Labor Unions Blocked Raimondo’s Chances for HHS Secretary, Say NYT Reporters

Labor Unions Blocked Raimondo’s Chances for HHS Secretary, Say NYT Reporters

On Thursday, December 3, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo put an end to speculation that she would be President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

“I am not going to be President-elect Biden’s nominee for HHS Secretary,” she said at her weekly press conference, saying, “I realize rumors are rampant.”

On Tuesday, reporters Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin at the New York Times claimed it was due to labor unions — and Raimondo’s pension reform. 

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In the article “Inside Biden’s Struggle to Manage Factions in the Democratic Party,” they write, “The competition for senior offices has strained valuable political alliances, vexing some of Joe Biden’s key supporters from the Democratic primary contest.”

“Labor unions have helped block at least one cabinet appointment, a bid by Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island to become health secretary, because of her record on pension changes,” they claim.

"Ms. Raimondo faced resistance from labor leaders who clashed with her in her home state. At least two major unions, the public-sector giant Afscme and the American Federation of Teachers, expressed forceful opposition to Ms. Raimondo with the Biden transition team," they continued. 

Raimondo had already come under scrutiny prior to her announcement of not getting the post. 

“Possible HHS Pick Shielded Nursing Homes From Liability During COVID Outbreak,” wrote Julia Rock and Andrew Perez of Raimondo in The Daily Poster the Wednesday prior.

Another Angle

As CNN reported, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden's transition team lobbying for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be nominated for the role of health and human services secretary.

The letter, signed by 32 members of Congress, including Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat, commended Biden for selecting Cuban-born Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Latino and first immigrant to be nominated for Homeland Security secretary, calling it a "good start" for Latino representation.

Biden ultimately nominated California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as the next Health and Human Services Secretary.