Senate panel to mull Tom Price's Cabinet nomination on Jan. 18

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, left, meets with Secretary of Health and Human Services-designate Rep. Tom Price, R- Ga., Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Credit: Tamar Hallerman

Credit: Tamar Hallerman

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, left, meets with Secretary of Health and Human Services-designate Rep. Tom Price, R- Ga., Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON -- We're getting word that the first of two confirmation hearings for Georgia U.S. Rep. Tom Price will come just two days before Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as president.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee plans to hold a hearing on Price's nomination for health and human services secretary on Jan. 18, according to the office of the panel's chairman, Tennessee's Lamar Alexander.

An aide cautioned that the date is tentative and could change.

The Senate Finance Committee will also be holding its own confirmation hearing for Price. That's also expected in the weeks ahead.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has expressed his desire for the Senate to confirm many of Trump's Cabinet nominees on Jan. 20, the date of Trump's inauguration, as has been custom in recent years. But the Kentucky Republican has not divulged his specific plans for Price.

Democrats are not happy about the Roswell Republican's selection as Trump's health chief, but they likely don't have the votes to kill the nomination. They can, however, draw out the Senate's consideration process for a day or two.

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