Democrats also pointed out that McConnell has significant ties to Humana — for instance, his chief of staff, Kyle Simmons, previously worked for the company as its communications director, and the corporation’s executives have been some of the top donors to the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. Additionally, according to opensecrets.org, Humana ranks among the top 10 contributors to McConnell’s campaign committee and leadership political action committee, with the two political organs taking in a combined $98,652 from the company since 1989.
A Republican aide, however, argued that ultimately the GOP’s concerns are not about Humana specifically — or, at this point, Blum — but rather what Republicans maintain appears to be an abuse of power by the administration and Baucus. “We’re a far cry from alleging this guy is a dirty player,” the aide said, adding that at this point “this is [about] the administration, which has the full force of law, imposing an arbitrary limit on what you can say.”
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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