Kansas Governor to Become Health Secretary
By VOA News
02 March 2009
Pres. Obama announces Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as nominee for Health & Human Services Secretary, 02 Mar 2009, at the White House
President Barack Obama has nominated the Governor of midwestern state of Kansas, Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Sebelius is expected to take a prominent role in reforming the nation＇s health care system.
In a statement Monday, Mr. Obama said Sebelius will work with Democrats and Republicans to cut health care costs, expand access, and improve the quality of health care for all Americans.
In his 2010 budget proposal, President Obama allocated more than $600 billion over 10 years to expand healthcare. The president is scheduled to host a meeting on healthcare reform this week at the White House.
Sebelius, a popular state official who is now in her second term as governor, is Mr. Obama＇s second nominee for the post. The first nominee, former Senator Tom Daschle, withdrew his nomination after disclosing he had once owed more than $100,000 in back taxes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has some 65,000 employees and a budget of more than $700 billion.
Sebelius was an early supporter of Mr. Obama＇s presidential candidacy
Before she became governor of Kansas, she was the state＇s health commissioner. Sebelius drew praise for the advocacy role she played in that position.
But Sebelius, who was raised a Roman Catholic, has faced fierce criticism from anti-abortion advocates for her vetoing of abortion regulations.
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