Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A Senate panel today approved the nomination of pro-abortion Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to become President Barack Obama's health secretary. The Senate Finance Committee voted 15-8 for her nomination and now it heads to the full Senate for a debate and vote.

There is no timetable on when the Senate will vote to confirm Sebelius, but political observers expect the Democratic-controlled chamber to approve her.

The vote could take place as early as later today or later this week.

Republicans on the committee who voted against Sebelius cited their concerns about her lengthy pro-abortion record. That includes vetoing several pro-life bills and a close relationship with late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support her political campaigns and those of her close allies.

"I don't think we'll ever get a pro-life person appointed to that position with this president, but we want to make sure we don't get somebody that has got radical views on abortion," Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, another GOP member, added that he initially thought Sebelius "seemed to be a qualified candidate for the job."

"However, after learning about her inexplicable omission of donations from the late-term abortion doctor George Tiller, I have to reevaluate my support for her nomination," Hatch said. "I regard human life to be sacred, and it troubles me to have someone with an apparent cavalier attitude toward life — as well as a lack of candor on this important issue — head our nation's health services."

All of the Democrats on the panel backed Sebelius' nomination along with two Republicans, pro-abortion Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, who normally votes pro-life but supported the Obama nominee from home state.

As the health secretary, Sebelius could have an impact in crafting a health care plan that could cover abortions with taxpayer funds or require insurance companies to cover abortions in their plans.

Sebelius could also, if confirmed by the Senate, issue new regulations overturning the protections President Bush put in place that protect pro-life doctors and medical centers.

Tiller has escaped prosecution and accountability thus far for allegedly repeatedly violating state abortion laws and botching several abortions, including one that killed a mentally disabled teenager.

He's done so in part because of the lax standards of Sebelius and her political allies, to whom Tiller has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Governor Sebelius vetoed a bill last April that the legislature approved that would have strengthened the state's limits on late-term abortions.

That followed by a year her veto of a bill requiring explicit medical reasons for a late abortion, which was preceded by vetoing other pro-life legislation in 2006, 2005 and 2003.

Sebelius went as far as to coordinate a secret event with Tiller at the governor's mansion that was criticized because her staff failed to officially report the event.

Her position favoring abortion is so radical and extreme that Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City called on her to stop receiving communion until she disowns her support for the "serious moral evil" of abortion.

Leading pro-life groups have unanimously blasted the potential of Sebelius serving as Health Secretary because of her longstanding pro-abortion record.

ACTION: Contact your two U.S. senators and urge strong opposition to the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius to become President Barack Obama's health secretary. Find contact information at http://www.Senate.gov

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