Gov.-elect Brian Kemp unveiled a transition team on Monday that included dozens of Republican politicians, conservative activists, former aides, prominent GOP financiers and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price.
An outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act, Price resigned from his post in September 2017 after drawing bipartisan condemnation for racking up at least $1 million in travel on private and military jets.
Kemp said Price, an orthopedic surgeon and former U.S. House member, will help him hone healthcare policy that includes a staunch opposition to expanding Medicaid but a promise to seek federal waivers to help stabilize insurance premiums.
Price and other members of Kemp’s “Georgians First” team will spend the next two months further developing policy initiatives, hashing out his initial budget proposal and proposing appointments to a powerful posts and boards.
“We are going to uphold the promises of our campaign when I get in office,” said Kemp, days after a final vote tally confirmed his narrow victory over Democrat Stacey Abrams. “I’m going to do exactly as governor what I told people I would do on the campaign trail.”
Kemp previously tapped Tim Fleming, his campaign manager, as chief of staff, and David Dove, a top aide in the secretary of state’s office, to head the transition. He also said Monday that campaign strategist Jeremy Brand would be an adviser to the transition team.
Among the other members of the transition team are Alec Poitevint, a top Sonny Perdue ally and influential Republican National Committee figure; Allen Fox, the LGBT advocate who has long opposed the "religious liberty" measure; and Virginia Galloway, a leader of the conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition and supporter of that bill.
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