Jane Henney: New Trials At The Fda
Richard S. DunhamA bruising Senate confirmation lies ahead for Jane Henney, President Clinton's expected choice to head the Food & Drug Administration. Senate Republicans promise to grill the ex-deputy to former FDA Commissioner David Kessler about topics from tobacco to abortion to regulatory reform.
Henney, 51, now the University of New Mexico's vice-president for health sciences, has bipartisan credentials: As FDA deputy director for operations from 1992 to '94, she served under both Bush and Clinton. Still, her ties to Kessler will be a liability. Many Senate Republicans viewed Kessler as a liberal activist quick to back regulation, particularly of tobacco--but slow to O.K. treatments and medical devices.
Another snag: The FDA soon will be asked to approve an abortion pill. The Religious Right will try to block Henney's confirmation if she doesn't disavow the pill. Henney wins praise from consumer advocates and Senate liberals, such as Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). But that's likely not enough to get her the job.
To continue reading this article you must be a Bloomberg Professional Service Subscriber.
Read this article on the Terminal Request a demo to learn more
If you believe that you may have received this message in error please let us know.
- Avicii, DJ-Producer Who Performed Around the World, Dies
- Deutsche Bank's Bad News Gets Worse With $35 Billion Flub
- Wells Fargo's $1 Billion Pact Gives U.S. Power to Fire Managers
- Oil Shrugs Off Trump Tweet to Rise for a Second Straight Week
- The U.K. Just Went 55 Hours Without Using Coal for the First Time in History