Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Obama’s top choice for Health and Human Services secretary, The New York Times reported Wednesday based on information provided by unnamed advisers.
The story said no final decision had been made. An excerpt:
“It remained unclear whether the White House would finish vetting Ms. Sebelius in time to nominate her by next week. Advisers described her as ‘the leading candidate,’ although they said other names were still in discussion and emphasized that no final decision had been made.”
Sebelius spokesman Beth Martino said the governor is focused “on the budget, the economy and the federal stimulus.”
“She has the job to be the governor of Kansas and that is the job she is focused on.”
Sebelius will be in Washington, D.C., for a National Governor’s Association meeting this weekend.
5 Comments
Congratulations to the Governor.
Since the Lt. Gov. has already said he won’t be running for the top spot I wonder if the Dems will talk Chris Biggs into running.
He’s not so much a politician as a servant of the people with the best interests of Kansas in mind.
We can only HOPE for that kind of leadership.
And let me offer Minnie Mouse for Obama’s national security advisor.
Frankly Ms. Sebelius was an awful Kansas Insurance Commissioner and later Kansas Governor.
During her tenure as Kansas Insurance Commissioner, I had two problems with insurance companies. I probably wrote 50 letters to Sebelius trying to get her attention. But she would incredably forward my letters to the offending insurance company to answer my complaint. In most cases, the insurance companies didn’t even bother to research their previous correspondence to me. They invented totally new erroneous answers.
I guarantee you with Sebelius heading up the federal government’s HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, bureaucratic nightmares will reign.
But perhaps when Obama offered Sebelius what she thought was Secretary of Obama’s HHS department, Obama really meant as a steno pool secretary IN the HHS department.
flatlandtalkcom: Are you a snow skier by chance? The “flat land” phrase is sometimes used by snow ski clubbers.
Anyway, I had forgotten about Chris Biggs. As a moderate Republican, I could be persuaded to support Democrat Chris Biggs for the Governor position if Gov. Sebelius leaves. Frankly her mind is no longer on Kansas and I believe she wants out in the worst way.
As I recall Chris Biggs ran for Kansas Attorney General and unfortunately, as it turned out, lost to Paul Morrison. Chris Biggs came from an honorable family in Junction City and went to law school I believe at Washburn (I should check this).
Let’s hope that Lt. Governor Parkinson shows some good sense by stepping aside and doesn’t attempt to provide a caretaker governor for the next couple years. Kansas government is at a critical juncture and needs a real hands on Governor capable of negotiating effectively with the Kansas legislature.
So what is the happy news? Now the USA will suffer!
I did not know she had tax troubles?
Or is that not a requirement for selection to a Cabinet position.