Frist’s Conduct in 1999 Completely Contradicts His 2005 Excuse

Sen. Bill Frist claims that he sold his stock in HCA so he could vigorously pursue a health care agenda. From yesterday’s New York Times:

The senator’s spokesman, Bob Stevenson, said Wednesday that Mr. Frist “made a conscious decision to divest himself of all HCA assets” so he could pursue an ambitious agenda of health care legislation free of any appearance of self-interest.

In the past, however, Frist has argued strenuously that his ownership of HCA stock did not prevent him from taking a leadership role on health care policy in the Senate. From USA Today, 9/13/99:

Senate Republican leaders have looked to Frist, as a highly regarded physician, to sell the country on their vision of limited federal regulation of HMOs…

As a result of Frist’s leading role, members of both parties were concerned that his stock holdings created an ethical conflict:

But Frist’s key role this year in blocking President Clinton’s “patients’ bill of rights” proposal has brought new questions from Democrats and even some Republicans about whether the senator has a conflict of interest in health policy issues — not because he is a physician, but because of his ties to the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.

Frist dismissed the argument out of hand. In fact, he argued that HCA stock holdings helped him do his job better:

Frist rejects suggestions that he has any conflict of interest and says the Senate Ethics Committee backs him up. His background and connections, he says, are an asset when Congress deals with health care.

Next excuse, Senator Frist?