The Nebraska Legislature yesterday confirmed Gov Jim Pillen’s appointment of Steve Corsi to head the Department of Health and Human Services despite opposition from senators who objected to his social media posts and job history.
Corsi was appointed back in August, between legislative sessions, and has been serving as acting director since then while awaiting official confirmation by the legislature.
Senator Machaela Cavanaugh led the opposition and quoted a number of social media posts Corsi had liked including ‘Race is preposterous nonsense.’ and ‘I’ll keep saying abortion is in health care because pregnancy isn’t a disease.’
Cavanaugh also criticized Corsi for not revealing that just before starting at Nebraska, he had been employed by Epiphany Associates, a Utah-based budget and government efficiency consultant that received a $10 million dollar no-bid contract from the Pillen administration last year
Senator Merv Riepe appeared to speak for many of those who voted for Corsi’s confirmation when he said the governor deserves to have the nominee he wants to head the department.
Debate on Corsi’s nomination continued for almost 2 hours before it was confirmed on a 28-8 vote.