Fetterman open to supporting Oz nomination based on commitment to Medicare, Medicaid

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Wednesday he would vote to confirm Mehmet Oz, his Republican opponent in Pennsylvania's 2022 Senate race, as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under a certain condition.

“If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude,” Sen. Fetterman posted on social media platform X.

His remark was in response to a post by CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju, who suggested the senator indicated he was “very much open” to voting to confirm Oz.

I’m going to be very, very clear if Dr. Oz agrees to protect and preserve Medicaid and Medicare, I’m absolutely going to vote for the dude,” Sen. Fetterman reportedly told Raju. “That’s the most important thing for me.”

The senator defeated Oz by more than 263,000 votes in the 2022 race.

“Our politics are obviously different, and we do have a history, but I don’t have any bitterness,” Raju quoted Fetterman as saying. “I don’t hold anything against him. As long as he’s willing to protect and preserve Medicaid and Medicare, I’m voting for the dude.”

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Oz on Tuesday, saying he would get the “best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country.”

“He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget,” Trump wrote.

The president-elect added that there may not be any physician more qualified and capable than Oz to “Make America Healthy Again.” Oz said in response to the statement on X he was honored by the nomination.

“I look forward to serving my country to Make America Healthy Again under the leadership of HHS Secretary @RobertKennedyJr,” he wrote.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.