Sebelius Vote Postponed

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), President Obama’s nominee to
head HHS, sailed through a Thursday confirmation hearing before the
Senate Finance Committee. According to press reports, during the
hearing Sebelius addressed the prickly issue of universal health
coverage by saying, “There may be variations about how best to
reach the goal most effectively, most cost effectively, most
efficiently, with the best health outcomes of insuring every
American. I know the president is totally committed to that
proposal, that every American should have health insurance.”

Despite a revelation earlier in the week that Sebelius and her
husband had filed amended tax returns to repay more than $7,000
— the latest in a string of Obama nominees with tax problems
— the issue did not come up at the hearing. Some Republican
senators objected to voting on Sebelius’ confirmation the same day
as her hearing, however, so the vote will be held after Congress
returns from its current two-week recess.