Whereas Becerra has a historical past of combating for the Reasonably priced Care Act, he lacks any medical background to help his meant position as a prime U.S. well being official – an element that some conservatives have taken concern with.
Who’s Xavier Becerra?
Biden pledged to make his cupboard replicate “probably the most numerous Cupboard in historical past,” which he has completed by means of a number of historic nominations — however Becerra’s appointment has been one of many president’s extra controversial picks.
Beneath Becerra, the state of California sued President Trump over 100 instances on instances centered on immigration, the surroundings, and healthcare.
“With the NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] lawsuit, we’ve got sued @realDonaldTrump 100 instances,” Becerra wrote in an August tweet. “And whereas we don’t go in search of a struggle, we’re ready to behave when the individuals, sources, and values of California are at stake.”
Why Biden selected him
Becerra took on the Trump administration on healthcare and abortion when he led a coalition of 23 states, and the District of Colombia, in difficult the Trump-Pence Administration’s Title X rule within the Supreme Court docket.
The rule restricted docs’ means to refer sufferers for abortion procedures.
“A affected person’s medical choices are between her and her physician or healthcare supplier, not between her and the President or Vice President,” Becerra mentioned in an October assertion. “As soon as once more, this Administration is taking part in video games with reproductive healthcare, placing politics forward of sufferers.”
His stance has made him a controversial choose with anti-choice Republicans.
The California Democrat has additionally appeared in Supreme Court docket to defend the Reasonably priced Care Act, main a coalition of 20 states in California vs. Texas after Republican lawmakers sought to dismantle the federal healthcare program.
What do Republicans take into consideration him?
Becerra’s background in combating for the ACA and abortion rights has led some Republicans to sentence the choose and say he undercuts Biden pledge to bridge the partisan divide.
The newest condemnation of Becerra got here from Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who claimed the California legal professional basic was “not certified” to fill the position and accused him of being a “partisan tradition warrior,” in an op-ed he penned for Fox Information Thursday.
“Becerra has focused social conservatives, non secular teams, and others who deny the Democratic Social gathering’s dogmas about life, marriage, and the household,” Cotton wrote.
“Any senator who helps his nomination will bear duty for his all-too-predictable radical actions in workplace,” he added, suggesting that Biden’s HHS choose might face problem getting by means of his Senate affirmation hearings.
Montana Republican Steve Daines has additionally voiced his frustration at Biden’s HHS choose, taking to Twitter following the then president-elect’s nomination of the California legal professional basic final month.
“Xavier Becerra is a catastrophe for non secular freedom and pro-life points,” Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., mentioned on Twitter following Biden’s announcement. “He has made his profession aggressively pursuing a radical pro-abortion agenda and attacking the non secular freedom of Individuals who consider within the sanctity of human life.”
With a cut up Senate, it’s unclear if Biden’s choose for HHS Secretary will be capable of scrape by means of the affirmation course of, although it’s probably.
The date for Becerra’s listening to has not been set but.
Howard Kurtz contributed to this report.
