February 19, 2009 10:10 AM

Reports On Sebelius As HHS Secretary Are Premature, Source Tells CBS News

By
Brent Lang
Topics
White House
(CBS)
In the wake of a New York Times report that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas was President Barack Obama's top choice to be secretary of health and human services, a White House source told CBS News that the Times article was overstated.

The source said that she was still "one of the top choices." Other reports have mentioned that Gov. Phil Bredesen, D-Tenn., Gov. John Kitzhaber, D-Ore, and Mr. Obama's transition chief of staff John Podesta are also under consideration for the position.

Sebelius, 60, a Democratic governor in a deeply "red" state, has a reputation for working in a bipartisan fashion. It's a style that might appeal to an administration eager to avoid the legislative snares that brought down the Clinton team's healthcare reform efforts when it introduces its own plan to extend coverage to the uninsured.

As governor, Sebelius pushed to give healthcare to all Kansas children from birth to age five.

In addition to serving as governor for six years, Sebelius worked as her state's insurance commissioner for eight years. While insurance commissioner, Sebelius helped draft a national patients' bill of rights and opposed the sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield to an out-of-state company, the Times reports.

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., the president's first choice for the job, was forced to withdraw his nomination earlier this month following revelations that he failed to pay $128,000 in back taxes.

Sebelius could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. Her spokeswoman, Beth Martino, said she knew nothing about the speculation that her boss was Washington bound and had not spoken to Sebelius about it.

"As far as I know, she is really focused, as is evidenced, on the budget and the economy," Martino said. "She's the governor, that's her job, and that's what she's doing."

Sebelius' and Mr. Obama's paths may cross in the near future. The National Governors' Association meeting begins this weekend in Washington, D.C., and both Sebelius and Bredesen are expected to attend.


Add a Comment
by tominoue February 21, 2009 3:15 AM EST
Governor Sebelius would a great choice for HHS Secretary. She's knowledgeable, respected, experienced, and about as bi-partisan as it gets. As the Democratic Governor of a deeply red state, Sebelius knows how to work with Republicans, and is respected by most from that party.
Reply to this comment
by ptyoungthang February 19, 2009 7:29 PM EST
LoonyLeft - you are funny. You are the reason that independent voters RAN from the rightwingnut party. Keep up the good work and your party will be more marginalized than they are now.
Reply to this comment
by jxknowles February 19, 2009 6:07 PM EST
Having worked with Governor Sebelius in the past, I can say she would be an excellent choice. Her management skills would make her a good fit.
Reply to this comment
by loonyleft February 19, 2009 4:46 PM EST
By now, the loony-left liberal media has leaned from the exposing of d-crat TAX CHEATS geithner, daschle, killifer and solis that they MUST NOT DISCLOSE THE TAX CHEATING FOR OTHER hussein cabinet choices in order to protect their marxist drug addict messiah

So don't expect to learn how much sebelius has cheated on her taxes from the bottom-feeder media.

BUT WE KNOW SHE DID IT!
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