President Barack Obama used a recess appointment in 2010 to install Dr. Donald Berwick as head of the massive Medicare program. That meant Berwick didn't have to go through the Senate confirmation process.
That's unfortunate, because the hearings might have forced him to explain his 2009 remarks in the journal Biotechnology Healthcare embracing medical rationing. He said: "The decision is not whether or not we will ration care. The decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open."
And speaking in Britain in 2008, Berwick said, "Any health care funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized and humane must, must redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent health care is by definition redistributional."
Now, 42 GOP senators have asked the president to remove Berwick before his recess term runs out at the end of this year. At that point, he would have to be officially confirmed by the Senate or he would lose his post.
Considering Berwick's unfortunate embrace of medical rationing and socialized medicine, he should step down or the president should remove him. Barring that, lawmakers should not confirm him when his nomination finally goes before the Senate - as it should have last year.