Sebelius Confirmation Hearings Begin

NY Times: Sebelius Confirmation Hearings Start, by Kate Phillips:

It was a Kansas-fest this morning as the first of two hearings began on the confirmation of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to become the administration’s secretary of health and human services.

This morning, the Democratic governor of Kansas faced a largely friendly audience from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Its chairman, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, first welcomed her and mentioned his own condition.

...Today’s hearing, while Ms. Sebelius’ debut as the president’s nominee, is expected to be friendlier than Thursday’s before the Senate Finance Committee because it’s the panel which actually votes on her suitability as a Cabinet member. Mr. Enzi, however, alluded to one line of questioning she’s expected to face because of her views on abortion. Anti-abortion advocates have mounted a campaign against her nomination.

Ms. Sebelius is the last of the nominees to the Cabinet awaiting confirmation.