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U.S. NEWS Saturday 30 September 2017
Trump’s health secretary Price resigns in travel flap

where he was known as a failure has been aimed at
fiscal conservative. When the Republican-controlled
Price joined the administra- Congress, associates of the
tion, Trump touted him as president said he also as-
a conservative policy ex- signs some blame to Price,
pert who could write a new who he believes did not do
health care bill to replace a good job of selling the
the Obama-era Affordable GOP plan.
Care Act. But House Speaker Paul
But Price became more of Ryan, R-Wis., said Friday
a supporting player in the that Price had worked
GOP’s futile health care hard to help that cham-
campaign, while Vice Pres- ber pass its plan before the
ident Mike Pence took the GOP health overhaul effort
lead, particularly in dealing reached an impasse in the
with the Senate. Senate.
The perception of Price jet- “I will always be grate-
ting around while GOP law- ful for Tom’s service to this
makers labored to repeal country,” he said.Demo-
“Obamacare” —including crats said Trump’s next HHS
a three-nation trip in May secretary should turn away
to Africa and Europe— from partisanship and try to
raised eyebrows on Capitol work with them.
Hill. Price flew on military A Pence protege, Seema
In this Sept. 28, 2017 photo, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price attends a discussion
in Washington. Price announced Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, he is resigning amid criticism of his travel aircraft overseas. Verma, has been men-
on private planes. Although much of Trump’s tioned as a possible suc-
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ire over the health care cessor to Price. q
Continued from Front explain their own travel.
Price’s repayment of
On Friday the president $51,887.31 for his own
called Price a “very fine travel costs and his public
person,” but added, “I cer- expression of regrets did
tainly don’t like the optics.” not placate everyone at
The flap prompted scrutiny the White House. The total
of other Cabinet members’ travel cost, including the
travel, as the House Over- secretary’s entourage, was
sight and Government Re- unclear. It could amount to
form committee launched several hundred thousand
a governmentwide investi- dollars.
gation of top political ap- An orthopedic surgeon
pointees. turned politician, Price
Other department heads rose to Budget Commit-
have been scrambling to tee chairman in the House,

Trump promotes his ‘giant,

beautiful, massive’ tax plan

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE was a core element.
Associated Press The nearly $6 trillion plan
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- sketched out this week by
dent Donald Trump said Fri- Trump and other officials
day that the centerpiece would deeply reduce tax-
of his plan to help Ameri- es for corporations, simplify
can businesses and work- tax brackets and nearly
ers “thrive, compete and double the standard de-
grow” is a “giant, beautiful, duction used by most tax
massive, the biggest ever in filers.
our country, tax cut.” But many details remain to
Trump and congressional be fleshed out.
Republicans unveiled the In the remarks, Trump high-
broad outlines of the tax lighted a provision of the
plan earlier this week. plan that would allow busi-
“My administration is work- nesses for the next five
ing every day to lift the years to write off the full
burden on companies and cost of new equipment
workers so you can thrive, in the same year it’s pur-
compete and grow,” chased.
Trump said in a speech to Trump said that proposal
the National Association of alone will encourage com-
Manufacturers. panies to invest and create
He said the tax cut plan jobs.q