Monday, March 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Sebelius at HHS
Overhauling our health care system is going to take the will to fight entrenched special interests and lobbyists, the patience to work across party lines, and a little Kansas common sense.
"Kathleen Sebelius has a remarkable intellect, unquestioned integrity, and the kind of pragmatic wisdom you’ll tend to find in a Kansan," President Obama said as he announced the Kansas Governor as his choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. "I know she will bring some much-needed grace and good humor to Washington, and she will be a tremendous asset to my cabinet."
The governor of Kansas since 2003, Secretary-designate Sebelius has a reputation for reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats and Republicans alike, while standing firm for what she believes in the face of pressure from special interests. And before being elected governor, she served as Kansas Insurance Commissioner from 1994-2002 -- so she knows her stuff.
That's also true of Nancy Ann DeParle, the President's choice to lead the White House Office of Health Reform and one of the nation's top health care experts. She learned firsthand how our broken health care system can impact workers and families as Tennessee's commissioner of the Department of Human Services. And she saw the big picture in the Clinton administration, where she handled health care budget issues and managed Medicare and Medicaid.
Along with these announcements, President Obama also said today that $155M from the Recovery Act will go toward supporting 126 new health centers across the country, providing care to 750,000 Americans and creating 5,000 jobs. (Get a state-by-state breakdown of how many patients will benefit from the Recovery Act funding for community health care centers.)
It’s just an early step in a major undertaking to lower costs and expand care that isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s absolutely necessary.
"If we are going to help families, save businesses, and improve the long-term economic health of our nation, we must realize that fixing what’s wrong with our health care system is no longer just a moral imperative, but a fiscal imperative," the President said today. "Health care reform that reduces costs while expanding coverage is no longer just a dream we hope to achieve – it’s a necessity we have to achieve."
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The crumbling heath care system is a major concern for everyday citizens, let us all hope Kathleen Sebelius has the remarkable intellect, unquestioned integrity, and the kind of pragmatic wisdom that President Obama suggests she possesses for tough challenge of reform.
ReplyDeletenow there is a lesson. Worst natural tragedy in US history, Katrina, and the homeowners in the Gulf South get screwed by the evil insurance industry with the passive help of all levels of government.
ReplyDeleteVery American. Do Evil and our 1.22 party system (as opposed to two parties, HAH!) will reward you. Become multi national and still haul away trainloads of cash.
What government for the people? HAH!
PS: voted for Obama to be president, not poster boy for the "clean (HAH!) coal dickheads.
but there he is on the boobtube smiling in their logo. so in the end, obama is looking like the normal american lesser of two evils.
I thought he was a democrat but who can tell now that he is in the white house?
Kathleen Sebelius as Gov. helped to stop two coal-fired power plants in her state. Why? Because they were considered, and are, a health risk.
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