Kathleen Sebelius

DENVER (AP) - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says suggestions that she could be Barack Obama's running mate are "flattering and a little surreal. " But she isn't saying whether she would accept. Sebelius is one of several people whose names have been floated as possible vice presidential candidates for Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee. Former Sens. John Edwards and Sam Nunn have also been mentioned Sebelius, co-chairwoman of the Democratic National Convention, made her comments Thursday on a visit to Denver, where the convention will be held Aug. 25-28.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius dissolves the Kansas Energy Council. The 34-member council studies energy issues and drafts recommendations to the governor and the Legislature. For more than a year, it has faced criticism - even from some council members - that it has been ineffective. Critics say the council is too large and has representatives from too many interests. But Sebelius says she's dissolving the council because other groups are now studying individual issues.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says she's working on a multiyear plan to expand education programs for 3 and 4 year olds. The governor didn't give any details Monday about what she'll propose to legislators when they reconvene in January. She said she and her staff are still discussing those details as they work on a budget proposal for the 2008 legislative session. Sebelius told about 150 legislators, educators, child advocates and business leaders that, based on a survey involving 5,000 children, half the state's 5-year-olds aren't ready for kindergarten.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has signed another batch of bills sent to her by legislators, including one to create a new riverfront authority. Sebelius signed nine bills sent to her by legislators before they began a three-week break on April 4. She has signed 91 for the session and vetoed one, which would have allowed a coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas. Among the bills she signed Monday was one creating the DeSoto-Johnson County Riverfront Authority.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt criticizes President Obama's nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Tiahrt, a conservative Republican who represents the 4th District, is at odds with Sebelius over abortion. He opposes abortion, and she supports abortion rights. He also opposes her administration's decision to block two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas over their potential carbon dioxide emissions.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says her budget proposals will eliminate programs and freeze government hiring but protect essential services. In her State of the State address Monday night, Sebelius also repeated a promise not to raise taxes to wipe out a projected deficit in the current budget. But the Democratic governor gave few details in her speech to a joint session of the House and Senate. Republicans control both chambers. Sebelius called for "balancing the budget with common sense.

(WASHINGTON) Just hours after Kathleen Sebelius resigned her position as Kansas Governor, she was sworn-in as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sebelius left for Washington just moments after the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination.  The vote was 65 Yeas to 31 Nays. Both Kansas Senator Sam Brownback and Senator Pat Roberts voted for Sebelius.  President Barack Obama was there when Sebelius took the oath of office Tuesday evening.   The President said, he wanted Sebelius  to be sworn in immediately to dealing with a significant health issue -- the swine flu.  Mr. Obama said the C.D.C and Homeland Security officials have done a superb job so far but "we need all hands on deck.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Expect at least a few chants of "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk" to bounce off the Statehouse rotunda this week. On Friday, legislators and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will honor the University of Kansas football and basketball teams for their accomplishments. Men's basketball coach Bill Self will bring members of his national championship team to Topeka. The Jayhawks won their first title since 1988, beating Memphis in overtime, 75-68. Kansas finished the season 37-3.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has won approval from a divided Senate panel to become secretary of health and human services in the Obama administration. The Finance Committee voted 15 to 8 Tuesday to send the Sebelius nomination to the full Senate for a final vote. The committee vote came after several Republicans voiced concerns about Sebelius' ties to a late-term abortion doctor in her home state. The GOP also questioned her commitment to ensuring that the government doesn't try to interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says she has had no conversations with President Barack Obama about possibly joining his Cabinet as health secretary. Sebelius was in Washington on Sunday for the winter meetings of the National Governors Association. Administration officials have said she is near the top of the list of people being considered to run the Health and Human Service Department. But Sebelius tells The Associated Press that "there's really nothing to tell" about the prospects of her getting the job. The two-term Democratic governor also is deflecting questions about whether she'll run for the Senate next year.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - On his first full day in office, Gov. Mark Parkinson is confronting the state's budget crisis and promising a mix of modest spending cuts and steps to boost revenues to eliminate a projected deficit. The Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature must close a projected $328 million gap in the $13 billion budget approved last month for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Legislators returned to Topeka today from a three-week break, reconvening their annual session to wrap up business for the year.

(WASHINGTON) Just hours after Kathleen Sebelius resigned her position as Kansas Governor, she was sworn-in as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sebelius left for Washington just moments after the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination.  The vote was 65 Yeas to 31 Nays. Both Kansas Senator Sam Brownback and Senator Pat Roberts voted for Sebelius.  President Barack Obama was there when Sebelius took the oath of office Tuesday evening.   The President said, he wanted Sebelius  to be sworn in immediately to dealing with a significant health issue -- the swine flu.  Mr. Obama said the C.D.C and Homeland Security officials have done a superb job so far but "we need all hands on deck.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has won approval from a divided Senate panel to become secretary of health and human services in the Obama administration. The Finance Committee voted 15 to 8 Tuesday to send the Sebelius nomination to the full Senate for a final vote. The committee vote came after several Republicans voiced concerns about Sebelius' ties to a late-term abortion doctor in her home state. The GOP also questioned her commitment to ensuring that the government doesn't try to interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - An anti-abortion group has released a document raising new questions about Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' ties to one of the few U.S. physicians performing late-term abortions. Operation Rescue opposes Sebelius' appointment as U.S. health and human services secretary and is trying to block her confirmation by the U.S. Senate. On Wednesday, the group released a copy of what it said was a September 2002 fundraising letter signed by Dr. George Tiller. It's on the stationery of the ProKanDo political action committee, formed that year.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stepped around potential land mines on abortion and her own tax errors Thursday as she testified at a hearing en route to her expected confirmation as health and human services secretary. Sebelius was not asked any questions about abortion, an issue that's caused loud complaints from conservative groups angered about her vetoes of some abortion restrictions and the presence of a prominent abortion doctor at a reception at the governor's residence.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says she'll resign quickly if she's confirmed as federal Secretary of Health and Human Services. But the governor also said Friday that she hasn't worked out a timetable for exactly when she'd leave for Washington and when Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson becomes governor. Sebelius goes before the Senate Finance Committee for a confirmation hearing Thursday. The committee will then decide whether to forward the nomination to the full Senate.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Attorneys for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius have filed court papers opposing a move by a utility seeking to depose her before she is confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary. Sunflower Electric Power Corp. filed a federal lawsuit against the state over its refusal to issue permits for two coal-fired plants in western Kansas. Sebelius says in a sworn affidavit that with the state Legislature in session and the pending confirmation hearings she now has little control over her day-to-day schedule.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt criticizes President Obama's nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Tiahrt, a conservative Republican who represents the 4th District, is at odds with Sebelius over abortion. He opposes abortion, and she supports abortion rights. He also opposes her administration's decision to block two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas over their potential carbon dioxide emissions.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - An internal audit of a decision on social services funding is being sought by the administration of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the president's nominee for health and human services secretary. The examination is being sought by Social and Rehabilitation Secretary Don Jordan. He's the same official who decided last year to increase payments to a group that has the state Democratic Party's chairman as a director. Jordan has asked the Kansas Health Policy Authority to hire an "outside expert" to review his decision.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - An internal audit of a decision on social services funding is being sought by the administration of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the president's nominee for health and human services secretary. The examination is being sought by Social and Rehabilitation Secretary Don Jordan. He's the same official who decided last year to increase payments to a group that has the state Democratic Party's chairman as a director. Jordan has asked the Kansas Health Policy Authority to hire an "outside expert" to review his decision.