07.07.10

Murkowski Comments on Donald Berwick Recess Appointment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on the White House recess appointment of Donald Berwick to be Director of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

“Appointing Donald Berwick before the Senate even holds a hearing on his confirmation represents breath-taking arrogance on the part of President Obama. This year, CMS will disburse $803 billion in benefits – making the agency larger than the economies of Denmark, South Africa and Israel combined. Yet no senator has had the chance to question Mr. Berwick about how he would run the agency that will implement much of the President’s trillion dollar health care law. Besides the rank arrogance, this appointment raises serious questions about the President’s commitment to be open and transparent with the American people.”

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