Sebelius lowers volume on abortion

When Kathleen Sebelius faces the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee this morning, perhaps the biggest hurdle to her confirmation as secretary of health and human services -- the abortion issue -- will very likely be muted, if not almost completely silenced.

It's amazing what a couple of fortuitously timed events can do.

Anti-abortion activists have targeted Sebelius since President Obama nominated her early this month, after his first choice, former Senator Tom Daschle, withdrew over tax problems.

Sebelius, the moderate Democratic governor of Kansas, had drawn the ire of abortion foes for refusing to go along with further restrictions passed by state lawmakers though she is a Catholic who personally opposes abortion. They also pointed to the appearance in the governor's mansion of a well-known Wichita abortion provider.

But on Friday, a jury in Wichita acquitted Dr. George Tiller of charges that he performed 19 illegal late-term abortions in 2003.

And also on Friday, Sebelius signed a bill requiring that women be allowed to see ultrasound images of their fetus or hear the fetus's heartbeat before going through with abortions. Abortion foes had pushed the legislation over the objections of Planned Parenthood, which had hoped Sebelius would veto the bill.

UPDATE: In her prepared testimony, Sebelius vowed to make healthcare reform her "mission.

"Inaction is not an option. The status quo is unacceptable, and unsustainable," she said in her testimony.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer but has made healthcare his mission, is expected to preside over the hearing as committee chairman.