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'''Kathleen Sebelius''' (born 1948) won Senate confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary on April 29, 2009 by a vote of 65-31. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/28/sebelius-wins-senate-confirmation-health-secretary-nominee/ Sebelius Wins Senate Confirmation as Health Secretary Nominee], FoxNews.com, April 28, 2009</ref> Sebelius was a [[liberal]] governor of [[Kansas]], and the chairwoman of the Democratic Governors' Association. She defeated [[Republican]] challenger Jim Barnett in 2006 when [[Democrats]] did well in elections nationwide.  Her name came up occasionally as a possible running mate to a 2008 Democratic presidential nominee, but that position was ultimately taken by Joe Biden.

'''Kathleen Sebelius''' (born 1948) won Senate confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary on April 29, 2009 by a vote of 65-31, despite a systematic conservative attack.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/28/sebelius-wins-senate-confirmation-health-secretary-nominee/ Sebelius Wins Senate Confirmation as Health Secretary Nominee], FoxNews.com, April 28, 2009</ref> Her first challenge will be dealing with an emerging global swine flu epidemic.

Sebelius is one of the most pro-[[abortion]] politicians in the [[United States]],<ref>''See, e.g.'', [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/apr/29/abortion_veto_override/]</ref> and [[Kansas]] has long had an active [[abortion]] and [[partial birth abortion]] industry.  Sebelius has also opposed the right to bear arms in the form of concealed-carry laws.<ref>''See, e.g.'', [http://www.arkcity.net/stories/041407/com_0005.shtml]</ref> Also, more recently, she has vocally opposed the construction of a proposed [[coal]] plant in western Kansas that would provide many jobs in a portion of the state that has suffered from economic problems as of late.

Sebelius, a [[Democrat]], was the popular governor of [[Kansas]], a heavily Republican state. She was the chairwoman of the Democratic Governors' Association. She defeated [[Republican]] challenger Jim Barnett in 2006.  Her name came up occasionally as a possible running mate to a 2008 Democratic presidential nominee, but that position was given to [[Joe Biden]]. Previously  she served for eight years in the state legislature (1986-94), then for eight years was Kansas Insurance Commissioner (1994-2002) before being elected governor in 2002 (by 53% to 46%) and reelected in 2006 by 58% to 40%.

 

 

As governor she stressed efficiency and reducing waste and fat in the state budget, claiming $1 billion in savings.  Despite inheriting a billion-dollar deficit, she balanced the state budget in her first year in office without raising taxes or cutting funding for education. In following years she sharply increased school spending in compliance with court orders. ''Time'' magazine ranked her as one of the country's five best governors in 2005.<ref> See [http://www.time.com/time/press_releases/article/0,8599,1129509,00.html ''Time'' Nov. 13. 2005]</ref>

 

Sebelius, a Roman Catholic, is considered pro-business, pro-military and fiscally conservative. She says abortion is wrong but vetoed legislation to restrict abortion clinics.<ref>''See, e.g.'', [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/apr/29/abortion_veto_override/]</ref> and [[Kansas]] has long had an active [[abortion]] and [[partial birth abortion]] industry.  Sebelius has also opposed the right to bear arms in the form of concealed-carry laws.<ref>''See, e.g.'', [http://www.arkcity.net/stories/041407/com_0005.shtml]</ref> She supported president Bush on Iraq and visited Kansas troops there and in Afghanistan to show her support. Also, more recently, she has vocally opposed the construction of a proposed coal plant in western Kansas that would provide many jobs in a portion of the state that has suffered from economic problems as of late.

== References ==

== References ==

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[[Category:Democrat Governors]]

[[Category:Democrat Governors]]

[[Category:Kansas Governors]]

[[Category:Kansas Governors]]