Sylvia Mathews Burwell emerged mostly unscathed Thursday from the first of two hearings on her nomination to head the Health and Human Services Department, even though her chief role will be to continue implementing the president's controversial health-care law. Burwell, whose confirmation is likely, did not get much of a grilling and even received strong vows of support from two influential Republicans: Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), who introduced her warmly to the committee, and Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.), who promised to vote to confirm her at her next hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.
