5/20/2019

HEALTHCARE/HHS/MIKE PENCE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Sweeping new protections for religious health care workers and an overhaul of family planning programs to effectively cut out Planned Parenthood represent something unusual in the Trump administration: a clear spotting of the fingerprints of Vice President Mike Pence. From topics ranging from trade to the president’s scorched-earth attacks against the Mueller investigation, Pence has been the loyal foot soldier while often appearing uncomfortable amid the administration’s biggest fights. Despite having earned Trump’s gratitude for his loyalty, Pence has had a far lower profile than his recent predecessors. But behind the scenes, Pence has developed his own sphere of influence in an agency lower on Trump’s radar: Health and Human Services. It’s also the agency with the ability to fulfill the policy goal most closely associated with Pence over his nearly 20 year career in electoral politics: de-funding Planned Parenthood. Numerous top leaders of the department — including Secretary Alex Azar, Surgeon General Jerome Adams and Medicaid/Medicare chief Seema Verma — have ties to Pence and Indiana.”

Rachana Pradhan and Alice Miranda Ollstein, “How Mike Pence’s ‘Indiana mafia’ took over health care policy,” Politico, May 20, 2019 5:04 am