Full article reprinted "The Pink Sheet" DAILY February 17, 2009
Kansas Gov. Sebelius appears to be the administration’s focus following Daschle withdrawal. Read more...
Full article reprinted "The Pink Sheet" DAILY February 17, 2009
The departure of HHS Chief of Staff Mark Childress may indicate that the Obama administration has made a final choice for HHS secretary.
Childress, who was the highest ranking official at HHS following the withdrawal of Tom Daschle's nomination, is expected to be leaving the department. He was one of a number of staff additions made over the past several weeks and was a close Daschle ally from his days in Congress as the former Senate Majority Leader's chief counsel. His departure would be a clean break allowing the next HHS secretary to bring in her or his own top-level staff.
Bill Corr, the Deputy Secretary-designate, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate but is expected to remain in his role.
The administration appears to have zeroed in on Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as a worthy replacement for Daschle.
In Sebelius, the administration would get a centrist Democrat with a sound grounding in the issues that will dominate the health reform debate in the coming months. Both characteristics made Daschle an attractive candidate for the cabinet position prior to his withdrawal.
Sebelius cancelled a regular morning meeting scheduled Feb. 16 with Kansas legislative leaders, according to state House Speaker Mike O'Neal, the AP reported.
The withdrawal of New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg's nomination for Commerce Secretary may have narrowed the administration's focus on Sebelius. She was rigorously vetted during the campaign as a finalist for Vice President before President Obama selected Joe Biden and would likely sail through the confirmation process.
Sebelius was the insurance commissioner for eight years in the state of Kansas before being elected governor in 2002.
She is viewed as a consumer watchdog who stopped Blue Cross/Blue Shield from merging with another out-of-state company, and she refused to accept contributions from insurance companies during her gubernatorial campaign.
Sebelius was a key surrogate for President Obama and among his earliest presidential bid supporters, and remains close to him. The Kansas governor was in Washington recently for two previously scheduled speaking engagements and reportedly met with top Obama advisors.
The reported departure of Childress, the cancellation of a meeting between Sebelius and Kansas legislators, and the withdrawal of Gregg's nomination taken separately would mean very little. But taken together, and given the timing, the developments appear to make Sebelius the favorite for the HHS secretary post.
If the administration passes on Sebelius, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and Center for American Progress President John Podesta are among candidates circulated as being the HHS Secretary shortlist.
Bredesen would bring deep knowledge of the insurance industry as a former HMO executive. However, liberals in the Democratic Party are seriously opposed to Bredesen due to deep cuts to the Tennessee Medicaid program under his watch.
As a former White House chief of staff, John Podesta would bring political acumen and heft to the position. But it's unclear if he would want the job if offered.
-Ramsey Baghdadi
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