President Barack Obama bypassed the Senate Wednesday and appointed Dr. Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid. Why would Obama have to use a recessed appointment to appoint Berwick when Democrats control Congress? Simple. Obama feared that Dr. Berwick’s radical agenda, one which mirrors Obama’s, would become the focus of attention and would further show how radical Obama is.
So blatant was this abuse of power that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Wednesday blasted the Obama administration for sidestepping Congress to install Donald Berwick atop the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
“Senate confirmation of presidential appointees is an essential process prescribed by the Constitution that serves as a check on executive power and protects Montanans and all Americans by ensuring that crucial questions are asked of the nominee — and answered,” Baucus said in a statement.
Berwick had not been vetted by the Finance panel, nor had Baucus scheduled a hearing to examine the nominee.
What is so radical about Dr. Berwick? Well, Berwick believes in redistribution of wealth. If you make $100 and I make $10, then the government should take $45 from you and give it to me so that we are equal. Berwick’s radical beliefs don’t end there. As head of Medicare and Medicaid, Berwick is a supporter of medical rationing. In an interview last year with Biotechnology Healthcare, Berwick said society makes decisions about rationing all the time, and that the “decision is not whether or not we will ration care — the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open. And right now, we are doing it blindly.” Supporters of Berwick later tried to defend Berwick’s remarks claiming they were misrepresented, however, because of the recessed appointment Congress will be unable to question him with regard to his statements.
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