With Burwell Confirmation Hearing Approaching, Many GOP Senators Say They Are Impressed With The Nominee
The first confirmation hearing for Sylvia Mathews Burwell, President Barack Obama's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, will be next week.
Politico: Sylvia Mathews Burwell: The Obamacare War That Wasn’t
The proxy war over Obamacare that was expected to dominate the Senate in May is looking more and more like a dud. The chamber will begin consideration next week of Sylvia Mathews Burwell’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the agency tasked with implementing the health care law. Initially, Republicans seemed poised to use the confirmation process to spur further attacks on Obamacare. But instead, more than a half-dozen GOP senators said in interviews that they are impressed with Burwell’s credentials (Haberkorn and Everett, 4/29).
The Hill: House GOP Lawmakers Demand Hold On Burwell
Five House Republicans from Louisiana are demanding that their senators place a hold on President Obama's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) until the administration withdraws the individual mandate. The call for Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.) to act comes as Landrieu faces a tough reelection battle that has ObamaCare at the center of the debate. It is unlikely to bring any changes to the law, because Senate Democrats have the votes to confirm a new HHS head (Viebeck, 4/29).
