rights could also resonate with Whitehouse, who has been a vocal advocate for racial equality and criminal justice reform.
While Whitehouse has not yet publicly stated his position on Kennedy’s confirmation, these factors may suggest that he could ultimately vote in favor of RFK Jr. as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. Stay tuned as the confirmation process unfolds.
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