Ten conservative leaders have called on the Senate to oppose the nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for Health and Human Services Secretary, calling her "unfit" for the role because of her "extreme" pro-abortion record and her lack of integrity during the nomination process.
Sebelius, a strong healthcare reform and healthcare IT advocate, was confirmed by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. The committee vote was 15-8. Confirmation by the full Senate was expected to follow later this week.
Whether the 11th hour campaign mounted by the anti-abortion groups will have an effect on the outcome is unknown.
There are 56 Democrats in the Senate. Fifty-one votes are needed for confirmation.
The Senate did not question Sebelius about her position on abortion during the nomination process.
The letter was signed by
- James Dobson, Focus on the Family
- Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council
- Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America
- Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform
- Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center
- Alfred Regnery, publisher of American Spectator
- Don Wildmon, president of the American Family Association
- Majorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List
- Richard Viguerie
- David McIntosh, former U.S. Representative, Indiana
It calls on members of both parties to oppose the nomination.
"Americans want and deserve better than a healthcare system run by a politician with serious lapses of conscience and integrity. We call on all senators who claim to uphold the sanctity of life and the responsibility of the office of HHS to oppose her confirmation," the letter states.
"If confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Governor Sebelius would be in charge of one of the largest government cabinet departments, with one of the largest budgets, and which affects virtually every American citizen," it continues. "Given her propensity for abortion radicalism, her failure to pay her own taxes and her demonstrated lack of integrity, she will be a divisive force in this important office."
Healthcare IT industry insiders have been waiting for the confirmation, as Sebelius is expected to be pivotal in many decisions connected to the healthcare IT portion of the stimulus package. They are also waiting for her to define what is "meaningful use" of healthcare information technology as it relates to Medicare and Medicaid allotments.
As part of Obama's cabinet, Sebelius would help push the president's healthcare reform plans, which include building on existing employer-based healthcare to create universal coverage. His plan also leans heavily on healthcare IT to save lives and reduce costs.
Will this last-minute effort to oppose Sebelius' confirmation have any serious effects? Should Senate approve or attempt to block Sebelius as the Obama administration's HHS Secretary? Add your comment below.
