Sebelius Confirmed!

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed yesterday as health and human services secretary.  After many attempts from anti-choice Senators to block her nomination failed, the Senate finally confirmed her in a vote of 65-31 after the Democrats urged a quick vote in order to put Sebelius to work on the swine flu crisis. 

Republicans have been delaying the vote because of concerns over Gov. Sebelius's pro-choice record as Governor of Kansas for the past six years. Prior to her vote a group of conservative leaders sent a letter to Senators calling Sebelius a politician with a "serious lapse of conscience and integrity" and urging them to oppose her nomination.  Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America and Focus on the Family called on Senators who "claim to uphold the sanctity of life and the responsibility of the office of HHS" to vote against her, calling her an "abortion radical". 

While the conservative movement pulled out all the stops to block Sebelius's nomination, she was confirmed with the support of every Democrat on the floor, both independents, and six Republicans.