Sebelius Confirmation Hits Speedbump

WASHINGTON–Senate Democrats were working toward a fast vote on
confirmation of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services
secretary–the only remaining Cabinet seat left to be filled–but
those efforts were put on hold this morning by Republicans in the
chamber.

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee voted 15-8 in favor of
moving the Kansas governor’s nomination forward. A vote by
the full Senate, which must confirm the nomination, was expected to
follow shortly.

But when Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., pushed for a vote
today, Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said
Republicans needed more time to consider the nomination.

In the Finance Committee vote, eight of 10 GOP members opposed
Sebelius’ as the HHS chief, but Republican Sens. Pat Roberts
of Kansas and Olympia Snowe of Maine voted in favor of her
confirmation.

After the committee vote, some GOP lawmakers said they were
concerned by Sebelius’ ties to a Kansas abortion
provider.

The Senate vote will now likely be pushed to next week, according
to press reports, although Democrats say they are confident they
have the 60 votes needed for confirmation.

Sebelius has said that, if confirmed, she will review
Medicare’s controversial DMEPOS competitive bidding program
before it is implemented.