Divided Senate committee approves Sebelius at HHS

ERICA WERNER AP 04/21/2009 20:04

FILE - In this April 2, 2009 file photo, Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sebelius won a divided Senate's approval Tuesday, April 21, 2009, to be confirmed as secretary of health and human services in the Obama administration. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, FILE)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kathleen Sebelius won Senate committee approval as health secretary over Republican opposition Tuesday, putting her on track for a final Senate vote in coming days.

Her expected confirmation would complete President Barack Obama's Cabinet, which held its first formal meeting Monday without Sebelius there.

The Senate Finance Committee voted 15 to 8 in favor of sending the nomination of Kansas' two-term Democratic governor to the full Senate. Just two of 10 committee Republicans joined majority Democrats in voting "yes," signaling GOP concerns over Sebelius' ties to a Kansas abortion doctor, as well as some broader skepticism about Obama's health care plans.

Republican senators were under pressure from anti-abortion activists to oppose Sebelius.

But the partisan vote sparked an angry response and an apparent threat from one committee Democrat, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York.

"I was surprised by the fact that so few Republicans supported a moderate, qualified candidate like Gov. Sebelius," Schumer said. "It's an ominous signal of the level of cooperation we can expect from the Republicans on health care."

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