The stink of corruption has started to settle in on the emerging Russo- Republican administration, and we're not even talking about neo- fascist con artist and walking conflict of interest Donald "Rump" Trump:
Washington (CNN) -- Rep. Tom Price last year purchased shares in a medical device manufacturer days before introducing legislation that would have directly benefited the company, raising new ethics concerns for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary.
Price bought between $1,001 to $15,000 worth of shares last March in Zimmer Biomet, according to House records reviewed by CNN.
Less than a week after the transaction, the Georgia Republican congressman introduced the HIP Act, legislation that would have delayed until 2018 a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulation that industry analysts warned would significantly hurt Zimmer Biomet financially once fully implemented. [snip]
After Price offered his bill to provide Zimmer Biomet and other companies relief from the CMS regulation, the company's political action committee donated to the congressman's reelection campaign, records show. [snip]
The new revelation is the latest example of Price trading stock in a healthcare firm at the same time as pursuing legislation that could impact a company's share price. The issue has become a major liability for the congressman after The Wall Street Journal reported last month that he traded roughly $300,000 in shares over the past four years in health companies while pursuing legislation that could impact them. (our emphasis)Well, well, well. Sounds a little bit... illegal to us. But in addition to his ethical tumors emerging all over the place, Rep. Tom "For Sale At Any" Price is a certifiable kook: a tea bagger and early supporter of Cheeto Benito, Price also has a "zero" rating from Planned Parenthood, proposed a Constitutional amendment banning same- sex marriage, and, well you get the idea.
You can now add "self- dealer," "inside trader," and "bribe taker" (allegedly!) to the descriptors.
* h/t Paul Krugman:
As I said, we are entering an era of epic corruption. https://t.co/nXMSyOiYfR— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) January 3, 2017
