Frist things Frist: A better idea for a coronavirus probe
U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, and Jerold Nadler, D-N.Y., orchestrated and led a flawed and failed impeachment bid that distracted the nation as the coronavirus was beginning to make its way around the world. Now, they are now working on legislation to create a “bipartisan” national commission to investigate the USA’s response to the crisis.
Having jettisoned credibility and exposed their partisanship during impeachment 1.0, their calls for a national commission ring hollow. And frankly, there is a better way available that will be faster, less partisan, more inclusive and potentially more impactful to help us prevent and prepare for the next virus epidemic, which could be worse. We don’t have time for the usual Washington bickering and showmanship.
Here is what President Trump should do. First, tell congressional Democrats “thanks, but no thanks, we got this.”
He should pick up his phone and call Dr. Bill Frist. A former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, renowned Nashville cardiologist, heart-lung transplant surgeon, and health policy expert, Dr. Frist should be invited to serve as counselor to the president, with Cabinet rank, reporting directly to the president and vice president. Dr. Frist walked away from politics 14 years ago and returned to his former profession and pursued other apolitical public service projects. Frist’s late father built the Hospital Corporation of America, which his brother Tom led for many years.
President Trump should tell Dr. Frist that he will have full authority to analyze “what happened” both during and before the coronavirus outbreak that guided or hindered our response, including every action by Congress, the current & recent administrations, the U.N., World Health Organization & the responses of other countries, especially China. He should be empowered to find, and tell, the whole truth.
Trump should give Dr. Frist authority to acquire whatever resources, including staff, he needs from any federal agency, including HHS, State, FEMA, FDA, CDC, NIH, CIA and DOD, others as needed. And let him and his family move into Blair House, part of the White House complex – usually reserved for visiting heads of state, or the presidentelect during transitions - for the duration. That will send quite the signal.
Oh, there’s more: Direct Dr. Frist to build a national committee of local and state public health experts, epidemiologists, and others to solicit input and ideas to craft a true public-private national health network that builds on, but doesn’t replace, our magnificent systems. Leave politicians out of it, but feel free to have him consult governors on their own decision-making process. Fortunately, Dr. Frist is already part of a national and international network of medical professionals and public policy experts.
Trump should give Dr. Frist up to nine months to complete his work. That takes us to around the time of the next inauguration.
Why not work with Congress on a 9/11 style commission? Would you trust Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff and Nadler to not politicize the issue or use it for partisan advantage? Not me. The best thing
Congress can do is stay out of the way and focus on oversight over the $2.2 trillion economic rescue package. Once Dr. Frist and the commission have completed their work, of course Congress will have a role – a duty – to act. Any multi-faceted response will require legislative changes and appropriations at all levels of government. But partisan political considerations should not interfere in the meantime.
We don’t have time to dicker with ham-handed congressional partisans; Dr. Frist is the ideal person, long divorced from politics, to craft a truly non-partisan, expert-led and staffed effort to build the best public-private national public system.
Some partisans will point out that Dr. Frist is a Republican. So what? Dr. Frist’s background, record and expertise uniquely qualifies him, and he is widely respected across the political and medical spectra, and he will have no problem attracting prominent Democratic-leaning medical professionals to the cause.
I cannot imagine Dr. Frist, a superbly connected and highly knowledgeable public health expert and leader, turning down this responsibility. He will be nonpartisan. And he has the network, respect, temperament, knowledge, strength and skills to make it work. He will go where the facts take him. And we’ll all be better served for it.