Senate panel clears FDA nominee

[Omaha Steve]

http://reuters.excite.com/article/20060920/2006-09-20T222635Z_01_N20326268_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-CONGRESS-FDA-DC.html

Senate panel clears FDA nominee
Email this Story

Sep 20, 6:26 PM (ET)

Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, President Bush's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration, speaks...
Full Image

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration won support from a U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday, but still faces opposition from two Republican senators blocking a full vote on the nomination.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach's nomination to serve as permanent FDA commissioner by a majority voice vote.

The committee's chairman, Sen. Mike Enzi, said it was critical to approve a leader for the agency, which only has had a permanent head for 18 months since Bush took office five years ago.


Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, President Bush's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration, speaks during "The Future of Health Care" session at the 2006 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, April 24, 2006. Von Eschenbach won support from a U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday, but still faces opposition from two Republican senators who have blocked a full vote on the nomination. REUTERS/Fred Prouser


Von Eschenbach is an oncologist, former National Cancer Institute director and a cancer survivor. He has served as acting FDA commissioner for a year and was tapped for the permanent position in March.


FULL story at link above.

[Drum]

1. Interesting:

The Republican dissenters, on the respective objections to Von Eschenbach's/Bush's stance on RU-486 and prescription drug importation. Different, and um, interesting. These debates on medical ethics and drug companies are always just over our shoulders, aren't they?

What do "our people" say about this nominee? I've not been keeping up on some of these things...thanks for any synopses, and thanks for the post.

[Mandate My Ass]

2. He changed his stance on EC which has nothing to do with RU486

EC is not an abortifacient, RU486 is. EC cannot harm a pregnancy already in progress.