Health department suspends contracts with GOP-linked consultants

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Politico

HEALTH CARE

Health department suspends contracts with GOP-linked consultants
By DAN DIAMOND and ADAM CANCRYN 04/03/2019 10:48 PM EDT

The Trump administration's health department is suspending contracts with several GOP-connected communications firms, according to four people with knowledge of the situation, days after a POLITICO report revealed the existence of the contracts. ... One of the contractors who was hired to boost Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma's profile with the media has also abruptly cut ties with the agency, two people with knowledge of the situation said.

CMS — which oversees Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare — steered communications work to multiple Republican subcontractors to promote Verma and her work within the administration. The funding came through a $2.25 million contract with Porter Novelli, an international public relations firm. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed the arrangement last week. ... Watchdog groups say the contracts raise legal and ethical questions, and leading Democratic lawmakers immediately called for the health department's inspector general to investigate.

The move to suspend the contracts came one day before HHS Secretary Alex Azar is scheduled to testify before a Senate appropriations panel, where he is likely to be questioned about them. ... "CMS has issued a stop work order for the contract, while HHS conducts an independent review," a spokesperson for HHS said Wednesday night.

The consultants who received subcontracts include Pam Stevens, a longtime Republican media adviser who helped arrange media sitdowns for Verma; Marcus Barlow, a longtime ally of Verma who helped write her speeches and set strategy; and Nahigian Strategies, which helped Verma unveil announcements and whose staff accompanied her when she traveled.
....

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/03/health-department-suspends-contracts-with-gop-linked-consultants-1320648

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The article was published 11 hours and 40 minutes ago.

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David Fahrenthold Retweeted

https://twitter.com/Fahrenthold

Days after a POLITICO report about the health department spending millions on GOP-connected comms contracts — and hours before HHS Secretary Azar testifies to Congress — the department has suspended the contracts, pending review. https://politi.co/2WQvcDV with @adamcancryn

Link to tweet

[dalton99a]

1. Seema Verma is a big-time crook

[Freethinker65]

2. So, how long before Trump's HHS retaliates against the leaker?

[Scarsdale]

3. Are there ANY truly

competent people in this administration? People who worked their way up to their current lofty positions? Like Ivanka tRump worked her way up? Yeah, right. This "gang that could not shoot straight" is bankrupting the country. How many people does it take to assist them in doing their jobs? In just two short years, the tRump crew has just about dismantled our entire form of government. Long past time for heads to roll.

[stuffmatters]

6. Trump appointees competent only in being deliberate wrecking balls to each agency & govt service

Essentially the Trump mission statement (and longtime GOP wetdream). Apparently fine too for anybody in the wrecking crew to
pilfer their agency and torture the vulnerable as much as possible with their power.

[Scarsdale]

4. Suspends, not cancels?

Seems like every member of this administration needs a team to prop them up. Too bad none of them are really competent.

[not fooled]

5. Why is a government agency spending money on PR outside consultants, period?

I could understand having agency personnel to oversee public communications and news releases but why is taxpayer money being spent on ANY PR contractor?

This might be an accepted practice (even aside from red don's criminal administration) but it just seems wrong, any time.

Of course, with the agenda being dismantling government agencies and looting public dollars, the pig needs a lot of lipstick.