Kansas Gov Sebelius Accepts Offer as Health Secretary

Apparently, President Barack Obama asked Gov Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kansas) on Saturday to become his nominee for secretary of health and human services. Gov Sebelius accepted the president's offer and will be introduced by President Obama at the White House on Monday. She became one of then-Sen Obama's most valued allies when she endorsed him early in the presidential nomination battle. She has been discussed for a variety of positions, including vice president and other cabinet jobs. A two-term state insurance commissioner and second-term Democratic governor in a reliably Republican state, Gov Sebelius has a reputation for bipartisanship. Although her main assignment would be running a large and complicated department with 65,000 employees, a $700 billion budget and involvement in everything from food safety to bioterrorism, Ms. Sebelius, if confirmed by the Senate, would presumably also be a key figure in the battle to extend health care coverage to more than 40 million uninsured people.