Gov. Sebelius said to be Obama's choice for Health and Human Services
Governor Kathleen Sebelius is possibly heading to Washington to join the administration of President Barack Obama. Enlarge video
Kathleen Sebelius: Two decades in politics
Kathleen Sebelius is the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services in Obama's Cabinet. She has served as Kansas' governor since 2002 and before that was insurance commissioner and a state representative.
Topeka — President Barack Obama wants Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to be secretary of health and human services, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
Unnamed advisers to Obama described Sebelius as “the leading candidate” and said no other names had been mentioned, the Times said. CNN, quoting unnamed senior administration officials, said Sebelius was a leading contender but that other names were in the mix.
Both reports stressed that no final decision had been made, but they continued to fuel speculation that Sebelius would leave Kansas to serve in Obama’s administration.
Over the summer, she was frequently mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate.
After Obama’s election, Sebelius, in her second term as governor, was often mentioned for various Cabinet posts.
But she took herself out of consideration in December, saying that she wanted to focus on the state’s budget problems.
When Obama’s first pick for health and human services — former Sen. Tom Daschle — withdrew from consideration for his failure to pay $128,000 in taxes, the talk about Sebelius getting picked started again.
In recent days, Sebelius has refused to speculate when asked by reporters.
On Wednesday, her spokeswoman Beth Martino said, “As evidenced by the last few days, the governor remains focused on the budget and the economic challenges in our state.”
Sebelius and Republican legislative leaders had been locked in a high-stakes budget impasse that they resolved Tuesday. Sebelius signed into law a deficit-reduction bill that totaled $300 million for the current fiscal year, and GOP leaders agreed to intergovernmental fund transfers to pay off income tax refunds and ensure state employees were paid on time. Kansas still faces a revenue shortfall for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Despite the partisan brawling over the budget, Sebelius has a reputation of being able to reach out to Republicans, who control the Legislature.
Sebelius was elected governor in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. Prior to that, she served as state insurance commissioner for eight years and was a state House member before that.
In the state Senate on Wednesday, Democratic allies of Sebelius said they didn’t know what the governor’s plans were.
“I think she would be a good health and human services secretary. Her experience as a legislator, a governor and insurance commissioner all give her breadth and depth in understanding of the issues,” state Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, said.
Other names mentioned for HHS include Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen; former Sen. Bill Bradley; and former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta.
If Sebelius were to leave, that would make Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson the governor. Parkinson, a former state Republican Party chairman who switched parties to run with Sebelius, has already said he doesn’t plan to run for governor in 2010.
State Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said he thought Parkinson would be able to “step in, take control and bring it home.”
Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, also voiced confidence in Parkinson, but added, “It’s a huge difference in being lieutenant governor of this state and being governor.”
Comments
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xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
Bye bye.... don't forget that Jesus loves you...even if everyone else doesn't
Boeing (anonymous) says…
Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.
newsreader (anonymous) says…
Why wouldn't she take it...
fearsadness14 (anonymous) says…
this is probably the worst thing that could have happened for our state at this point in time.
76trombones (anonymous) says…
Let's help her pack ...
Elrond (anonymous) says…
Goodbye to bad rubbish
Elrond
llama726 (anonymous) says…
Wow. If you ever didn't think the conservatives in this town had no life before, 22 minutes after an article is out and they're out hating in droves. Don't you guys have a KKK rally to attend or something?
cowboy (anonymous) says…
She'll probably be quite happy to get away from the morons in the Ks legislature.
thinkagain (anonymous) says…
Attending a rally would require that they move from in front of their computers. Out of the question.
OldEnuf2BYurDad (anonymous) says…
"Why wouldn't she take it…"
Well, for one thing: she said she couldn't be VP because now was the wrong time to leave KS hanging. But, I guess things have improved markedly (?) and she's now able to leave the state with a clear conscience.
Does that make any sense to anyone else, because it doesn't make sense to me.
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
and Hawk moves into the Chancellors residence.
bluerose (anonymous) says…
good for her!!!
Kansas doesn't deserve her.
monkfellow (anonymous) says…
Wow, does Jerry have an inside track to be a Supreme Court justice?
Boston_Corbett (anonymous) says…
But she was withdrawing from cabinet consideration....you know, because she was so concerned about the Kansas budget. Don't you remember.
Boeing (anonymous) says…
Just because I do not like Sebelius does not mean I am a Conservative. Believe it or not, people can create opinions about politicians based on experiences, not just the letter (R or D) next to their name. I know, it's amazing.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
llama726 (Anonymous) says…
Wow. If you ever didn't think the conservatives in this town had no life before, 22 minutes after an article is out and they're out hating in droves. Don't you guys have a KKK rally to attend or something?
---------------------------------------------------------
Sorry, didn't mean to offend you. You may be slow, but remember, you are special.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…
Yes, Yes, Yes. Ding dong, Kathy's gone.
If she would have stayed moderate, I would have supported her. I know it was a publicity stunt, but she almost had me when she bought her Malibu to keep money in the state. She had to show her real colors by dining with that murderer Tiller, and then refusing to balance the state budget until the Republicans threatened to shut the state down. Kansas needs moderates like Graves was, not Liberals like Kathy or nut-job conservatives.
Dear Conservatives: Do not f**k this up. You are the reason we got Kathy in the first place. No moderate in their right mind would vote for Shallenburger, but Kansans for life had to do a hatchet job on Knight sending the moderates Kathy's way. Now that she is out, remember that a moderate Republican is better than a Liberal.
classclown (Class Clown) says…
Will people be singing "na na na na. na na na na. hey hey. goodbye" when she leaves?
kseagle (anonymous) says…
Kathleen don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.
So Long, Fair Well, don't come back!!!!!
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
OMG!
so, Obama thinks Governor Billious is the best choice?
I knew his process and his leadership was flawed ... but ...
now, geithner/daschel/richardson...and on the national scene her abortion money corruption will be on display. and is that her only qualification for HHS secretary, her work to permit any abortion at any stage of pregnancy?
***
increasingly, people who voted for Obama are having heartburn, and buyers' remorse. some thought they'd "teach the republicans something" and now they see the country getting hosed instead.
meanwhile, Obama wants a $75-billion housing bailout that would do nothing or next to nothing for the 91% of mortgageholders who are making the hard choices and paying their payments on time!
more bailout shoveling money!
kseagle (anonymous) says…
beobachter,
The left wing loons are the reason the state is having the money problems to begin with. Spend, spend, spend is their policy until it is too late then let's point fingers at everyone else. Heaven forbid the left wing loons take any real responsibility for their actions.
Godot (anonymous) says…
Okay, Kansas journalists, start doing your job. Comb her tax records and donations.
This just puts another nail in the coffin of Obama's corrupt cabinet.
Obama's Chief of Staff is not only a thug, he is a tax cheat, big time:
"NEWS broke last week that Rahm Emanuel, now White House chief of staff, lived rent- free for years in the home of Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.) - and failed to disclose the gift, as congressional ethics rules mandate. But this is only the tip of Emanuel's previously undisclosed ethics problems.
Emanuel never declared the substantial gift of free rent on any of his financial-disclosure forms. He and De Lauro claim that it was just allowable "hospitality" between colleagues. Hospitality - for five years?
Some experts suggest that it was also taxable income: Over five years, the free rent could easily add up to more than $100,000.
Of course it is taxable income. Anyone can give anyone up to $10,000 a year tax-free, but "gifts in kind" are still required to be reported and are taxable. If it is really $100,000 worth it exceeds the giftable amount and is subject to tax, just as certainly as it is if you get a chauffeured car and driver (aka Daschle)
What's worse though is this:
Nor is this all that seems to have been missed in the Obama team's vetting process. Consider: Emanuel served on the Freddie Mac board of directors during the time that the government-backed lender lied about its earnings, a leading contributor to the current economic meltdown.
The Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Agency later singled out the Freddie Mac board as contributing to the fraud in 2000 and 2001 for "failing in its duty to follow up on matters brought to its attention." In other words, board members ignored the red flags waving in their faces.
The SEC later fined Freddie $50 million for its deliberate fraud in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Meanwhile, Emanuel was paid more than $260,000 for his Freddie "service." Plus, after he resigned from the board to run for Congress in 2002, the troubled agency's PAC gave his campaign $25,000 - its largest single gift to a House candidate.......
For complete article, go here:
http://market-ticker.org/archives/807...
storm (anonymous) says…
Conservatives from the Democratic party and the Republican party will be elated if she goes, but the majority of Republicans and Democrats, are grateful for her service to this state. She's been a great leader for Kansas.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Kathy'll fit in real well with Barry & Blago & Burris.
N_Trenched (anonymous) says…
This promotion fits perfectly with the liberal phiolosophy... rewarding failure
Godot (anonymous) says…
bearded_gnome, respectfully, the mortgage give away is $275 Billion, not $75 Billion. Obama lied about that in his speech today. Who woulda thunk? He lied about a whole lot of other stuff, too, but, hey, it makes for good AgitProp, so it is a fogiveable goof, right? What is a white lie here an outright falsehood there, the end justifies the means. (sarcasm off).
Godot (anonymous) says…
Tiller should be heaving a sigh of relief. I predict that his records will be among the few to receive an "exception" from the forced submission of private medical records to the HHS for review and targeted leaks.
458casul (anonymous) says…
bankrupt ks and move on chicken feathers
Godot (anonymous) says…
Rahm Emmanuel was a gigolo for 5 years. Yeeechhh.
darthvedder (anonymous) says…
2 months ago - Sebelius "asked not to be considered for cabinet positions, citing the state's pressing budget problems as requiring her attention."
2 days ago - "State employees may not get paid this week...
In addition ... payments to schools, Medicaid and income tax refunds are also in question."
Today - "Sebelius as Obama’s top choice" for Secretary of HHS.
It's called failing upward. I was promised CHANGE.
kusp8 (anonymous) says…
Can't wait for that coal plant to be built...also, how is KU not ahead by 40 on ISU?
Godot (anonymous) says…
Obama really knows how to pick his friends. Sebelius should feel right at home:
"http://rightsoup.com/rahm-emanuel-evades....
According to the Cook County Assessor’s website, the Chicago home of four-term Democrat Congressman and likely new White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, doesn’t exist. While the address of 4228 North Hermitage is listed as Emanuel’s residence on the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website, there seems to be no public record of Emanuel ever paying property taxes on this home…
Why would 4228 North Hermitage property owners Rahm Emanuel and wife Amy Rule not pay property taxes?
One reason could be because Emanuel and Rule declared their 4228 North Hermitage home as the office location for their non-profit foundation appropriately called the “Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule Charitable Foundation”. As a non-profit headquarters, they may consider their home as exempt from paying taxes.
The Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule Charitable Trust was formed in 2002, when the Chicago lawmaker was first elected. The former Clinton White House aide and his wife, Amy Rule, are its only donors. "
Wow. Not paying property taxes on home in Chicago and claiming it as an office for a fake charity, while receiving free rent from his Sugar Momma in Connecticut and not declaring it on his taxes and not reporting it on his election reporting forms.
Now, that is the definition of "audacity."
I can only imagine what else is being hidden by a brilliant, criminal mind like that.
Boston_Corbett (anonymous) says…
Did Godot just have a big O?
Godot (anonymous) says…
Waiting for the big one.
gsandell (anonymous) says…
In view of the Geithner , Daschel and other Cabinet nominees tax problems, wouldn't it be a hoot if they vetted Kathy for the job and then it came out after she is nominated that her son wrote off the use of Cedar Crest for an at home business expense while selling "Don't drop the Soap".
Godot (anonymous) says…
A day late, a dollar short. new marketing slogan for Kansas.
Kansas dropped the soap.
Shardwurm (anonymous) says…
LOL - Says more about Obama's judgement than about sebelius.
Perhaps Kansas' share of the stimulus package is to get her the hell out of here!
storm (anonymous) says…
Godot I think women would be heaving a sigh of relief, more so than the physician who provides a service that they voluntarily ask for.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Somebody send her a can of Brasso so she can polish the railings on the O'tanic while it steams toward the pack ice.
ostrich (Alison Carter) says…
Sometimes I can't believe the blather on these blogs.
Why don't you all meet one another downtown and enjoy one anothers opinions face to face. Some of your comments are funny but I'd prefer to read some substantive discussion on this news blog.
75x55 (anonymous) says…
Bye-bye, kitty-kat! You don't ever have to come back now - your dream come true!
cutny (anonymous) says…
Jeez, have a little hope anyway. Did any of you bother to read the nyt article, or are you too happy with your own health coverage to bother? Great one-liners, that nobody read , though!!!
So what's your great idea that will never get off the ground?
purplesage (anonymous) says…
She can take her snippy ways to Washington and shut down the federal government. Good riddance.
verity (anonymous) says…
Yeah, she was only re-elected by 60% in a state where about 50% of the people were Republican.
And she's Governor Sebelius to you.
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
After what Roundheels did to KU Hospital, this is an insult to the office. Daschle on his worst day has far more integrity than this bimbo.
I just wonder if she's going to do to our national health care for the indigent what she did to the poor and indigent of Wyandotte County.
Worse yet, we'll be stuck with one of her sleazy Republicrats as our governor. Thanks for all you screwed up, Roundheels.
llama726 (anonymous) says…
LOL. You guys are really the best, you know that? Warms my heart to see you guys and your absolute contempt. I just wanna give you a big hug and tell you it's gonna be OK... Obama isn't going to come burn your house down, take your pets, money, and guns, and give it all to the gay minority couple down the street as a wedding present. I promise... Life will go on.
I guess you guys might take a break before you go to Church, right?
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment that you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
--Matthew 7: 1-5
Ah, the Christian majority in this nation...
Enjoy your night, kids. Careful, though. All that hatred and contempt causes high blood pressure and ulcers, and we know you won't be able to see a doctor when Obama and Sebelius take all the doctors away with his communism voodoo satan worship health care plan.
llama726 (anonymous) says…
snap_pop_no_crackle - 3937 comments since February 2007 (mostly bemoaning Obama / liberals / other things that go bump in the night).
Enough time on your hands?
feeble (anonymous) says…
This isn't surprising, given the praise Obama gave her during the presidential primaries. He seems to think quite highly of her, and his opinion, unlike every single poster on this thread (myself included) actually counts for something when determining who is qualified for a cabinet level position.
Also, it's pretty obvious that the GOP has decided to fight her at every turn this cycle, by any means necessary, so her chances of shaping policy in a solid red state are even worse than normal.
Hasn't the Lt. Gov already indicated he won't run for the top position? If she leaves, who, besides Brownback will be tossing their hat in the ring for Governor and/or Senator?
voltage (anonymous) says…
Hate away, she has a better job than anyone else here and does quite well at it. Now it's time for her to move to DC and I applaud her for it.
St_James (James Kaberline) says…
Kathleen, we wish you well in your new post. We'll miss you. Godspeed.
fonz73 (anonymous) says…
snap_pop_no_crackle --
"Somebody send her a can of Brasso so she can polish the railings on the O'tanic while it steams toward the pack ice."
I voted for Obama, and I STILL couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read this. I don't agree with you, but it was witty nonetheless.
VTHawk (anonymous) says…
I used to really like the Governor (and voted for her), but she really infuriated me by campaigning so hard for a cabinet post. She clearly changed some of her stances to act liberal enough for a Democrat POTUS, and became overly political at a time where KS was in dire need of a less divisive Governor. She does seem like an intelligent, personable lady, but I am thrilled that she is leaving her post as Governor.
TopJayhawk (anonymous) says…
llama726, I guess we can't vote then. (not judging)
We are already turning into socialists. How encouraging. FDR would be proud.
TopJayhawk (anonymous) says…
vthawk....The onlyreason she "withdrew" is because she thought the big O was going to stiff her on a post. Better to withdraw than not be picked. It's called trying to save face.
KS (anonymous) says…
Glad to see her go!
Bladerunner (anonymous) says…
No article in the LJW about Obama doubling the amount of troops in Afganistan. Wouldn't want anything controversial made public about the new Messiah. What would Bush do (WWBD)?
Shardwurm (anonymous) says…
"Ah, the Christian majority in this nation…"
You're making a poor assumption. In fact your entire post is based on assumptions. But that's ok. It's just ironic that you're calling people out and your post isn't any better.
beawolf (anonymous) says…
"No article in the LJW about Obama doubling the amount of troops in Afganistan."...Why is this controversial? He promised he would do exactly that during his campaign. Pulling out of Iraq and concentrating forces in an area where our greatest threat is, has always been on his agenda.
Btw, when it came to military desicions it was not WWBD, but rather WWCD (what would Chaney do.)
llama726 (anonymous) says…
Komrade Madmike, I've been to the rally.
all your factories and banks are belong to us
spankyandcranky (anonymous) says…
Most of these comments seem to be a little premature considering it looks like neither the president nor the governor have voiced their final decisions about the position. However, I tend to agree with hawkperchedariverfront's 1st comment as well as ostrich's.
Socratic (anonymous) says…
I think the Governor has done a fine job in Kansas and I would miss her if she leaves.
However, the USA needs her to help in Washington and there is no better choice.
She certainly satisfies the bipartisan requirement - her father was a Dem and she married a fellow whose Dad was a Republican :) I can only imagine the political debates at family gatherings !
I believe she was sincere about wanting to stay to help Kansas with our budget woes rather than head to a cabinet post. But since she can't run for re-election again here, she really needs to join Obama's team in DC if she wants to continue in public service.
She has been a great friend of education, business and the people of Kansas and I wish to thank her for that.
To me, the governor fits in a great tradition of Kansas statesmen right up there with Robert Dole, Alf Landon, and Ike Eisenhower.
darthvedder (anonymous) says…
@ Socratic
"But since she can't run for re-election again here, she really needs to join Obama's team in DC if she wants to continue in public service."
What about Brownback's Senate seat in 2010?
Danimal (anonymous) says…
Please Kathy, take the Cabinet position... and then never come back to Kansas. I don't think that the Brownback seat is an option now anyway. We may not be the smartest here in Kansas, but we're not about to make the worst Gov. in my lifetime our US Senator just because the liberals on both coasts love her.