Sebelius Confirmation Vote Will Likely Be Delayed

NY Times: Fast Vote Is Unlikely on Health Dept. Pick, by Robert Pear:

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas appeared Thursday to be headed for confirmation as health and human services secretary, but several Republican senators objected to an immediate vote, so the Senate is unlikely to take up the nomination until later this month.

Ms. Sebelius sailed through a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday without encountering any difficult questions about her income taxes or her views on abortion.

The committee chairman, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, said he looked forward to swift approval of Ms. Sebelius. But Republicans later asked that the committee defer action, meaning that the full Senate would probably not vote before lawmakers leave town on Friday for a two-week spring break.

Wash. Post: Sebelius Appears Unhurt by Tax Error, by Ceci Connolly:

An $8,000 tax error does not appear to be jeopardizing the confirmation of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) as secretary of health and human services.

In a Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday, no mention was made of Sebelius's payment of back taxes, even though a similar problem scuttled the nomination of President Obama's first choice for the job, former senator Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.)...

The potentially contentious subject of abortion also did not arise, despite complaints from the religious right that Sebelius has an "egregious record" on the issue.

Committee Chairman  Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was hoping for a vote by the Senate before lawmakers leave this weekend for a two-week recess, but some Republicans suggested they may demand more time.