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| Senate Schedules Confirmation Vote |
| 2009-04-28 |
| Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday delayed a vote on Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' (D) nomination as HHS secretary, saying that lawmakers needed more time to consider the nomination, Roll Call reports (Brady, Roll Call, 4/23). Earlier in the day, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) attempted to obtain a unanimous vote to move forward with the nomination (Armstrong, CQ Today, 4/23). However, McConnell objected, effectively delaying the vote until next week. McConnell said, "It was fairly contentious. Not a party-line vote, but a number of members on my side opposed the nomination," adding, "So at least for today I'm not able to enter into a consent agreement" (Roll Call, 4/23). The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday voted 15-8 to approve Sebelius as HHS secretary. The vote was along party lines, with Democrats voting for approval and Republicans against, except for Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/22). Reid and Senate Republicans later in the day reached an agreement on the Sebelius vote, under which eight hours of debate will start at 10 a.m. on April 28. Rather than a simple majority to approve the nomination, Sebelius' confirmation will require 60 votes (CQ Today, 4/23). According to Roll Call, Sebelius is expected to eventually be approved by the Senate (Roll Call, 4/23). In related news, Politico on Friday examined how HHS is the only Cabinet department without a secretary (Budoff Brown, Politico, 4/24). Now I'm not even close to a panic mode or even concern, but since the Swine Flu concern is being talked about as a HHS responsibility, I need to point out that Sebelius' handling of the West Nile deal a few years back was aweful - very opaque and nothing from Topeka. When Greensburg was hit by that tornado it took 2 days for Sebelius to make a statement. Recently Governor Sebelius has said nothing concerning Swine Flu in Kansas. Consider these 3 instances if she is going to head (or at least pass on the orders from committee) response to possible future health emergencies. That and her questionable bookkeeping, attempt at illegal budgetary procedures, power plant vetos, abortion, etc. I would rather risk her meddlings here in Kansas than see her in a federal position |
| Posted by:swksvolFF |