< Back to Front Page Text size – +

Sebelius moves closer to health post

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor April 21, 2009 11:02 AM

President Obama's cabinet is nearly complete after the Senate Finance Committee voted this morning to send to the full Senate the nomination of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as health and human services secretary.

The vote was 15-8, a division caused in part by displeasure among some GOP senators about Sebelius' inaccurate response to the committee about how much campaign cash she received from George Tiller, a Wichita abortion doctor who is under investigation by Kansas' medical board over late-term procedures he performed.

According to the Associated Press, Sebelius told the committee that Tiller, who was acquitted of criminal charges involving the late-term abortions, had given her $12,450 between 1994 and 2001. But the AP found that Tiller and his abortion clinic donated an additional $23,000 between 2000 and 2002 to a political action committee Sebelius established to raise money for fellow Democrats. Sebelius apologized and called it an oversight.

Only two of 10 Republicans on the committee supported Sebelius. They were Pat Roberts from her home state of Kansas, and Olympia Snowe of Maine.

Obama's initial pick for the post, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, withdrew after tax discrepancies arose that forced him to pay more than $100,000 in back taxes and penalties. Sebelius had her own tax problems, acknowledging mistakes in three years of tax returns and paying more than $7,000 in back taxes to fix improper deductions.

The president wanted Daschle to lead a healthcare overhaul by also leading a new White House office of healthcare reform, but after his nomination foundered, Obama split the two jobs. Still, Sebelius will play a key role in remaking the health system

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
» Back to Front Page
.

I am an Independent Health & Life Insurance Agent. Our Health Insurance system has been "broken" for decades. The vast majority---Vast Majority---of Americans, regardless of educational or financial level achieved, has NO idea how catastrophic the problem is for our country Financially, Economically and Morally. Doesn't that just about cover All the crucial bases? Get a grip America and get this woman in the post. Leave Religion OUT of it. Get the Big Picture, and move with intelligence and haste---we are decades late and paying the price ---literally---already.
T. Cahill

Posted by T. Cahill April 21, 09 12:01 PM
.

Great now perhaps the federal government will allow another pinhead to kill fetus on a national level Kansas was not good enough.

Posted by W.R. April 21, 09 01:34 PM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.
see all Globe blogs

News from the Washington Bureau

Hurdles remain after Senate approves health care bill

WASHINGTON - Convening before sunrise for a historic Christmas Eve session, the Senate approved sweeping health care legislation yesterday in a party-line vote, moving Congress toward the brink of enacting a broad expansion of health coverage. (Globe Staff, 12/25/09)

GOP fights to the end on health

WASHINGTON - As jubilant Democrats yesterday cleared the final 60-vote hurdle to passing a sweeping health care bill and prepared for a final vote at 7 this morning, Republicans fired off a last-ditch round of attacks, calling the bill an unconstitutional budget-buster laden with special deals and unscrutinized details. (Globe Staff, 12/24/09)

Health fight shifts to insurer shopping

The public option is gone. Expansion of Medicare is dead. But an intense fight continues over a crucial issue in the proposed health care overhaul: how far Congress should go in emulating the type of insurance marketplace that is at the center of the pioneering Massachusetts insurance program. (Globe Staff, 12/22/09)

Mass. push saves costly engine plan

Massachusetts lawmakers, over the fierce objections of the White House, have succeeded in reviving a costly plan to build a jet fighter engine at General Electric’s Lynn plant in an effort to protect thousands of Bay State jobs. (Globe Staff, 12/22/09)

Unseasonal atmosphere on Capitol Hill, as health care maneuvers put Christmas on hold

WASHINGTON - Snowbound Senate aides have been crashing in Capitol Hill hotels, paying the bill out of their own pockets. Senators are rolling up to the Capitol steps past midnight and before dawn to vote. (Globe Staff, 12/21/09)

Despite deal on health, Republicans vow a fight to the finish

WASHINGTON - Elated Senate Democrats won the first critical procedural vote required to advance major health care legislation just after 1 a.m. this morning, one of four votes required this week to pass the proposal by their self-imposed Christmas deadline. (Globe Staff, 12/21/09)

GOP critics in Senate shaping financial overhaul bill

WASHINGTON - Senate Banking Committee chairman Christopher Dodd, who one month ago proposed an overhaul of financial regulations that was hailed by many consumer activists, has all but jettisoned that proposal following Republican objections and has initiated talks for a new approach designed to satisfy some of his fiercest GOP critics. (Globe Staff, 12/21/09)

Democrats grab final vote for health bill

Senate Democrats clinched the final 60th vote required to push a major health care bill through the Senate by Christmas, announcing a compromise yesterday with Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska that includes restrictions on abortion coverage and millions in additional Medicaid funding for his state. (Globe Staff, 12/19/09)

Democrats push to close gap on health care plan

Senate Democratic leaders appeared on the verge of an agreement late last night that would secure the critical 60th vote for their sweeping health care bill and seemed poised to try to push through the package before their self-imposed deadline of Christmas. (Globe Staff, 12/19/09)

Rail stimulus funds to bypass Northeast

The railroad tracks from Boston to Washington - the busiest rail artery in the nation, and one that also carries America’s only high-speed train, the Acela - have been virtually shut out of $8 billion worth of federal stimulus money set aside for high-speed rail projects because of a strict environmental review required by the Obama administration. (Globe Correspondent, 12/16/09)
archives