QUICK HITS

1 New head of FDA:

A U.S. Senate committee approved the nomination of Texas radiation oncologist Stephen Hahn as head of the Food and Drug Administration, which is currently embroiled in a high-stakes debate over how to regulate e-cigarettes and curb youth vaping. The vote by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was 18 to 5. If approved by the Senate, Hahn, a top official at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, will be the fourth head of the FDA in less than a year.

2 Marine wanted to defeat ‘thugs’:

A U.S. Marine caught smuggling guns into Haiti told investigators he wanted to help the country’s military defeat “thugs” causing instability there, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court that charges Jacques Yves Duroseau. Prosecutors say he flew from North Carolina to Haiti with baggage including eight firearms but lacked authorization to take them abroad.

3 Prosecutor wants year in prison for Hunter :

A federal prosecutor said he plans to ask for at least a year in prison for California Rep. Duncan Hunter, 42, who changed his not guilty plea and pleaded guilty Tuesday to misusing $150,000 in campaign funds.

4 Bipartisan effort:

The Democratic and Republican parties joined in asking the state Supreme Court to keep a proposal for open primaries off next November’s ballot, with lawyers arguing that language summarizing a proposed constitutional amendment is misleading. The group All Voters Vote gathered enough signatures to have the item placed on the ballot but the court must decide whether the language is clear.

5 Gun purchases:

Background checks on U.S. gun purchases are nearing a record high. Through November, more than 25.4 million checks had been conducted by the FBI, putting 2019 on pace to break the 2016 record of 27.5M.