Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has scheduled a procedural vote for Wednesday on the nomination of Sylvia Burwell for secretary of Health and Human Services.
The nomination is expected to easily clear the test vote, likely clearing the way for Burwell to be confirmed as a member of President Obama’s Cabinet by the end of the week.
{mosads}Burwell, who is now serving as director of the Office of Management and Budget, faced little resistance during two Senate committee hearings, as she was showered with praise from both sides of the aisle. The Senate Finance Committee advanced her nomination in a 21-3 vote, with only Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and John Thune (R-S.D.) voting against her.
While Democrats and some Republicans have touted Burwell’s management credentials in private and public life, a few Republicans have objected to her nomination as a protest against ObamaCare, which she will be responsible for managing once she takes the place of Kathleen Sebelius.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) has vowed to vote against Burwell’s nomination unless the Obama administration delays ObamaCare’s mandate that individuals have health insurance or pay a penalty.
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) have written to Burwell to grill her further on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and are likely to vote against her nomination as well.
Ramsey Cox contributed to this story.