HHS: It's Kathleen Sebelius
Kari Chisholm
Sorry, Ron Wyden. Sorry, John Kitzhaber. The new Secretary of Health and Human Services is Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. From Reuters:
President Barack Obama has decided to nominate Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services and will formally announce the decision at a White House ceremony on Monday, a U.S. official said on Saturday."This evening, the president asked Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to serve as his Secretary of Health and Human Services, and she accepted," the administration official said on condition of anonymity. "The president will formally announce the nomination on Monday afternoon at the White House."
Ah well.
 |
More Recent Posts | |
Albert Kaufman |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
Kari Chisholm |
Final pre-census estimate: Oregon's getting a sixth congressional seat |
Albert Kaufman |
Polluted by Money - How corporate cash corrupted one of the greenest states in America |
Guest Column |
|
Albert Kaufman |
Our Democrat Representatives in Action - What's on your wish list? |
Kari Chisholm |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
connect with blueoregon
Feb 28, '09
The new Secretary of Health and Human Services is Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
Doesn't she have to get confirmed by the Senate first...?
Feb 28, '09
Or, rather, sorry to anyone who hoped that we could get a Democratic Senator from Kansas and get us that much closer to advancing a true, progressive agenda in this country.
Frankly, I don't get it--- we've now lost the best hope of a Democratic Senator for both Arizona (Napolitano) and Kansas (Sebelius) to Obama's cabinet. Is it really worth giving up on those seats (as they're pretty much lost now, without those two running) and the groundbreaking legislative agenda they could enable to be a functionary in Obama's administration?
One has to wonder if Obama has too much appeal for his (and our) own good.
Feb 28, '09
As a 4.5 year resident of the cruddy state of Arizona, you seriously underestimate how conservative AZ is and just how much they detest Nappy down there. They were ecstatic at her leaving. She did what was best for her.
Feb 28, '09
Kitzhaber had already taken himself out of the running for HHS Secretary. But he's stated that he would be available for the position of health policy advisor in the White House.
6:41 p.m.
Feb 28, '09
Are you saying that Sebelius in the Obama cabinet will not be progressive?
Your evidence for this is what?
Or are you saying that if Kansas doesn't have a Democratic Governor, then the nation won't get progressive change?
Feb 28, '09
mp97303 sez: As a 4.5 year resident of the cruddy state of Arizona, you seriously underestimate how conservative AZ is and just how much they detest Nappy down there. They were ecstatic at her leaving. She did what was best for her.
Nappy?
[Napolitano] won the Arizona gubernatorial election of 2002 with 46 percent of the vote, succeeding Republican Jane Dee Hull and defeating her Republican opponent, former congressman Matt Salmon, who received 45 percent of the vote. In November 2005, Time magazine named her one of the five best governors in the U.S. In November 2006, Napolitano won the gubernatorial election of 2006, defeating the Republican challenger, Len Munsil, by a nearly 2–1 ratio and becoming the first woman to be re-elected to that office. . I guess there really are parallel universes out there, at least for zip code 97303.
Feb 28, '09
JDW:
let me clarify, I was a resident of AZ until last fall. I forgot "former" in my previous post.
Nappy? Yes, that is what she is commonly referred to by. You know, a play on her last name.
Feb 28, '09
Lestatdelc,
I'm saying that Sebelius as a Democratic Senator from Kansas would be a tremendous asset in trying to advance a progressive agenda nationwide.
Otherwise, it's far likelier that we'll continue to see progressive legislation watered down by the Republicans who are needed to get past the filibuster.
8:07 p.m.
Feb 28, '09
Guess it's too much to ask to get someone in there who actually has some health care experience. I get really tired of politicians getting put into spots like this, even if they don't have the background to go with it.
I'd have much rather had someone like Dean who knows health care from both sides - as a doctor and as a politician. But some people (Rahm Emanuel) can't seem to get past their own problems and recommend someone who would be excellent for the position.
To me, having someone with the experience is much more important than someone who has kissed your ass.
8:48 p.m.
Feb 28, '09
i never had any hope that Dr (DOCTOR) Dean would get past Rahm Emmanuel, any more than Emmanuel can get past the fact that Dean laid the groundwork for the victories of 2006 & 2008. no one has understood the nature of political change in America better than Howard Dean, and that includes Obama (a very close second). Emmanuel is absolutely clueless.
Sibelius will probably be great; she needs to be because we have to get health care fixed (Jenni seems more bitter towards Sibelius than i am; it's Emmanuel who pisses me off). if we can make big changes this year, that starts us on the path toward single-payer. that is the real goal, of course, but it's going to take getting past some major obstacles before it can even be said outloud. i am confident Obama knows that's the ultimate goal -- it's what he gets, and he says all Americans should have his health care -- but he's way too smart to say it out loud. this needs to be done carefully; the enemies of health care change have power and motive to keep the status quo.
but it all would have been better with Dr Dean.
9:31 p.m.
Feb 28, '09
No, Sibelius isn't who pisses me off, it's Emmanuel. He holds a grudge and won't recommend people even if they are the best person for the job.
I'm hoping she can get our health care situation fixed. I just unfortunately am pessimistic that will happen unless we can get someone in there who actually understands the situation from both sides. We don't want bureaucrats making decisions as to what's covered under health insurance, the costs they'll pay, etc. under our personal health insurance - why we would want that for a national health care plan?
Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll have some good advisers on her team that will help get it through. But based on appointments, selections, and hirings for many positions, I'm not too optimistic.
Mar 1, '09
There can no longer be any doubt. The movers and shakers read BO on a regular basis. She's been off the radar screen for some time. One week ago I singled her out as a prime example of hack identity politics, and, voila, a week later she's the nominee. I guess they'd forgotten she was an asset.
T.A.'s point is well taken and should be generalized. None of Obama's nominees have been the best choice for progress. They have all been smart politically, though. The statement that science would trump politics in this administration, or the hope that facts could at least be equal, are baseless. Interior and Defense are actively working, as we speak, against his declared strategies. We're coming up on the first 100 days. It's not exactly reminiscent of FDR, is it?
Mar 1, '09
None of Obama's nominees have been the best choice for progress.
Hilda Solis is, at least.
I would have preferred Sebilius for US Senator, but the die is cast. Let's get National Health Care, and soon.
Mar 1, '09
While her record looks good, strong rumor has it that she is Comcast bought and might turn out, like many Obama nominees, to be tax form challenged.
Mar 1, '09
No need to apologize to John Kitzhaber about the HHS position (Secretary of Health). In an article carried by most of the state's media weeks ago, John Kitzhaber told Salem AP writer Brad Cain that he wasn't interested in that position.
However, Gov. Kitzhaber is interested in being a health reform advisor to the administration.
Kitzhaber offers a way forward that would improve the health of our country while being honest about the challenges we face. In the hope of averting national bankruptcy caused by the baby boom generation signing-up for Medicare, let's hope he gets heard in D.C.
Watch Gov. Kitzhaber's current presentation here: Health Care for the 21st Century