Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that Trump had not changed his mind on the vows he made during the campaign not to cut Medicare or Social Security.
“I haven’t had extensive discussions with him about the comments that he made, but I have no reason to believe that he’s changed his position,” Price told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) went through various statements Trump made during the campaign promising to protect the programs.
“So you are telling us to the best of your knowledge, Mr. Trump will not cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” Sanders asked again.
“As I say, I have no reason to believe that that position has changed,” Price said.
Price, who served as House Budget chair, has been a vocal supporter of privatizing Medicare and for other cuts to social programs. Shortly before being named Trump’s nominee, Price indicated that Republicans Congress would seek to overhaul Medicare midway through 2017.
