06 Apr 2009 03:00 AM
Senate Unlikely To Vote On Gov. Sebelius' Nomination As HHS Secretary Until Later This Month
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), President Obama's choice for HHS secretary, "sailed through" a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Thursday, but the Senate likely will not take up the nomination until later this month because of objections for an immediate vote by several Republican members, the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 4/3). According to the Washington Times, committee members "peppered" Sebelius "with nuts-and-bolts queries about how she would oversee" HHS and her views on health reform proposals (Lengell, Washington Times, 4/3). In response to a question from committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on whether she supported expanding coverage to all U.S. residents, Sebelius said that she and Obama both believed everyone should be insured. Sebelius avoided a secondary question from Baucus on legally requiring all people to get insurance, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. Sebelius said, "There may be variations about how best to reach the goal most effectively, most cost-effectively, most efficiently, with the best health outcomes of insuring every American," adding, "I think [Obama is] open to all of those proposals" (Alonso-Zaldivar/Werner, AP/Houston Chronicle, 4/2).
Sebelius also said that she supports a public insurance option that is "constructed effectively and wisely" and includes "actuarial support." The issue of whether health reform legislation would include a public option already has "emerged as [a] key stumbling block" in negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, according to the Wall Street Journal. Congressional Democrats typically favor a public option, while Republicans "readily dismiss the concept." According to the Journal, it is not clear whether a bipartisan compromise could be reached on the issue. Sebelius responded to questions about a public coverage option by noting that a Kansas state employee health plan that is run by the government and the California Medicaid public plan both help to create competition in a market where little exists (Yoest, Wall Street Journal, 4/2)…
Sebelius also said that she supports a public insurance option that is "constructed effectively and wisely" and includes "actuarial support." The issue of whether health reform legislation would include a public option already has "emerged as [a] key stumbling block" in negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, according to the Wall Street Journal. Congressional Democrats typically favor a public option, while Republicans "readily dismiss the concept." According to the Journal, it is not clear whether a bipartisan compromise could be reached on the issue. Sebelius responded to questions about a public coverage option by noting that a Kansas state employee health plan that is run by the government and the California Medicaid public plan both help to create competition in a market where little exists (Yoest, Wall Street Journal, 4/2)…
