Rep's end delay of Sebelius confirmation
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| Tue, 04-28-2009 - 10:27am |
The Service Employees International Union has launched an online petition criticizing Republicans for delaying the confirmation of a Health and Human Services secretary in the face of a swine flu outbreak.
The union accuses Senate Republicans of delaying the confirmation of nominee Kathleen Sebelius to “curry favor with extremist outside groups†and depriving the department of leadership as the nation confronts a potential flu pandemic.
“This is simply unacceptable,†the union says on its website. “This disease is spreading as we speak, but right now, a Bush-appointed accountant is running the department. We need an HHS secretary NOW. Sign the petition telling the Senate to vote immediately to confirm Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. If we don't act, the swine flu might just turn into another Hurricane Katrina.â€
More..... http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21748.html
Brownback’s support for Sebelius is softening
http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/1165955.html


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Sebelius confirmed as HHS secretary
Complete article at link.........
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/04/29/sebelius_confirmed_as_hhs_secretary/
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius won Senate confirmation yesterday as the nation's health and human services secretary, thrusting her into the middle of a public health emergency with the swine flu sickening dozens of Americans.
The 65-to-31 confirmation vote, completing President Obama's cabinet, came after Democrats urged quick action so that Sebelius could get to work leading the federal response to the flu outbreak. Sixty votes in the 100-seat Senate were necessary for approval. Immediately after the vote Sebelius resigned as governor in Kansas and headed to Washington to get sworn in last night.
"We find ourselves in the midst of a global crisis," said Senator Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat. "What we've been missing in all of this is the head of the Health and Human Services Department."
Though the swine flu will be an immediate focus, Sebelius will also help shepherd Obama's overhaul of the nation's $2.5 trillion healthcare system to reduce costs and cover more than 47 million uninsured Americans. Her role, however, will not be as extensive as Obama's first nominee for the job, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who was also supposed to be head of the White House office of healthcare reform before he withdrew over unpaid taxes.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, who is helping lead the charge for a healthcare overhaul, said Sebelius's confirmation would jump-start the work.
Sebelius, 60, was the first of 20 HHS officials requiring Senate approval.
My brother works for FDA where new divisions are waiting (on HHS secretary confirmation) to be formed in response to recent developments concerning food and drug safety. He says that there are also a number of political appointments which are hanging fire while the confirmation of an HHS secretary was being maneuvered for grandstanding purposes.
Why does it not surprise me that Sarah Palin fans would (once again) manage to focus on ideological differences and have NO clue about a bigger picture?! And then the GOP points fingers of accusation because Obama has failed to fill his cabinet expeditiously........
Seems to me that the Republican party has truly lost its way and has learned NOTHING from its past mistakes.
Jabberwocka
"GOP points fingers of accusation because Obama has failed to fill his cabinet expeditiously."
They make me want to spit nails. Palin disgusts me. Why her fans even dream of her becoming Pres. in 2012 floors me. She seriously hurt McCain in the election & helped Obama win IMO.
Obama tried to work across party line but no being "right" is too important.
Jabberwocka
The foot dragging on confirmation for Sebelius was going on longer than a day. Am curious too--how would you expect the SEIU to know that Team Sarah or Glenn Beckwould would fail to obstruct Sebelius' from starting her job? http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/04/28/palin-group-tries-to-derail-sebelius-hhs-confirmation/
The SEIU didn't know that her confirmation was nigh. By contrast, anybody who paid attention to times and dates of posts here would know what had been posted and when.
Jabberwocka
Democrats control the Senate. If they can't get their act together, blaming Republicans is silly in my opinion.
I would expect the SEIU to actually have a complaint before starting an ad campaign.
Before I post a current article
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