Liberal Senators Hillary Clinton (D.-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D.-Wash.) will keep a hold on the nomination of Lester Crawford to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration because they say he is dragging his feet on approving an "emergency contraceptive" drug called "Plan B" for over-the-counter sales.
Crawford, who has been acting commissioner for three years, won approval Wednesday in the Senate Health Committee, whose Chairman Mike Enzi (R.-Wyo.), lashed out at Crawford's opponents: "I think we would set a dangerous precedent if any of us were to hold up the President's choice for FDA commissioner over one or two drugs." Murray accused the FDA of playing politics with Plan B. Conservatives say the drug could increase sexual promiscuity and is a form of abortion, not contraception.
