Sebelius confirmation stalls over GOP objections

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) attempt to fast-track the confirmation of Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Kathleen Sebelius has stalled over Republican objections. Sebelius, the Democratic governor of Kansas, appeared before the committee Thursday during an uneventful confirmation hearing at which Republicans did not press her about her disclosure this week that she paid more than $7,000 in back taxes while being vetted by the Obama administration or about her record in favor of abortion rights, a major issue with conservative groups that have actively opposed her nomination. However, Republicans object to staging a vote the same day as her confirmation hearing, according to a GOP aide. Finance Committee Republicans want to see answers to written questions they submitted to Sebelius in conjunction with the hearing before moving on with a confirmation vote, the aide said.