Dems Blocking FDA Nominee Over Birth Control

Anonymous allegations against Lester Crawford, President Bush's choice to head the Food and Drug Administration, prompted the Senate Health Committee to postpone a vote on his nomination Wednesday and request an internal FDA investigation.

The panel had scheduled a session to consider Bush's promotion of Crawford from acting to permanent head of FDA. But the committee's chairman, Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and the ranking Democrat, Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, announced, "We are postponing the scheduled vote on Dr. Crawford's nomination to provide more time to address issues that have been raised on both sides of the aisle." So what's this last moment concern?

A week ago, two Democratic senators, Patty Murray of Washington and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, said they would block Crawford's nomination because they were unsatisfied with his explanation of why the "morning-after pill" has not been approved for use without a prescription!

In a confirmation hearing four weeks ago, Democrats repeatedly asked Crawford why the FDA had not yet reached a decision. Crawford said that the company's application was unique and complex and that he was awaiting further information.

Maybe he should have said "because it's an abortion pill"

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