Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a scion of a Democratic political dynasty who defied family tradition to align with the Republican party, seems to have allayed some Republican concerns and moved closer to a confirmation vote after undergoing an intense three-hour grilling by senators from both sides. The Senate Finance Committee hearing covered a variety of topics, from Medicaid and Medicare to a measles outbreak in Samoa and his long-standing criticism of vaccines and the nation’s public health establishment. It may have been the first time many Americans heard Kennedy’s distinctive hoarse voice, which is the result of spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition affecting the muscles of the larynx. Kennedy will face additional questions from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Thursday. However, the Finance Committee hearing is more significant, as it is the committee that will vote on whether to send Kennedy’s nomination to the Senate floor for a vote.
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