Tim Kaine

The Senate voted Wednesday to give the main agency charged with implementing the 2010 health care law its first confirmed leader in seven years.Marilyn Tavenner, a nurse who's been running Medicare and Medicaid on an acting basis, was confirmed 91 to 7 by the U.S. Senate to formally head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which also administers government health benefits to about 100 million Americans.Medicare and Medicaid have lacked a Senate-confirmed leader since 2006, when Republican appointee Mark McClellan left.Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have said it's important to have a confirmed Medicare chief to implement the health law, which will allow currently uninsured Americans to sign up for health insurance starting in October. Coverage won't be effective until January.Ms. Tavenner was endorsed by a number of lawmakers, including those staunchly opposed to the health law.Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah), said Wednesday he thinks the health law is an "unmitigated di...

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