Kathleen Sebelius Confirmed to Lead Health and Human Services
Feminist Daily News Wire
April 29, 2009
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is the final member of President Obama’s Cabinet to be confirmed in a close Senate roll call vote yesterday. The vote was largely along party lines, with Senators Kit Bond (R-MO), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Richard Lugar (R-NH), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Arlen Specter (R-PA) breaking away from the Republican party in support of Sebelius’ confirmation. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) announced yesterday that he is switching to the Democratic party, according to the New York Times.
Last week, Sebelius’ nomination was approved by the Senate Finance Committee in a split 15 to 8 vote. Only two of the ten Republicans on the committee, Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Pat Roberts (R-KS), voted in favor of her nomination.