Saturday, February 4, 2017

Al Franken Profits from Tobacco

Minnesota Senator, the Liberal Al Franken thought he'd put on a show during confirmation hearings for the nominee of Department of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price, a Republican from Georgia.
"You personally benefited from tobacco sales," Franken said to Price. "How do you square reaping personal financial gain from the sale of an addictive product that kills millions of Americans every decade?"

Price defended himself from Franken's accusations, noting that his financial holdings are mostly organized through mutual funds[.]  Price then suggested that Franken most likely holds stock in a tobacco company through pension funds or mutual funds.

"I find it very hard to believe that you did not know you had tobacco stocks. I find it a little hard to believe in the questions of your stock portfolio that you did not know things," Franken said, interrupting Price's answer.
Later in the hearing, [Republican Johnny] Isakson used his time for questioning to inform Franken that he owned stocks in tobacco-related companies.

"Any of us could make the mistakes that are being alleged," Isakson said. "I'm sure Sen. Franken had no idea that he owned part of Philip Morris when he made the statement he made about tobacco companies."

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