With swine flu spreading and officials concerned about the possibility of a global pandemic, concern is growing over key vacancies in the Department Health and Human Services.

Fortunately, we've already got a great candidate lined up for leadership at HHS. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (we just heard from friends in the Senate that the confirmation vote will probably be around 6 or 7 tonight). When she gets to work tomorrow, she'll have plenty to keep her busy.

In a press release on Tuesday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus said:

Congress needs a strong partner at HHS to pass comprehensive health reform. We're developing a framework that will change how health care is delivered.  But we need a first-class Secretary and team at HHS to help get reform off the ground....Governor Sebelius is the right person for the job. She has the political experience, determination, and bipartisan work ethic to get the job done.

Getting Sebelius confirmed is essential. But we hope Congress puts partisanship and political one-upmanship and interest group politics aside and gets the rest of the team in place ASAP. No aspersions on any of the acting this or acting that (and we know a few people have been nominated but are pending confirmation), but with swine flu spreading and the Senate beginning to really dig into health reform, we'd sleep better at night if we had someone in charge at the FDA. The CDC. The NIH. A Surgeon General. You get the picture.