HHS Secretary-Nominee Sebelius’ Confirmation Vote Could Be Conducted Before April Recess, Grassley Says
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), President Obama's HHS Secretary-nominee, could receive confirmation approval from the Senate Finance Committee next week, committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said Wednesday, CQ HealthBeat reports (Adams, CQ HealthBeat, 3/25). Sebelius is scheduled to undergo a "courtesy hearing" before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday (AP/Kansas City Star, 3/26). The Finance Committee, which ultimately votes on her nomination, will hear Sebelius testify on Thursday, Roll Call reports (Brady, Roll Call, 3/26).
Grassley said that Sebelius was expected to provide responses to several outstanding questions from committee members on Wednesday, which then would facilitate the committee's vote. Grassley said the questions are "not serious things." Democratic and Republican Senate aides late Wednesday confirmed that Sebelius had furnished the committee with her responses and they are being processed as quickly as possible, according to CQ HealthBeat. Grassley said, "We think that when we get answers to these questions, that'll close it up," adding, "It's possible she could be done before we go home for the next recess, and then you're assuming that she is not going to be held up on the floor of the Senate. But if everything goes forward ... we can move on it before we go home" for April recess (Adams, CQ HealthBeat, 3/25). Roll Call reports that "Sebelius' confirmation is expected to move smoothly through the Senate" (Roll Call, 3/26).
