Right Web

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Highlights & Quotes Tommy Thompson, the former governor of Wisconsin and current Secretary for Health and Human Services, is a member of the extreme right-wing group Council for National Policy. Other current and past CNP members include Trent Lott, Gary Bauer, James Dobson, Jack Kemp, Edwin Meese, Edwin Feulner, Jerry Falwell, Ralph Reed, and Pat Robertson. (4, 5)

According to OpenSecrets.org: "The former Wisconsin governor was forced to sell his stock in drugmakers Merck and Abbott Laboratories once he was confirmed as health and human services secretary. But he reportedly kept the $15,000 to $50,000 worth of stock he owns in AOL Time Warner and General Electric, since they weren't considered a conflict of interest. Thompson also raised some eyebrows over his close relationship with tobacco giant Philip Morris. He sold the stock he owned in the company (worth between $15,000 and $50,000), but as governor, he accepted more than $72,000 in campaign donations from the company from 1993-2000, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Philip Morris also subsidized a number of Thompson's international trips to promote free trade. Thompson plans to continue as chairman of Amtrak's board of directors while he serves as HHS secretary. He was appointed to the board by former Presidents Bush and Clinton. Amtrak is asking for $30 billion in funding over the next 20 years from the federal government, despite Congress' request that the railroad wean itself from government subsidies by 2003." (3)