Maine’s Senators Divided Over Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary
Maine’s Senators, Angus King and Susan Collins, took starkly different positions on the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation’s health secretary. King, an Independent, voiced strong opposition to Kennedy, citing his history of criticizing vaccines and linking them to autism. He called Kennedy “a danger” and “grossly unqualified.” Meanwhile, Collins, a Republican, supported Kennedy, noting his commitment to restoring confidence in vaccines and developing a Lyme disease vaccine.
The Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Kennedy, with only one Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell, voting against. King criticized the Senate debate as “surreal” and urged his colleagues to vote no, citing Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism and social media posts attacking the FDA. Collins, on the other hand, emphasized Kennedy’s assurances during the confirmation hearing that he supports vaccines and biomedical research.
Maine public health experts and advocates had urged the senators to oppose Kennedy’s nomination, expressing concerns about his anti-vaccine views. Despite the confirmation, they remain committed to state-level advocacy to counter misinformation and protect public health.
Collins defended her support for Kennedy, stating that she believes in presidential discretion in choosing cabinet members. She highlighted Kennedy’s pledge to prioritize public health and vaccine safety. However, King questioned Kennedy’s sudden change of stance on vaccines, criticizing his decades-long record of vaccine skepticism.
The confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary has sparked a debate within the Senate and among public health advocates. While Collins sees potential in Kennedy’s leadership, King remains skeptical about his qualifications and commitment to public health. As Kennedy assumes his new role, the nation will be closely watching his actions and decisions regarding crucial health issues.
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