Kansas Governor High On The List Of Potentials For HHS
Posted on February 8, 2009 at 12:48 pmThe Honorable Phil Governor is still in contention, however:
Her name had been floated for several Cabinet posts, but she announced in early December that she had removed herself from consideration from a Cabinet job, citing Kansas’ budget problems that needed her attention.
The two-term governor remains popular in her state and comes from a strong political family. Her father, John Gilligan, was the governor of Ohio in the early 1970s. She also advised Obama’s campaign on how to connect with women, especially after Republicans picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as their vice presidential nominee.
Sebelius was in town last week to give a pair of speeches, one on clean energy jobs and the other at the National Education Association. She also met at the Ritz Carlton hotel with Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett.
Sebelius’ trip was planned before Daschle bowed out as nominee for HHS secretary as a result of fallout from about $140,000 in back taxes and interest he paid last month.
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen also was on Obama’s list to run the nation’s massive health programs. Already, though, some advocacy groups were lining up to oppose the Democratic governor.
He remains under consideration, the senior official said.
SEE ALSO:
Associated Press
Jonathan Singer
Fox News
CNN
Campaign Diaries
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Okay, We Got It, You Want The Job
Posted on February 7, 2009 at 11:56 amGovernor Phil Bredesen on what he would be interested in accomplishing as Secreatary of Health and Human Services if offered the job by President Obama:
“I’m a believer in some form of national or universal health care,” he said, “not operated by the government but underwritten by the government. We don’t do a good job of running things compared to private industry, but we do a good job with things like Social Security, being able to move money around.”
Bredesen said that any new plan shouldn’t be “the sort of super-comprehensive system where anything you want, no matter what, no matter when, is free.”
“I would love to see something which is universal, which provides the basic kind of services you need and, you know, if a union wants to add something to it or an employer wants to add something to it on top of that, that’s fine, but let’s underwrite the basic stuff,” he said.
The Left Battles Back Against Bredesen HHS Buzz
Posted on February 6, 2009 at 8:56 pmThe progressive health care reform community is up in arms tonight over even the remote possibility that Obama is considering our governor as a potential Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The fact that there are now reports that Bredesen and the White House Chief of Staff have traded voicemails haven’t help matters.
Of all the opposition research circulating Friday, one of the favorite nuggets among critics was the fact that BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, a company with major state dealings, donated $150,000 to the renovation of the governor’s mansion.
“A lot of elected officials are in bed with the insurance industry, but Phil Bredesen doesn’t stop there. He let them pay to redecorate his mansion. We can’t think of anyone more wrong for health care reform or more wrong for America,” said Jacki Schechner, spokeswoman for Health Care for America Now.
“This is a guy whose single greatest health care achievement is stripping 200,000 people of health care coverage in Tennessee - a move that was not only bad policy but an unconscionable act.
SEE ALSO:
The Wonk Room offers alternatives
Woodsie shares his thoughts
“Eye Candy” Kumari on the speculation
The Progressive Pulse
Did I Studder?
Posted on at 4:28 pmBredesen spokeswoman, Lydia Lenker, reiterates that Governor Phil Bredesen is not in talks to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services:
“I can’t keep up with this speculation central (in Washington),” she said. “Nothing is changed and I don’t know where they’re getting this information. We haven’t gotten any phone calls (from White House officials). There are no talks going on.”
Bredesen And HHS: One Of Two Finalists?
Posted on February 4, 2009 at 7:37 pmThat’s what one reporter is saying:
I’m told that he’s been discussed at high levels within the administration and I’ve heard, although from only one source who’s not directly involved, that he’s one of two finalists.
I’m still saying it’s not gonna happen but, then again, I didn’t think Obama would pick Hillary Clinton to head the State Department either.
UPDATE: I emailed a battery of questions to Bredesen spokeswoman Lydia Lenker inquiring as to whether the Governor is currently being vetted for the job of HHS Secretary. The response: “The answer to all of your questions is no.”
UPDATE II: The Kingsport paper has quotes from Bredesen denying reports of vetting.
SEE ALSO: Ambinder concurs.
Gore Wants No Part Of Any Future Administration
Posted on April 25, 2008 at 11:21 amBarack Obama may be publicly declaring that he will attempt to involve Al Gore in his administration but Gore will have none of it:
“I don’t intend to be a part of any administration,” he revealed. “I’ve been Vice President, I ran for President twice, so I don’t have any interest in being a cabinet member.
“I think my best use is in building grass-roots support.
I will, of course, give advice to whoever asks me for advice on this and will work to help but not in a formal way.”
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