Senate set to confirm health secretary (Sebelius)

[kpete]

Source: Associated Press

Senate set to confirm health secretary

By ERICA WERNER – 6 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the swine flu spreading, the Senate is on the verge of confirming President Barack Obama's nominee for secretary of health and human services.

Debate is set to begin Tuesday morning, with a vote anticipated in the afternoon.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is expected to get the 60 votes needed in the Democratic-led Senate, though the vote could be close. Anti-abortion groups have been lobbying Republican senators to vote against her.

If she's confirmed, Sebelius would have an immediate challenge because of the swine flu outbreak in the U.S.

She also would be working without much of a team. The Senate hasn't acted on the nominees for deputy HHS secretary or commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmXvHtTa4r2FmgxCWA68PF3_y57QD97RAPB81

[DrDan]

1. they wouldn't dare not confirm

[robinlynne]

7. You put too much faith in them.

[DrDan]

8. the downside right now is just too much

she will sail through confirmation

[robinlynne]

9. I was replying to "they wouldn't dare". I think they would dare to do anything.....

but I do think you're probably right about her confirmation.

[DrDan]

10. they will confirm her - then lay claim to one-sided bipartisanship - then

make her the scapegoat for the flu outbreak.

Not much upside in fighting her nomination.

[endarkenment]

2. Oh look the Loon Party blinked! nt.

[The River]

3. News Reports

about the 900m they stripped out of the stimulus bill for pandemic
preparedness and the current possibility of exactly that
is beginning to take its toll. Republicans are going to have to
learn cooperate for the common good.
That or learn to like the taste of sh*t tacos.

[Botany]

4. I guess being on the wrong side of every issue tends to be a problem.

Also public shame also has a way of making people "get off the pot."

[tomm2thumbs]

5. I hope they fight it - we need more Katrina-type videos showing the GOP failing during emergencies

These idiots sure have a way with making themselves look bad, again and again. I'm sure they are wondering why folks are leaving the GOP and registering in other parties in more numbers every day.

[Patiod]

6. Glen Beck is going to be having a seizure

He implied yesterday that the entire swine flu thing was cooked up to get Sebelius confirmed.

[Dappleganger]

11. Did he cry again?

That's always effective for more fear-mongering.

[Tempest]

12. SarahPac gave out marching orders to call Senators to reject her

They got 40 people to call Senators.

HuffingtonPost picked it up and asked its readers to call the Senators supporting her.

Senators had more than double the number of calls from HuffingtonPost than from SarahPac.

[depakid]

13. This whole deal just illustrates what a dysfunctional system America operates under

and why outside of the Philippines and Liberia- no one else uses this governmental model.

[Vidar]

18. Very ggod point. Our government is designed for obstruction.

[ThirdWorldJohn]

14. Will Specter change now or just run as a D and change after elcted? N/T

[Cha]

16. Hello! This thread is about

Kathleen Sebelius getting appointed as HHS.

[bdamomma]

15. they need to appoint this woman into her position.

stupid repigs.

[bemildred]

17. U.S. Senate approves health chief amid flu fears

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as health secretary, filling a crucial spot in President Barack Obama's cabinet amid growing fears of a possible swine flu pandemic.

The Senate voted 65-31 for Sebelius, brushing back Republican opposition to her support for abortion rights. Sebelius was tapped by Obama to lead his push to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system.

But Sebelius will take office as U.S. health officials rush to prepare for a possible widespread outbreak of a new strain of flu that has killed scores of people in Mexico and sickened at least 64 in the United States.

The confirmation of Sebelius allows Obama to fill the last open seat in his cabinet. Democrats said the swine flu outbreak made it all the more important to end the delay in filling that pivotal position.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53R7IH20090428