I’m getting texts from Kay Steiger, who’s at Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’s
HELP Committee hearing.  Kay says there hasn’t been any mention of
reproductive health so far; all the testimony and questing has focused
on health care reform.  Sen. John McCain has asked Sebelius whether she
would support a tax credit of around $5000 instead of employer-based
insurance (I’m assuming Sebelius said no, but am checking with Kay to confirm!).  Sebelius also has now said that she supports a public
option in health care reform.

11:39am: Sen. Chris Dodd has asked about low-weight premature births.  In response, Sebelius called for increased prenantal care for "at-risk mothers."

12noon: Sen. Bob Dole testified in favor of Sebelius; he’s now leaving.  He shook hands with Dodd and Kennedy before leaving.

12:26pm: Sen. Bernie Sanders brought up his single-payer plan bill, saying "I suspect I’m in the minority."  (I don’t know how Sebelius reacted to that).  Then reproductive health issues came up: Sen. Tom Coburn wanted reassurance that RU-486, medication abortion, fell under the Hyde Amendment and Medicaid would continue not to cover it. 

Sebelius later said that she supports conscience clauses — that the Bush version of the HHS regulation was "overly broad and overly vague" but she supports the underlying principle.