Sebelius Near Top Of List For Health

(AP)  Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is near the top of President Barack Obama's list of candidates to head the Health and Human Services Department at least partially on the strength of her long and close working relationship with the president, a senior administration official said.

Other candidates, including former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta, remain in the mix. A decision is not imminent, a senior administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private administration deliberations.

Sebelius, 60, signed on early with the Obama campaign, backing his candidacy over that of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination and now secretary of state. Sebelius worked tirelessly for Obama's bid and was a top surrogate to women's groups, especially after Republicans picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as their vice presidential nominee.

Advocacy groups like the consumer watchdog role Sebelius played as insurance commissioner for eight years before she became governor.

A Kansas Democrat close to Sebelius said she had not spoken about the post in recent days but appeared to remain a strong contender. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not officially authorized to speak for the governor.

White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said Saturday no decision had been made.

Sebelius would be Obama's second choice for the slot. Former Sen. Tom Daschle had to withdraw his name amid an admission he had not paid all his taxes, including on a car and driver, since leaving Congress as a Democratic leader.

The loss of Daschle has many worried about the fate of any quick action on health care reform, one of Obama's top early priorities and a complex legislative effort that seemed to require the heft of someone like Daschle to push it through. As a result, most believed Obama needed to move quickly to replace Daschle, and yet the White House was so committed to that pick that it had little in the way of a backup list when he dropped out.

It took Obama almost a month to find a new commerce secretary nominee when his first pick dropped out. He named Republican Sen. Judd Gregg last week, the same day Daschle withdrew, to replace New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who had stepped aside for the post in early January amid a grand jury investigation into a state contract awarded to his political donors.

Sebelius' name had been floated for several Cabinet posts right after Obama won in November, but she announced in early December that she had removed herself from consideration for a Washington job, citing Kansas' budget problems that needed her attention.

The two-term governor remains popular in her state and comes from a strong political family. Her father, John Gilligan, was a Democratic governor of Ohio in the early 1970s, and her late father-in-law, Keith Sebelius, was a Republican congressman from Kansas for 12 years.

Sebelius was in Washington last week to give a pair of speeches, one on clean energy jobs and the other at the National Education Association. She also met at the Ritz Carlton hotel with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, one of the president's top advisers and confidantes.

Sebelius' trip was planned before Daschle bowed out as nominee for health secretary as a result of fallout from about $140,000 in back taxes and interest he paid last month.

Those close to the White House also mentioned Podesta as a candidate. The leader of Obama's transition team and head of the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, he was the fourth and final chief of staff to serve President Bill Clinton.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen was another candidate, although some advocacy groups were lining up to oppose the Democratic governor. He remains under consideration but was not as likely as Sebelius to make the final cut, the senior official said.
By AP White House Correspondent Jennifer Loven; AP writer John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this story

[kansas1946]

She was a great insurance commissioner and truly watched out for consumers in Kansas when she held that position, and she has been a great governor.
She would do a great job, but we would hate to lose her. Her term is not up until 2010.

[jxknowles]

Governor Sebelius would be an excellent choice. Americans would be lucky to have someone of her caliber.

[mssinnia]

We would be sad to lose Sebelius. She has done great things for our state and for education in our state. I am sure she would work just as hard for our country.

[likeitis5050]

There''''s one thing you can say about Barack Obama. He rewards the tax cheats (the former Clinton cabinet) well who supported him by employing them. Sebelius is no better.


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Posted by Mihann

Kinda makes ya throw up a little in your mouth recalling Biden''s challenge to all Americans to pony up and do the patriotic thing by paying more taxes....which is the Democrat''s claim to fame...now we know why.

Raising taxes is only an issue if you PAY them!!! For all the squawking about Republicans taking care of the rich...seems to me the Democrats have found their own little niche when it comes to getting around tax laws...IGNORE THEM.

And Sebelius is nothing more than sloppy seconds considering Daschle was THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD DO THE JOB...just as tax cheat Geithner WAS THE ONLY POSSIBLE CHOICE. Who in their right mind s.crews up the dignity to take a job that you clearly WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE? And she obviously did not blow enough sunshine up Obama''s hindend in the first place....perhaps if she drops out and becomes a lobbyist/consultant for 2 years she''ll be more attractive to the Administration.

[tincup356]

If the COST of medical care were reasonable ...Insurance would not be that important....but as it is health care is outrageously expensive.....many costs are related to research and development,,,or so they say......personally I think the medical industry and big pharma are just plain greedy.

[endurorob]

It seems therea are three possible requirements to be seledcted for a position on the Obama cabinet.

1. Close friend to Obama.
2. Former Clintonista.
3. Tax Cheat.

Oh, I forgot the 4th one. A lobbyist in the field you will now be regulating.

This is the change we were looking for?

[mihann]

There''s one thing you can say about Barack Obama. He rewards the tax cheats (the former Clinton cabinet) well who supported him by employing them. Sebelius is no better.

[kjost21]

Government run healthcare is not the answer. These people can''t even keep track of their own taxes and you want them to take over nearly one-fifth of our economy? Our government is largly responsible for the high healthcare costs in this country. Greedy CEOs is not always the answer. Nanny states are not the answer. I believe healthcare costs are too high, but there are too many hands in the till including our government. Letting "Barry O'' and the tax cheats" run the show on healthcare would be the end of this republic.

[clovisbuford]

I jsut want someone who can get health care legislation through congress we need a national health care system of some kind . If you conservatives are so concerened abouth the federal government being involved you better put pressure on the private co.s to strep up to the plate . 45 Million Americans uninsured is unacceptable , the cost of insureance is unacceptable . lead , or get the hell out of the way you have had yrs to address this . you were iin charge of the congress from 1994 till 2006 . the white house the courts and both sides of congress for the first six of this decade . Denial is not a river in egypt.Tax cuts are not the answe to everythign . especialy financing a governmnt while fighting two wars. Conservatives should embrace reality once in a while.Having conservatives lecture others on competence after the conduct of the war , the katrina debacle , government contracts ,the budget , is kind of like Michael Jackson lecturing parents on child safety.

[likeitis5050]

"What ever you do...don''t ever drink wine made in Kansas...whew!!" (Kitty Kat at a high profile function as a representative of Kansas....another Biden).