Rep's end delay of Sebelius confirmation

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Registered: 03-18-2000
Rep's end delay of Sebelius confirmation
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Tue, 04-28-2009 - 10:27am
SEIU swipes at GOP on swine flu

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.”


More..... http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21748.html




>"Supporters of Sarah Palin are aiming to derail Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius by pressuring Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) to vote against his home state governor. The call to action came from Team Sarah (a social networking group for Palin fans) Tuesday, in spite of a burgeoning swine flu crisis. Last week, Team Sarah called on members to "flood the phone lines of the Senate Finance Committee," demanding votes against Sebelius. That campaign failed -- the committee approved of Sebelius in a 15 to 8 vote."< More....



Brownback’s support for Sebelius is softening


http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/1165955.html

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Fri, 05-01-2009 - 11:39am

I tried to explain before that you are looking at actions which have already played out, as though the actors knew outcomes at the time of the SEIU ad campaign. THEY DID NOT. Let me repeat that again in another slightly different way. At the time of the SEIU campaign, they did not know how votes would be cast, particularly given the Team Sarah and Glenn Beck shenanigans.

Democrats, even with the defection of Arlen Specter to their ranks, do NOT have the 60 votes needed to head off filibuster in the Senate. That's why the votes of at least one or two Republicans were necessary, even IF all Democrats voted for Sebelius' confirmation (which may, or may not, have been the case). See: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/23/gop_stymies_vote_on_sebelius.html for explanation of the way the confirmation/filibuster issue was proceeding.

Perhaps the link will also help you understand why the SEIU launched its campaign.

edited to move a misplaced comma.




Edited 5/1/2009 6:19 pm ET by jabberwocka

Jabberwocka

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