Anyone But Bredesen? The Leading HHS Candidates
Anyone But Bredesen? The Leading HHS Candidates
Since former senator Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary on Tuesday, the internet has been buzzing with rumors of his potential replacement. Progressives are particularly weary of Phil Bredesen, a second-term Governor of Tennessee who may be “one of the top contenders for the job.”
As Jonathan Cohn explains, Bredesen “presided over massive cuts to Tennessee’s Medicaid program and, by all appearances, relished fighting with advocates for the poor more than the advocates of the cuts.” “I can’t overstate the opposition his nomination would engender in the health advocacy community,” writes Ezra Klein, before noting that in 2005 Bredesen’s wife accepted donations for the renovation of the governor’s mansion from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee.
Since Bredesen’s vision for health reform contradict Obama’s health principles, ThinkProgress has compiled a list of alternative nominees.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS)
The Red State Reformer
PRO: As Insurance Commissioner, Sebelius rejected an Indiana company’s bid to gobble up the biggest health insurer in Kansas. As Governor, Sebelius tried to provide health coverage to children under 5 and enacted legislation allowing residents to purchase prescription drugs from Europe and Canada.
CON: Despite her health background and close relationship with Obama, Sebelius doesn’t know Washington.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
The Appropriator
PRO: From her seat on the Labor, Health, and Human Services-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, DeLauro increased funding for all kinds of medical research and has worked aggressively to lower the rising costs of prescription drugs, pushing the 108th Congress to adopt legislation allowing for drug importation.
CON: As an appropriator, DeLauro has experience funding initiatives but may have little knowledge of how the different parts of the health system interact.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
The Public Plan Pioneer
PRO: Congresswoman Schakowsky describes her approach to health care as a kind of beefed up “Medicare for all” system. She strongly supports building a public health care plan and has said that public funding will be the most efficient way to finance a health care system.
CON: Schakowsky could be caricatured as a single-payer advocate and may face stiff Republican opposition during confirmation.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
The Abolisher
PRO: Wyden has been a persistent advocate of health care and has the right connections to make reform happen. He has introduced bipartisan legislation that abolishes the employer health system and requires employers who had covered their employees to convert the total they spent on insurance into salary increases, allowing workers to purchase coverage on their own.
CON: Wyden’s plan contradicts Obama’s health principles and would likely outrage some health advocates.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
The Social Worker
PRO: Stabenow sits on the Senate Finance Committee, where she played a major role in the crafting the SCHIP expansion legislation.The National Organization for Women endorsed Stabenow for the HHS position, highlighting her background as a social worker and her strong support for drug importation from Canada.
CON: Tapping Stabenow would remove a strong health care advocate from the all-important Senate Finance Committee.
Former Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
The Wannabe
PRO: Smith seems to have some genuine bipartisan leanings. During the election, Smith tried to capitalize on Obama’s popularity by including the President in campaign ads, and went so far as to endorse Sen. Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) controversial health care plan. Smith would lend credibility to Obama’s campaign pledge to build a bipartisan cabinet.
CON: Smith has a poor voting record on health care issues and has twice voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Smith’s sudden embrace of universal coverage came in the midst of a close re-election campaign and may be suspect.
Jacob “Jack” Lew
The Budget Man
PRO: As a former Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Clinton, Lew has intimate knowledge of the substance of federal programs, the budget process and appropriations. Lew drafted parts of Clinton’s health care reform legislation and is respected by members of both parties.
CON: Lew’s work at Citigroup could provide ammunition for a confirmation hearing. He is also currently serving as Deputy Secretary of State.
David Cutler
The Policy Wonk
PRO: Cutler helped draft the Clinton’s health plan and was an architects of Obama’s health proposal. In fact, he has already been tapped to advise the President on health policy.
CON: Cutler left Washington in 1994 to return to his full time duties at Harvard University. While he has previously advised former Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry and Bill Bradley, he may lack Hill connections.
Judy Feder
The Health Reformer
PRO: Feder is widely credited with setting the stage for the health reform debate of the 1990s and has worked to expand health insurance coverage as an HHS appointee. Feder is a Professor of Public Policy at Georgetown University and recently ran for Congress in Virginia’s 10th District.
CON: Despite her bona fide policy expertise, Feder is relatively unknown outside of Washington.
Elizabeth Edwards
The Health Blogger
PRO: As a leading spokesperson for health care reform, Edwards has been particularly critical of policies that unfairly penalize Americans for preexisting conditions. Edwards is an effective communicator, a Wonk Room blogger, and is beloved by health advocates.
CON: Edwards is battling incurable cancer. She has also criticized Obama’s health care plan for not including an individual mandate.
Donna Shalala
The Bureaucrat
PRO: As Clinton’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Shalala played an integral role in launching the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
CON: Shalala did not play a major role in policy deliberations or build significant Congressional relationships during her eight years as Secretary in the Clinton Administration.
30 Responses to “Anyone But Bredesen? The Leading HHS Candidates”
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HOWARD DEAN
February 6th, 2009 at 3:07 pmHoward Dean. Why isn’t he on this list? Please explain.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:11 pmHi Jeff! :)
I second his motion. Gov. Dean
February 6th, 2009 at 3:15 pmHoward Dean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 3:20 pmHoward Dean!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 3:23 pmHoly crap! This is the best we can do?
(And, for those of you advocating for Howard Dean: Get real. Please.)
February 6th, 2009 at 3:29 pmIs Obama taking Resumés? I’ve worked in every possible facet of the Health Insurance Industry and only left because I felt my soul dying.
I could lower every Americans health insurance premiums with 3 paragraphs worth of legislation.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:39 pmAnd don’t forget about Dr. and former Governor of Oregon John Kitzhaber, who instituted The Oregon Health Plan (The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) provides health care coverage to low-income Oregonians through programs administered by the Division of Medical Assistance Programs (DMAP). Currently, more than 380,000 people each month receive health care coverage through the Oregon Health Plan).
February 6th, 2009 at 3:56 pmOr not… http://news.opb.org/article/4203-kitzhaber-say-hes-not-interested-cabinet-post/
February 6th, 2009 at 4:00 pmDr. Howard Dean!
February 6th, 2009 at 4:10 pmRon Wyden is a good man. I’d be glad to see him in this position.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:18 pmHOWARD DEAN HANDS DOWN
February 6th, 2009 at 4:31 pmDonna Shalala
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERSHIPS
2001-Present
Former Director and Member of Public Responsibility Committee
Unitedhealth Group, Inc.
2001-Present
Director, Member of Digital Technology Committee and Member of Nominating & Public Responsibility Committee
Gannett Co., Inc.
2001-Present
Independent Director, Chairman of Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and Member of Independent Directors Committee
Lennar Corp.
Trustee
Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Director
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Director Emeritus
Children’s Defense Fund
Member of Advisory Board
February 6th, 2009 at 4:44 pmThe Maxwell School of Syracuse University
Edwards
February 6th, 2009 at 4:50 pmJim Jeffords, former US Senator from VT. He’s an independent, former GOP, and he’s knowledgeable on healthcare…
February 6th, 2009 at 4:56 pmK:
February 6th, 2009 at 5:31 pmWhat’s wrong with Dean? Do you think there is no way he’d be approved by the Senate, or do you have a problem with his credentials?
Dr. Howard Dean!
February 6th, 2009 at 6:05 pmDr. Howard Dean
February 6th, 2009 at 6:28 pmJan Schakowski would be my pick. she’s for HR676. the other’s might be just as good. it’s my own ignorance that i am not as familiar with their views on the health care of our nation.
February 7th, 2009 at 2:14 amEzra Klein, Don McCanne and/or Quentin Young, or Howard Dean
February 7th, 2009 at 7:22 amOh, and I’ll certainly second anyone who’s for H.R. 676, which happens to be the reform bill with the most cosponsors.
February 7th, 2009 at 7:30 amDr. Howard Dean would be an outstanding choice.
February 7th, 2009 at 9:54 amI suspect your analysis of why Dean would not be considered is probably spot-on. In this administration, “Team of Rivals” means Republicans who crap on you, not Democrats with alternative (better) ideas.
I still can’t believe how Dean has been ignored after delivering the last two election cycles for all Democrat’s benefit. Positively shameful.
February 7th, 2009 at 11:16 amLet’s not forget there is a fine pro-single payer possibility in Congressman Jim McDermott of WA State. He has public health experience, is a psychiatrist, and has been in Washington for a number of years.
In my opinion, he would be a great candidate, along with Dean.
February 7th, 2009 at 1:15 pmhoward dean is not a progressive when it comes to healthcare, he is not supportive a shift of the health paradigm to support wellness, he is a classic allopath who treats disease with drugs and thinks wellness is getting a flu shot and a mammogram, he is a poor choice
February 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pmWhat about John Podesta??
February 9th, 2009 at 4:26 pmYou will find the article below of interest as the President reportedly is considering naming Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen to his cabinet.
D’Army Bailey
By: Attorney Walter L. Bailey,
Memphis
July 9, 2007
Governor Phil Bredesen’s establishment of an all white Tennessee Supreme
Court, coupled with his delay of more than a year in rendering a decision,
still has me disconcerted. Many others have shared with me their
bewilderment as well. We all thought and hoped that Circuit Court Judge
D’Army Bailey, as one of the finalist, surely would be appointed. The
conventional wisdom was that he was a most capable jurist, having received
his law degree from Yale University and being licensed in both Tennessee
and California. He enjoyed immense popular support in his bids for
election, in 1990, and reelection, in 1998, to the Circuit Court bench.
His name is a mark of pride among most African-Americans and many whites
not only in Memphis, but in some national circles. The Judicial Selection
Commission is comprised of a cross-section of distinguished lawyers and
citizens from across the state and is very dedicated to picking the best
candidates for recommendation. It is an ideal peer evaluation process.
This esteemed committee twice recommended Judge Bailey as a candidate. So
why was Judge Bailey overlooked? Bear with me while I share my thoughts.
It appears that Governor Bredesen, though not having publicly admitted it,
has ambitions of being a candidate for the United States Senate, or
possibly even for President. This is a persistent speculation among some
of the state’s most noted journals. It also appears that the Governor
enjoys a great deal of popularity within the Republican Party ranks,
especially in East Tennessee. He probably felt that though some blacks
might find an all white Supreme Court objectionable, we are blindly
Democratic and will support him notwithstanding his contributions in
guaranteeing an all white court. Therefore, the appointment of Judge
Koch, a Republican, will garner him significant political support from
Republicans and among Republican legislators. Some may see this as clever
political maneuvering; I, however, consider it reprehensible. As an African-American I feel deeply
betrayed, not because Judge Bailey is my brother, but because the
Governor’s decision was so regressive for black Tennesseans.
Between mine and Judge Bailey’s immediate families, five of us are
lawyers; we are reverential regarding the law. We are strongly and
passionately committed to diversity at all levels of the legal system.
Symbolically and practically, diversity must be a priority in ensuring a
just system of jurisprudence. There are numerous issues that may best be
resolved when considered from diverse social and philosophical
perspectives. Indeed, the Governor himself readily acknowledge the
necessity of diversity on the Court when he called for a more diverse
panel of candidates from which to choose after Chancellor Richard
Dinkins’s withdrawal from the first panel nominated by the commission; he
seemed to ignore that necessity during his subsequent consideration of the
final slate that he received. Interestingly, his initial call for
diversity came before the November 2006 gubernatorial election, while his
final decision came well after.
Undoubtedly, the Governor’s decision will further retard this state’s
February 10th, 2009 at 1:47 pmalready all-too-slow progression towards racial equity. It will be
interesting to see whether the Governor will be forced to answer for his
insensitivity in this respect. It would be even more of a disappointment
if his decision stands without opposition or question. There are many
others who want to see progress for African-Americans stymied. They
vigorously fight against affirmative action in any form. They fight
against efforts to integrate our schools and neighborhoods. Yet they deny,
as I believe the Governor does, that racial problems are not a major
concern and that it is acceptable to not have any racial minorities on the
State Supreme Court.
If Obama was serious about having a team of rivals he would pick Conyers, Kucinich OR even Mike Moore. There is where the other side of the health care debate really sits on this issue. It would, also, get single payer advocates (like myself) off of his back and if there were to be a compromise solution it would more likely be an honest compromise between the left and the right.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:25 pmKucinich is a Catholic and as far as I know he’s in line with the Vatican insofar as their views about women’s reproductive rights. I don’t want someone like that heading HHS. Even if he’s coming out as OK with abortion and contraception these days–and he may be–it may be out of political expediency, wanting the votes, not out of a genuine change of heart.
Women comprise half this country’s population and female health issues should be at least half the HHS agenda. Any candidate who’s going to pay deserved attention to that is OK by me. Being pro-single-payer is a bonus.
Not Michael Moore, please. I like him fine as someone who creates documentaries but his appointment, even if there were a chance in hell of it occurring, would drain credibility from the Obama administration. Besides, he has absolutely no political experience.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:42 pmHoward Dean. Should have been the 1st pick long ago.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:03 pm