Sebelius Likely Obama Nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services
Governor Kathleen Sebelius is again linked to President Obama, this time as a likely nominee for the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services. Last time the administration allowed her name to slip out it was in reference to the possibility of Gov. Sebelius being the Vice Presidential running mate.Â
Some items of interest:
- Gov. Sebelius is a moderate Democrat who might further bring political discussion to middle ground much like President Obama’s choice of Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, tempered Obama advisor Larry Summers’ plans for the ARRA.
- Kansas, Gov. Sebelius’ home state, has some financial problems. The Obama administration also has budgetary problems.
- President Obama’s healthcare goals, much like Secretary Clinton’s, are to control healthcare costs. This will be an involved and nuanced interaction with both healthcare and insurance leaders at a time when the administration is pushing much more of its weight into the financial sector than it probably ever wanted to.
For my part, I’d like to see Gov. Sebelius have a more national stage. I like the more moderate voices in the Obama administration so far (Timothy Geithner, Christina Rumor) and I like to “hear” the dialog (even when I’m reading transcripts). This is definitely an appointment I’d prefer to see a moderate Democrat take over a Republican or a more liberal Democrat. I believe healthcare deserves frank and passionate discussion but someone with a stronger desire to move the discussion forward than a desire to be right would benefit all of us.
