Sebelius confirmation stalls over GOP objections

[deminks]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sebelius-confirmation-stalls-over-gop-objections-2009-04-02.html

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) attempt to fast-track the confirmation of Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Kathleen Sebelius has stalled over Republican objections.

Sebelius, the Democratic governor of Kansas, appeared before the committee Thursday during an uneventful confirmation hearing at which Republicans did not press her about her disclosure this week that she paid more than $7,000 in back taxes while being vetted by the Obama administration or about her record in favor of abortion rights, a major issue with conservative groups that have actively opposed her nomination.

However, Republicans object to staging a vote the same day as her confirmation hearing, according to a GOP aide. Finance Committee Republicans want to see answers to written questions they submitted to Sebelius in conjunction with the hearing before moving on with a confirmation vote, the aide said.

When he left the hearing, Baucus reportedly told reporters that he wanted to confirm Sebelius on Thursday. Baucus later said a Republican senator threatened to object to a unanimous consent request to put her up for a vote, Congressional Quarterly reported.

edited to add link.


http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=2&docID=news-000003091900&mp=Most_Viewed

Senate confirmation of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services probably won’t take place until after the coming two-week recess because at least one senator has objected to an expedited procedure to move the nomination.

“I’m afraid there’s a senator who will not grant consent so that means it has to be delayed until after the recess,” Finance Chairman Max Baucus , D-Mont., said Thursday.

Baucus would not name the senator other than to say he or she is a Republican.

Earlier, at Sebelius’ confirmation hearing with his committee, Baucus had predicted the Senate would confirm the nominee Thursday.

(end snips)



Just so you know who the obstructionists are, as if there were any doubt.

:grr:

[DURHAM D]

1. Senator Inhofe strikes again. n/t

[eleny]

2. anything to discredit health care improvements from the giddyap

[stillcool]

3. they never stop...

any obstruction they can do they will.

[MiniMe]

4. What repukes are on the committee?

That would be helpful to know

[soccermomforobama]

5. Repubs on committee

REPUBLICANS
CHUCK GRASSLEY, IA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
JON KYL, AZ
JIM BUNNING, KY
MIKE CRAPO, ID
PAT ROBERTS, KS
JOHN ENSIGN, NV
MIKE ENZI, WY
JOHN CORNYN, TX

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm

My bet is on Cornyn. He is the one who originally held up Hillary's vote.