Exclusive: Key Trump health official spends millions on GOP-connected consultants

[demmiblue]

Source: Politico

Seema Verma employs a team of private consultants who write her speeches, polish her brand and travel with her across the country.

By ADAM CANCRYN and DAN DIAMOND

03/29/2019 05:03 AM EDT

The Trump appointee who oversees Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare quietly directed millions of taxpayer dollars in contracts to Republican communications consultants during her tenure atop the agency — including hiring one well-connected GOP media adviser to bolster her public profile.

The communications subcontracts approved by CMS Administrator Seema Verma — routed through a larger federal contract and described to POLITICO by three individuals with firsthand knowledge of the agreements — represent a sharp break from precedent at the agency. Those deals, managed by Verma’s deputies, came in some cases over the objections of CMS staffers, who raised concerns about her push to use federal funds on GOP consultants and to amplify coverage of Verma’s own work. CMS has its own large communications shop, including about two dozen people who handle the press.

Verma, a close ally of Vice President Mike Pence, has become a lightning rod for pushing work requirements in Medicaid and spearheading the Trump administration’s efforts to unilaterally unwind pieces of Obamacare. She previously worked as a consultant to conservative states seeking to reshape health care programs for the poor.

Her agency’s use of outside contracts and subcontracts is legal, but experts and current officials say it is not transparent and raises ethical questions.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/29/seema-verma-contracts-1306652

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. SO MANY nasties get revealed in the new Trump TV soap series:"As the Swamp Drains"

It's hard to keep track of all the slimy creatures that appear and wriggle away in the bright sunlight!

[Roy Rolling]

2. Of Course They Did

All the 30% ever hears about this administration is from spin doctors like this. And GOP propagandists depend on their victims not verifying what they are told.

[Maxheader]

3. Think Verma would have reason to misinterpret Mueller's report?

You know there are thousands of donnybot minions of the conservative conspiracy to steal what they can from the americun taxpayer...I saw it under ray gun ronny and shrub II....thievery, embezzlement...OVerlooked by the winger politicos that could do something about it...

Those deals, managed by Verma’s deputies, came in some cases over the objections of CMS staffers, who raised concerns about her push to use federal funds on GOP consultants and to amplify coverage of Verma’s own work. CMS has its own large communications shop, including about two dozen people who handle the press.

These are the guys that push to keep nasty, criminal reports of their hero..unpublished..

[Mc Mike]

4. Profoundly corrupt and propagandic. Drain the swamp.

[JaxMan]

5. No surprise here

I work with Medicare and Medicaid, and the bullshit tone of CMS communications has been obvious since this administration took over. They certainly love to brag about themselves, and tout things that have existed for a long time as their recent accomplishments.

[not fooled]

6. It costs a lot of money

to try to put lipstick on the pig of the GOPee's anti-human policies.

[safeinOhio]

7. How Russia like can you get?

Money for friends and propaganda for everyone else.

[dalton99a]

8. Seema Verma is a sneaky and utterly corrupt grifter who should be exposed

[lastlib]

10. Is "Verma" a Plural Form of a very similar word (ending in "-in")?

Because the new swamp is teeming with same.

"Vermin"--perfect description.

[B Stieg]

9. And guess who's paying for her consultants?

It isn't Mexico...