Senate Expected To Confirm Sebelius As HHS Secretary

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 29 Apr 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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The Senate on Tuesday is expected to confirm Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) as HHS secretary, CQ Today reports. According to CQ Today, all 56 Democrats, two independents and three Republicans -- Pat Roberts (Kan.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Olympia Snowe (Maine) -- also are expected to support Sebelius. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said he would vote against the confirmation because of Sebelius' veto of a Kansas bill (S.B. 218) that would have increased restrictions on abortion (Wayne, CQ Today, 4/27). Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) previously said he would support Sebelius but on Monday declined to say whether he would vote in favor of the confirmation. According to the Kansas City Star, Brownback, who is expected to run for Kansas governor in 2010, last week said Sebelius' veto of the antiabortion-rights bill made it "harder and harder" for him to support her nomination (Helling/Kraske, Kansas City Star, 4/27).

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