Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-Kan.) recent support for HHS Secretary-designate Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) is provoking criticism from antiabortion-rights advocates, who typically have been "enthusiastic backers" of Brownback, the AP/Wichita Eagle reports. Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, said it "makes absolutely no sense" that Brownback, an opponent of abortion rights, would endorse Sebelius, who supports abortion rights. Ruse said the senator "could have remained silent" instead. Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, said, "There is profound disappointment within the pro-life community on [Brownback's] position. Politicians stick their fingers up in the air to see which way the wind is blowing, and it's up to the grassroots to make the wind blow."

Brian Hart, a spokesperson for Brownback, said that the senator's office has received "quite a few" phone calls and that there have been angry Internet postings in recent days regarding Brownback's support for Sebelius. Hart said the senator understands the criticism but that he "feels that despite profound policy differences, he should support a fellow Kansan who has been asked to serve by the president." In expressing his support for Sebelius earlier this week, Brownback noted that the "president won the election."

Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, said Brownback's stance has drawn mixed reactions from the antiabortion-rights movement because some of its members would like to see him replace Sebelius as governor in 2010. Culp said she "disagree[s] with his decision on this, but it doesn't make me question his being pro-life." She added, "We know it doesn't serve the cause of unborn children and their mothers to beat up on" Brownback.

According to the AP/Eagle, criticism of Brownback "seems less vocal in Kansas" because he intends to run for governor, "fulfilling a promise not to run for another Senate term." Sebelius is not allowed to run for a third term under the state Constitution, and she was considered to be the Democrats' best candidate to run for Brownback's vacant Senate seat. If the Senate confirms Sebelius as head of HHS, it "all but ends any chance she'll run," the AP/Eagle reports. Newman said he suspects that Brownback's support for Sebelius is motivated by the GOP's desire to keep his Senate seat in their party. Nonetheless, abortion-rights opponents have been "vocal enough to prompt a counter-campaign" by groups that support Roman Catholic Democrats who support abortion rights, such as Sebelius, the AP/Eagle reports.

Supporters of Sebelius note that the governor has supported efforts to expand adoption and programs to help unmarried pregnant women. In addition, they said the abortion rate has declined in Kansas since she ran for office in 2002. Sebelius, who has also served as state insurance commissioner and a state legislator, said she has "worked pretty diligently for over 20 years to reduce the conditions for women to be in a situation where they feel they have no alternative." She added that she is "proud" that the abortion rate declined by 11% during her time in office. Ruse contended that Sebelius cannot take credit for the Kansas decline, saying that it has occurred all over the country.

Sebelius vetoed antiabortion bills in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008. She also has attracted criticism from antiabortion-rights advocates because abortion provider George Tiller attended an April 2007 reception at the governor's residence. Kansas City, Kan., Archbishop Joseph Naumann -- who in 2008 urged Sebelius to stop taking Holy Communion because of her position on abortion rights -- said her nomination is "particularly troubling." Naumann said in a recent blog posting on The Catholic Key that as HHS secretary, Sebelius would be in a position to make decisions "promoting legalized abortion and her cooperation in this intrinsic evil" (Hanna, AP/Wichita Eagle, 3/5).

Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.