kers including Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) have been questioning Thompson's appointment practices since last fall. Disappointed with a lack of responsiveness from the HHS chief, Kennedy planned to make the matter the focus of special hearings in February, according to Kennedy spokesman Jim Manley. The pressure for war on Iraq, however, moved that plan to the back burner for now, Manley said.</div>
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<div class="articletext">In late Febr