Senate Holds Hearing on Pro-Abortion Health Secretary Pick Kathleen Sebelius

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 31, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Senate Holds Hearing on Pro-Abortion Health Secretary Pick Kathleen Sebelius

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 31
, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The first of two Senate committees that will hold hearings on the nomination of pro-abortion Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius met today. The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on the abortion advocate President Barack Obama picked to become the next Health Secretary.

During the meeting, Sebelius said the nation needs to focus on the health care crisis.

"We face a health system that burdens families, businesses and government budgets with skyrocketing costs," she said. "Action is not a choice. It is a necessity."

However, the kind of action the Obama administration takes with Sebelius’ help, is what worries pro-life advocates.

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.

That concern was exacerbated in recent weeks when the White House declined to invite any pro-life groups to a health care summit it held, but allowed Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, to attend.

Afterwards, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards said in an interview that she favored including abortion in a national health care plan.

Sebelius also concerned pro-life advocates because she refused to rule out using a special procedural process to railroad a pro-abortion health care bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he may rely on the right to use the procedure known as reconciliation to pass the health care bill. That would allow abortion advocates to pass the bill with a majority vote and prohibit pro-life advocates from using a filibuster to stop it.

“I am afraid that if that reconciliation winds up in the budget bill it will be like a declaration of war,” pro-life Sen Mike Enzi warned her. “I hope that wedge doesn’t get thrown in there because it is a major concern on one side of the aisle.”

During the hearing, the committee chairman, pro-abortion Sen. Ted Kennedy, said he supported Sebelius’ nomination and former Senate Republican leader Bob Dole urged a bipartisan vote for her. But pro-life advocates want lawmakers to vote no on her nomination.

A coalition of pro-life groups sent a letter to senators yesterday saying Sebelius’ record is too strongly pro-abortion for her to receive their support.

"Reviewing the record of Gov. Sebelius when she served in the Kansas Legislature, Representative Sebelius voted to weaken or eliminate even such modest measures as unborn victims, parental notification, waiting periods and informed consent," the letter said.

"During her time as Governor, Kathleen Sebelius has cut state funding for abortion alternatives, vetoed a bill imposing minimal sanitary standards on abortion clinics, and vetoed a bill that would have strengthened late term abortion law," the letter continues.

It adds that her relationship with late-term abortion practitioner is so close that she has saved him from being held accountable for botched abortions and potentially breaking state abortion laws.

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.

Sebelius must also appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, and that is the panel that will vote on her nomination before it heads to the full Senate for consideration.

President Barack Obama picked the Kansas governor after his original choice for the health post, former Sen. Tom Daschle, withdrew because of tax problems.

A potential post in the Obama administration would help pro-life efforts in Kansas if only by removing Sebelius from office. It may also mean she will not run for Senate in 2010, where she was seen as a leading contender for the seat of pro-life Sen. Sam Brownback, who is expected to run for governor.

ACTION: Contact your members of the Senate and express your opposition to Sebelius’ nomination. You can find contact information for any senator at https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com

Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report
Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.