Obama HHS Nominee Clears Senate Committee

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has voted 15-8 in support of President Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The Associated Press reported April 21 that Sebelius’ nomination was forwarded to the full Senate for consideration despite Republican committee members’ concerns about political donations she received from a Wichita doctor who performs abortions.

Sebelius initially told the committee she had received $12,450 in donations from Dr. George Tiller between 1994 and 2001, but later amended her response when the Associated Press found that Tiller also had given another $23,000 to a Sebelius-founded political action committee between 2000 and 2002. Sebelius apologized and called the omission an oversight, and the White House backed her up. However, the flap seemed to lose her some support on the committee.

Sebelius “seemed to be a qualified candidate for the job,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). “However, after learning about her inexplicable omission of donations from the late-term abortion doctor George Tiller, I have to reevaluate my support for her nomination. I regard human life to be sacred, and it troubles me to have someone with an apparent cavalier attitude toward life — as well as a lack of candor on this important issue — head our nation’s health services.”