Abortion Questions Remain Unasked at Final Sebelius Hearing

Sebelius testified before the Finance Committee today and appeared before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on March 31.

WASHINGTON (Christian Newswire) - In response to today's final Senate confirmation hearing, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser expressed dismay over the lack of information revealed about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' record on abortion:

"Today's Senate Finance Committee Hearing was an important opportunity to enlighten public debate about Governor Kathleen Sebelius' egregious record on abortion in her home state of Kansas. Yet despite the deep bench of pro-life heroes serving on the Senate Finance Committee, not one Senator could manage to ask a single question publicly about Sebelius' blind eye toward women's health and regulating abortion clinics."

"The one Senator who had access to deep knowledge about happenings in his own home state said nothing. This is a matter of life and death. The tradition of senatorial courtesy would not have been violated with the asking of one question. Maintaining good relations is not the ultimate value in the abortion debate. Americans deserve to know why Kansas women were denied tougher safety standards in abortion clinics when Sebelius vetoed legislation to improve conditions. One Topeka abortion clinic even stored fetal remains next to food. And yet, Sebelius continued to block tougher safety standards."

"This is why Americans lose faith in their elected officials. They elect candidates who share and articulate well their 'deeply held' beliefs. Then when the candidate becomes an incumbent, he or she fails to effectively act upon those beliefs when given a chance to do so."

"Fortunately, pro-life Senators have one last chance. They can raise the issue of Governor Sebelius' blind eye toward women's health tonight when her nomination comes to the Senate floor for her final confirmation vote. I remind these Senators, millions of pro-life Americans are watching and waiting, and they strongly urge you to fulfill your duty to thorough public debate over the Sebelius nomination."

Over 16,000 Susan B. Anthony List activists have sent letters to their Senators, urging opposition to the Sebelius nomination. Sebelius testified before the Finance Committee today and appeared before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on March 31.

As governor, Sebelius vetoed the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act, legislation to implement restrictions on late-term abortion procedures. She has opposed or vetoed several abortion-accountability bills, including medically-supported clinic regulation legislation which she vetoed in both 2003 and 2005. She also vetoed legislation requiring explicit medical reasons for late-term abortions, legislation requiring abortion providers to report the diagnosis or the nature of the condition which necessitated a post-viability abortion, among other legislation.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 154,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.