Antiabortion Advocates To Lobby Against Confirmation Of HHS Sec. Nominee Sebelius During Recess

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Public Health;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 07 Apr 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Abortion-rights opponents intend to use the two-week congressional recess that began on Friday to lobby against the confirmation of HHS secretary nominee Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) because of her support for abortion rights, CQ HealthBeat reports. Although the Senate initially appeared on track to confirm Sebelius last week, Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-Ky.) objection to a measure that would have brought the nomination to a vote in the Senate Finance Committee means that a decision will not take place until after the Senate returns on April 20. Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, said antiabortion-rights advocates were "shocked" by the delay in Sebelius' confirmation hearing. "Now we have an opportunity," she added. According to Brown, ALL intends to work with other antiabortion-rights groups during the recess to urge Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, both Kansas Republicans, to use "senatorial courtesy" to object to Sebelius' nomination. Although Brownback and Roberts typically support antiabortion-rights groups, they issued a statement praising the selection after President Obama nominated Sebelius last month. Brown said she believes the Obama administration will pull the nomination if the two senators from the governor's home state object to her nomination. ALL leaders are urging members to call the senators, and the group plans to meet with a member of Brownback's staff next week, she said (Norman, CQ HealthBeat, 4/3).

According to The Hill, many antiabortion-rights groups expressed disappointment that Republican lawmakers did not raise the issue of abortion rights or the governor's recent correction of tax errors during Sebelius' hearing last week before the Finance Committee. Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, said the GOP senators' "baffling" silence on such issues demonstrates that they have a "tin ear" to the concerns of antiabortion-rights groups. She added, "We've not gotten a good answer about why they're being negligent." Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, called the lack of questioning "appalling," adding, "What I hate more than anything is pretending an issue doesn't exist." Dannenfelser said her group plans to lobby senators during the recess to oppose Sebelius' nomination, adding that she believes "some senators will break the silence and begin to speak out" when they hear from constituents who oppose abortion (Young, The Hill, 4/5).

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