Posted on 03/24/2021 1:07:51 PM PDT by lightman
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey says he’s voting against Dr. Rachel Levine’s nomination to a key post in President Joe Biden’s administration.
Biden wants Levine, Pennsylvania’s former health secretary, to serve as the U.S. assistant health secretary. The post requires U.S. Senate confirmation. A Senate panel has advanced Levine’s nomination to the full Senate.
The Senate is expected to vote on Levine’s nomination Wednesday. But Toomey, R-Pa., said Wednesday he won’t be supporting Levine’s confirmation. He cited the high number of deaths in Pennsylvania nursing homes to the coronavirus.
“In Pennsylvania, the pandemic struck seniors in nursing homes disproportionately hard compared to other states. This was due in part to poor decisions and oversight by Dr. Levine and the Wolf administration,” Toomey said in a statement.
“Moreover, the commonwealth’s extended economic lockdown that Dr. Levine advocated for was excessive, arbitrary in nature, and has led to a slower recovery,” Toomey said. “While I appreciate Dr. Levine’s service and responsiveness to my office over the past year, she has not earned a promotion to help lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and I cannot support her confirmation.”
Levine led the Pennsylvania Health Department for years before leaving to take the post in the Biden administration. She gained a wide profile as Gov. Tom Wolf relied heavily on Levine in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Nearly 25,000 deaths in Pennsylvania have been tied to COVID-19 and more than half of those deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, according to the health department.
Republican lawmakers have criticized Levine and Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration for allowing some nursing home residents hospitalized due to COVID-19 to return to their own facilities to recover. Critics have said the Wolf administration’s guidance led to spikes of coronavirus cases in long-term care facilities.
Nursing home trade groups in Pennsylvania have said they are not aware of the state’s guidance leading to any deaths or outbreaks and they aren’t aware of any facility that was forced to accept a COVID-positive patient against its wishes.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa., voted in the Senate health committee to advance Levine’s nomination to the full Senate. Casey plans to vote to confirm Levine, his office said Wednesday.
Levine is poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
In recent months, Levine earned some criticism for the state’s rate of COVID-19 testing lagging behind other states. But she won praise for taking steps to stem the spread of the coronavirus and for her calm, measured manner in talking to the public about the pandemic.
Some lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, have questioned Levine about gaps in data about cases in nursing homes, Spotlight PA reported.
Pennsylvania Ping!
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“Science “
LOL
"“In Pennsylvania, the pandemic struck seniors in nursing homes disproportionately hard compared to other states. This was due in part to poor decisions and oversight by Dr. Levine and the Wolf administration,” Toomey said in a statement.
“Moreover, the commonwealth’s extended economic lockdown that Dr. Levine advocated for was excessive, arbitrary in nature, and has led to a slower recovery"
Bet Romney will vote to confirm.
Just waiting for the Austin Powers comment, “that’s a man, baby”.
This individual is “transsexual”, and “identifies” as a woman nowadays.
The world of “LGBT ETC” praises this individual as being an historic figure, being a “trail blazer” in such persons achieving high positions in government.
Racist. /s
This really illustrates the comedy that is government.
We’ve got someone vying for the deputy position in charge of national health who doesn’t understand that dressing like a woman doesn’t make you one.
“It” needs to be in for a LONG stay at a really good mental health facility.
SMFH....
Gotta feel just a tad sorry for the delusional Doctor.
No matter how many appendages amputated,
No matter how many hormones injected,
No matter how many wardrobe changes...
it will ALWAYS have that pesky Y Chromosome!
My Gosh, another old hippy who never grew up.
His objection is to the handling of Covid, not the agenda to turn your kids trans.
Murkowski too
The Democrat politicians loved and protected Rev. Jim Jones who believed himself to be a god.
Anyone with half a brain, which just barely includes Toomey should vote against this mentally disturbed nitwit.
It’s not a good idea to put a mental case in a position of authority so thank you Sen Toomey.
There are classes that men can take for things like that when they transition. Guess who pays for that.
Does anyone think he would’ve gotten advancement in his career as a man?
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