Kennedy's statements have raised concerns about his childhood vaccine commitment to Republican Senator Bill Cassidy.

Cassidy was begging for the simplest possible concession from the man President Trump had chosen to serve as the nation’s top health care official. All he asked was that Kennedy declare “unequivocally” that vaccines do not cause autism.

Those voting to support Robert F. Kennedy Jr as Secretary of HHS include Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy. Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, however, voted no.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right, talks with Committee Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Jan. 30 after his testimony during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing

The key swing vote putting Kennedy over the edge was Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a physician who fell in line with the Republican majority and voted for Kennedy despite raising reservations about Kennedy's position on vaccines.

After Louisiana U.S. Sen. and doctor Bill Cassidy put aside his doubts over vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s fitness to oversee our nation's health care, columnists Quin Hillyer and Stephanie Grace discuss whether his decision digs him out of a political ditch.

Republican Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy cast the swing vote on advancing President Trump's nomination of RFK Jr. to lead the Department of Health.

Kennedy promised not to alter the childhood vaccine schedule. Now he's vowing to investigate the regimen designed to prevent measles, polio and other diseases.

Cassidy has always been a public servant. Before entering governmental politics, he was a practicing physician in Louisiana. He currently serves as the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

While many of President Trump's Cabinet picks sparked strong public reactions, the singular appeal — and alarm — generated by Kennedy deluged the Senate with outside pressure.

The Senate voted 53-47 to end debate on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination, following public statements of support from some GOP senators who had been on the fence about President