Obama taps Sebelius for HHS secretary

[Thrill]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House source says Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of health and human services.

The source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, says Obama will formally announce the nomination on Monday.

Obama's first choice for HHS, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, withdrew after disclosing he had failed to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest.

Sebelius, 60, was an early Obama supporter. She picked his presidential campaign over that of Hillary Rodham Clinton, now the secretary of state. Sebelius worked tirelessly for Obama's bid and was a top surrogate to women's groups.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h702UpSGq2AIfQKoN_karkJtZ5hQD96KRQ980

[gristy]

1. wow

:applause:

[HelenWheels]

2. She's a good choice

but a GREAT choice would be Howard Dean!

[Cha]

3. And, now she and TeamO have

to make sure an excellent crew is assembled for they have their work cut out for them.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Good choice, if it wasn't going to be Howard Dean.

[democrattotheend]

8. Exactly. I was rooting for Dean but Sebellius is a great choice

[BeyondGeography]

5. Good choice...She's definitely battle-tested on health care

In 2007, she used her State of the State speech to tout the need for universal health care in Kansas, although she didn’t disclose a plan for achieving it or reveal how much it might cost.

“We must commit ourselves to universal coverage, improved quality of care and increased affordability,” Sebelius told lawmakers. “That’s why I challenge you to work with me … to develop a plan — this year — to achieve universal coverage.”

Republicans pounced on the governor’s use of the word “universal.”

“Hillarycare,” House Speaker Melvin Neufeld called it, referring to the ill-fated policy proposed by a task force led by then-first lady Hillary Clinton in the 1990s.

Still, Sebelius enjoyed success. In 2004, she announced that Kansas would join Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin in the I-SaveRx program, which allows residents to order refills of common prescriptions from Canada, Ireland and Britain, saving up to 50 percent.

As insurance commissioner, Sebelius blocked the sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the state’s largest health insurance company, to an Indiana firm. Sebelius’ reasoning: Anthem Insurance Cos. would have raised Kansans’ premiums by tens of millions.

She rose to become president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and refused to accept political donations from the industry during her tenure.

Spotty record or not, Kansas analysts said the governor would be effective in Washington.

“She’s a savvy politician,” said Kansas State University professor Joe Aistrup. “She has a lot of respect in D.C. because … she was re-elected in a state like Kansas and doesn’t appear to have sold her soul to conservative causes.”

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1046830.html

[EraOfResponsibility]

6. aaand outrage over it not being Howard Dean in 3....2...1....

[iamthebandfanman]

7. BOO!!

ask and ye shall receive ;)

[Fovea]

9. The person who does this

will have to take on the insurance industry, and big pharma.

While I would love the luxury of having someone like Kooch to do this, Sebelius seems to have the chops to take on
big scary entities and wrest control back to the public interest.

If Sarah Palin is a pitbull in lipstick, Kathleen is Rahm in business causal sweater and skirt.
...

Ok, sorry about the visual.

[Top Cat]

10. Great choice