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Sebelius Caught Underreporting Campaign Contributions from Notorious Abortionist: HHS Nomination May be in Jeopardy

By Kathleen Gilbert

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 14, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Washington career of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius may be in danger after it was revealed that the Health nominee reported only a fraction of her campaign contributions from Kansas' late-term abortionist George Tiller. At least one GOP senator reportedly said the issue has raised doubts among Republican senators about the governor, a well-known champion of abortion that Obama picked to head the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS).

After the full senate confirmation vote was delayed earlier this month, the Senate Finance Committee probed Sebelius' connection to notorious late-term Kansas abortionist George Tiller in a list of questions that were published this week with the governor's answers.

However, in her answers Sebelius reported only about one third of the actual sum of campaign contributions that she received from George Tiller, despite a specific question from Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., about Tiller's contributions to her Political Action Committee (PAC). 

The senator asked: "Can you describe your relationship with Mr. Tiller?  Has he ever contributed to your campaign or has your PAC ever received money from Mr. Tiller or a PAC related to Mr. Tiller?"

Sebelius responded: "I have been familiar with Dr. Tiller for many years because he lives and works in Kansas. Dr. Tiller, like many Kansans, contributed to my campaign for insurance commissioner. I received $12,450 over an eight-year period (1994-2001), which represented 1 percent of my total contributions during that time. Since that time, I have received no donations from Dr. Tiller or any PAC related to him."

Contribution and expenditure reports on file with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, however, reportedly show the figure to be closer to $38,450 - a discrepancy of $26,000.

The HHS said yesterday that the omission was an "oversight" Sebelius would correct.

A senior Senate Republican aide told the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) that the affair is now considered a transparency issue as well as a life issue, and is something the GOP intends to probe.

The Sebelius nomination has been stridently opposed by pro-life advocates who have cited her personal and financial ties to the abortion industry, in addition to her pro-abortion record.  However, their concerns were not aired in Sebelius' first two confirmation hearings.

"Ironically, Sebelius' relationship with Tiller helped launch her career, and now her attempts to minimize that relationship could very well be her undoing," said Operation Rescue president Troy Newman. "You can't dance with the devil and not expect to have to pay the piper."

"Oversight of taxes is one thing, but this reveals a deadly alliance," Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, told CBN today.  Earlier in the confirmation process, Sebelius was forced to pay more than $7,000 in back taxes to fix improper deductions.

"It calls into question how she could oversee America's healthcare system objectively, and not be tainted by these alliances with the abortion industry," Perkins said. 

He noted that Sebelius' apparent dissembling on abortion funds coupled with her entrenched opposition to minimal late-term abortion regulations could paint a troubling picture for senators.

"I think this changes the landscape of the Sebelius nomination," said Perkins.  "At this point it raises the question: what else has she not told us? What other things remain in Sebelius' closet? ... What other political connections may have tainted her decisions as governor?"

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Senate Committee Silent on Sebelius Abortion Ties as Full Senate Vote is Delayed
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040313.html

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