Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the speaker of the House, asked the White House last week to reconsider the ouster of Tom Price, the now-former secretary of Health and Human Services.
Ryan made the request during he call he received from White House chief of staff John Kelly, two people with knowledge of the call told Politico.
Price, Ryan's longtime friend, had been criticized for using private and government planes for travel using taxpayer funds, which cost more than $1 million since May. He officially resigned Friday, Politico's report said.
He was part of Ryan's "Jedi Council," a fiscally conservative group who would meet for weekly policy breakfasts when Republicans were in the minority in Congress, Politico reported.
One of the people familiar with the call said Ryan noted Price's experience in the administration and in Congress, but Kelly made clear that Price was out of the position, and the call quickly ended, one of the people familiar with the call said to Politico.
The House speaker praised Price Friday after Price resigned.
"Tom Price is a good man . . . he was a leader in the House and a superb health secretary," Ryan said.
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