Originally posted: 11:09 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 09, 2017

Republicans pushed President Donald Trump's choice for health secretary toward confirmation Thursday in the testy Senate's fourth consecutive brawl over Cabinet picks.

But one Florida senator isn't throwing his support behind the choice.

  • Sen. Bill Nelson said he'll vote no on Tom Price
  • Georgia congressman Price seemed certain to win confirmation
  • Price has supported ending federal payments to Planned Parenthood
  • The vote is expected to take place at 2 a.m. Friday -- see the results on your Morning News

Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., seems certain to win confirmation to head the Health and Human Services Department by a mostly party-line vote, testament to each side's divergent views of him and the raw feelings that have enveloped Washington. The vote is expected to take place at 2 a.m. Friday, 

Republicans see the conservative seven-term House member and orthopedic surgeon as a knowledgeable leader who will help scuttle President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Democrats describe an ideologue who has a shady history of trading health care stocks and whose policies will snatch insurance coverage from Americans.

Price's nomination is part of a larger battle in which Republicans want to quickly enact priorities long blocked by Obama. Democrats, with few tools as Congress' minority, are trying to impede them and have stretched some floor debates to the maximum 30 hours Senate rules allow.

Sen. Bill Nelson said, "Seniors can't take a chance on Congressman Price."

The high stakes plus Trump's belligerent style have fed a combative mood. It's also produced unusual scenes, including Democratic boycotts of hearings, Republicans suspending committee rules to approve nominees and GOP senators voting to bar Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., from joining a debate.

Price has supported ending federal payments to Planned Parenthood as well as paring Medicaid and giving states more power to shape the health care program for the poor. He'd reshape Medicare's guaranteed health coverage for the elderly into a program offering subsidies for people to buy policies.

Trump has said he doesn't want to cut Medicaid or Medicare.

Democrats have accused Price of lying about his acquisition of discounted shares of an Australian biotech company and benefiting from insider information. They've also attacked him for buying stock in a medical implant maker and pushing legislation to help the company.

Price has said he's done nothing wrong. It's illegal for members of Congress to engage in insider trading.

Florida's other senator, Sen. Marco Rubio, is expected to vote in favor of Price.

After Price, Treasury nominee Steven Mnuchin, a financier, is next in line for Senate votes.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.