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Profile
Tommy G. Thompson

Tommy G. Thompson

Secretary of Health and Human Services
Council for National Policy: Member

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last updated: 11/20/2003

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Institutional Affiliations

  • Council for National Policy: Member (4)
  • National Governors' Association: Former Chairman (2)
  • Education Commission of the States: Former Chairman (2)
  • Midwestern Governors' Conference: Former Chairman (2)
  • Government Posts/Panels/Commissions

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Secretary (2001-current) (1)
  • State of Wisconsin: Governor (1987-2001) (1)
  • Wisconsin State Assembly: Assembly Minority Leader (1981-1987); Assistant Assembly Minority Leader (1973-1981); Representative (1966-1973) (2)
  • Wisconsin National Guard: Officer (2)
  • Wisconsin Army Reserve: Officer (2)
  • Corporate Connections/Business Interests

  • Amtrak: Chairman of Board of Directors (3)
  • General Electric: Stockholder (3)
  • AOL Time Warner: Stockholder (3)
  • Philip Morris: Former Stockholder (3)
  • Abbott Laboratories: Former Stockholder (3)
  • Merck: Former Stockholder (3)
  • Education

  • University of Wisconsin at Madison: B.S.; J.D. (1)
  • 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)


    Sources

    (1) American President.org: Presidency in History: Secretary of Health and Human Services: Tommy G. Thompson
    http://ap.beta.polardesign.com/history/bushgeorgew/cabinet/healthsecretary/thompsontommy/thompsonbio.article.shtml

    (2) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Thompson Biography
    http://www.hhs.gov/about/bios/dhhssec.html

    (3) OpenSecrets: Presidential Profile: George W. Bush's Cabinet: Tommy Thompson
    http://www.opensecrets.org/bush/cabinet/cabinet.thompson.asp

    (4) People for the American Way: The Right-Wing Affiliations of Bush Administration Officials: Department of Health and Human Services
    http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=6190

    (5) Right Web Profile: Council for National Policy
    http://rightweb.irc-online.org/groupwatch/cnp.html


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