Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is going through backlash following a remark he made about being “excited” by President-elect tapping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to function secretary of Well being and Human Providers (HHS).
“I’m excited by the news that the President-Elect will appoint @RobertKennedyJr to @HHSGov. He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA,” the governor wrote in a submit on social platform X, referencing the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA).
Trump’s nomination of the anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer as HHS secretary raised eyebrows amongst Democrats and public well being specialists, who fear Kennedy might meddle with key authorities companies, amplify vaccine hesitancy and direct company funding to favor his most well-liked views.
Kennedy brings a deep skepticism of pharmaceutical firms and the federal companies overseeing them. The previous impartial presidential candidate has stated federal well being regulators are “sock puppets” held captive by business particular pursuits. He has promised to purge complete departments on the FDA to eradicate corruption.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Inexperienced (D) expressed disappointment over Polis’s reward of Trump’s appointment.
“I was disappointed in Jared, who I love, who is one of my favorite senators — forgive me, governors — but it is not OK, it’s not OK to do what he did, to cast doubt on processes that are well established in science,” Inexperienced advised CNN’s Laura Coates throughout an interview on Thursday.
“It makes parents scared. When parents are scared, they don’t take action,” Inexperienced added, warning that if vaccination charges lower, “you’ll see disease spread widely across America.”
Colorado state Sen. Kyle Mullica (D) additionally pushed again on Polis’s obvious assist of Kennedy, as reported by Colorado Public Radio (CPR).
“I simply assume it is actually irresponsible and disappointing,” Mullica stated, as highlighted by CPR.
Susan Lontine, govt director of Immunize Colorado and a former Colorado state legislator, advised CPR that she disagrees with Trump’s nomination of Kennedy, although she “hopes to work with Polis in the next legislative session.”
“We’re disappointed and concerned by Gov. Polis’ support of RFK Jr.’s appointment,” Lontine stated, as reported by CPR.
New York Occasions columnist Ezra Klein supplied some background to Polis’s endorsement in a submit on the social platform X based mostly on an interview he did with the governor simply days earlier than Trump’s nomination.
Through the interview, Klein reported within the submit that Polis stated, “I used to be unhappy to see RFK leaving our coalition as a result of his voters in Colorado are a giant a part of my coalition. I imply, I needed to threaten to veto vaccine mandates and we have been in a position to keep away from them. We now have been making an attempt to legalize uncooked milk in our state for a number of years and we’re persevering with to strive as a result of it leans into empowering folks to make their very own decisions.”
Klein additionally reported that Polis stated, “I certainly believe in vaccinations.”
“But if you can’t convince people with the data, then they have the personal freedom not to. ‘Our bodies, our choice’ applies not just to fetuses, but also to decisions around health care — whether it’s getting vaccinated or what foods you consume,” Polis stated, as reported by Klein within the submit.
The Hill has contacted Polis’s workplace for remark.
