By Annie Grayer, CNN
(CNN) — Some GOP senators need public commitments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier than deciding whether or not to help him as the following secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Companies, signaling that President Donald Trump’s decide must win over unsure Republicans with a purpose to safe the job.
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who’s anti-abortion rights, informed CNN that Kennedy must do extra to assuage her considerations given his previous feedback supporting entry to the process.
“He will need to publicly state his position on abortion because I’m obviously very life focused. That’s one of the biggest concerns,” Ernst informed CNN.
Republican senators and anti-abortion advocates have already sounded the alarm on Kennedy’s stance on this problem, his earlier Democratic bid for president and his previous help for abortion entry till fetal viability, which Trump’s crew has seen as a key vulnerability.
It’s not the one problem that Republican senators will probably be urgent Kennedy on throughout a pair of high-profile affirmation hearings this week.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who was one in all three Republicans to vote in opposition to Trump’s Division of Protection nominee final week, mentioned Monday that she nonetheless has considerations about Kennedy, given his lengthy historical past of sowing doubts in regards to the security and efficacy of vaccines.
“Well I’m certainly concerned about it. I know others have other, other points of concerns that they want to drill down on and try to get some commitments, public commitments, from him on,” Murkowski mentioned. “But vaccines are important.”
Kennedy has tried to tamp down considerations about his historical past of vaccine skepticism, together with whether or not he helps the polio vaccine. He informed reporters on Capitol Hill in December that he’s “all for” the polio vaccine following experiences {that a} lawyer affiliated with Kennedy has petitioned the US Meals and Drug Administration to revoke approval of the polio vaccine utilized in america.
During the last month, Kennedy has met with senators on each side of the aisle as he has tried to make his case on to them behind closed doorways. However the public feedback from Republican senators on Monday counsel he has extra work to do.
Ernst additionally informed CNN she believes Kennedy must make clear his place on local weather change.
“But then also the climate, his view on climate and his ideology, I want to make sure that that’s not playing a role there either,” she mentioned.
Different key senators had been noncommittal Monday evening when requested for his or her place on Kennedy.
Republican Senate Well being, Training, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana referred all questions on Kennedy to his workplace, whereas GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who voted in opposition to Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon nomination, didn’t disclose the place she stands.
On vaccines, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma mentioned, “I can tell you that (Kennedy is) very clear.”
“He serves at the will of the president of the United States, but he also thinks that there’s nothing wrong with questioning science,” Mullin, who has backed Kennedy, mentioned.
Kennedy will face senators’ questioning simply days after Hegseth solely narrowly earned Senate affirmation because the Trump administration tries to face up the president’s Cupboard as shortly as attainable.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana outlined the stakes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will face within the hearings.
“I expect him to address all of these issues head-on and tell us, tell the committee, and, more importantly, the American people in front of God and country, what his position is on vaccines,” the senator mentioned. “I’ve read a bunch of different positions, and I’ve learned not to believe everything I see on the internet. So that’s why the confirmation hearing is going to be important.”
Whereas Democrats have at occasions agreed with a few of Kennedy’s stances, reminiscent of his positions on meals security, suggesting there might be some crossover votes to offset any Republican opposition, most Democrats are in opposition to the nomination given his vaccine skepticism.
“I’ve met with him and that’s part of an ongoing dialogue,” Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania informed CNN when requested if he may help Kennedy.
Regardless of the percolating considerations, Senate Majority Chief John Thune informed CNN Monday that Kennedy has successfully given reassurances to Republican senators skeptical of his view on vaccines and different controversial points and has a path to be confirmed despite the fact that it’s not clear but how a handful of them will vote.
“He’ll have that opportunity in front of the world this week,” mentioned Thune. “I think in his private meeting he’s given a lot of reassurances, at least in the readouts that I’m getting from those meetings. And that was my experience in the one I had with him.”
Pressed on whether or not Kennedy can get sufficient votes to be confirmed with Republicans’ slim margin within the Senate, Thune mentioned: “As I’ve said before with all these nominees, there’s a path, but I reserve judgment until after they go through the hearing process. My job is to make sure they get that process. But, yeah, I think there’s a way for him to get there.”
Nonetheless, Republican senators are conscious there may be little room for error as soon as a nominee reaches the Senate ground.
“My position is that the president is entitled to his team absent some extraordinary circumstances. But I’m just one vote,” mentioned Texas Sen. John Cornyn. “And as we’ve seen with the Hegseth nomination, there’s not a lot of cushion. And so, I think the hearing will be very important to either satisfy people that he’s should be confirmed or not.”
CNN’s Ted Barrett, Alison Principal, Equipment Maher and Haley Talbot contributed to this report.
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