Monday, March 9, 2009
On March 2, President Barack Obama officially announced his nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for the Cabinet position of Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sebelius served six years as governor following eight-years as State Insurance Commissioner. Her experience with health care and working across party lines would be an important asset to President Obama. Sebelius’ nomination is an honor for her and for Kansas, but it also means a transition in state leadership that is not coming at the best time.
As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebelius would work with President Obama on reforming the health care system by cutting insurance costs, expanding coverage and improving the quality of health care. She would also oversee Medicare and Medicaid programs and federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration.
While Sebelius served as Insurance Commissioner in 2002, she opposed the takeover of BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas, the state’s largest health insurance company, by Indianapolis-based Anthem Insurance Cos. Inc. Sebelius argued that the purchase would have increased premiums for Kansans.
Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson will serve as governor for the remainder of Sebelius’ term, but he said he would not run for governor when the term expires in 2010. Parkinson said in a press release last week that Sebelius would remain in office until she was confirmed and that “in the interim, I will continue to be focused on the budget and other issues.”
The state’s budget problems reached a climax two weeks ago when Republicans in the Legislature forced Sebelius to approve a budget for 2010 before agreeing to release funds from healthy state accounts to pay state employees. Parkinson would be entering the governorship in the middle of this crisis.
There has been speculation that Sebelius may have planned to run for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Republican Sen. Sam Brownback in 2010. Brownback recently announced his candidacy for the 2010 gubernatorial race. Chris Harris, communications director for the Kansas Democratic Party, said although the media liked to speculate about the senate race, there was no foundation for the assumption.
“The party never assumed Gov. Sebelius would run,” Harris said.
Although the state may suffer when Sebelius leaves Kansas for Washington, her nomination for a Cabinet position is still and honor for the state. Her experience with Kansas health care and her ability to work across party lines should serve her well in her new position.
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