Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is sitting before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee today for confirmation as Head of the HHS and FDA.  My commentary below will not focus on whether Kennedy should be confirmed or not, whether he is qualified to represent the American people as regards their health, whether his family members hold clout in discrediting his reputation, and whether fiery questions from senators on the committee will make or break Kennedy’s appointment.  Rather this commentary will focus on the US Senate Finance Committee’s track record on not protecting the American people and whether they can be trusted.  Case in point, the opioid drug epidemic killing and addicting in the hundreds of thousands annually.

The late US Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah was a member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in 2012 when an investigation into the prescription opioid epidemic was launched naming several pharmaceutical companies — including the infamous Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin as well as the American Pain Foundation, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society and several physicians.

Two of the physicians named in the investigation were Perry Fine, MD and Lynn Webster, MD both from Utah. Both Hatch and Webster were Mormons and allegedly friends.

As a US Senator from Utah and Chairman of the US Senate Finance Committee, Hatch sealed the report investigating the opioid epidemic killing and addicting victims in the hundreds of thousands.  The report had been printed and bound but allegedly never left Hatch’s office.

Why was the late U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch allowed to seal an investigative report conducted by the US Senate Finance Committee?  Where was the outrage since 2012 leading to Mr. Hatch’s disregard for victim lives as a potential state of emergency continues to loom throughout America.

Maybe the seats should be reversed at this US Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing and members should be on the firing line.  Can they be trusted?  You decide.