Sebelius to Call for Action Now on health care

 

Wednesday, Apr 01,2009, 1:44:01 PM   Click:

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WASHINGTON_Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that if confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary, "health reform is my mission."

In written testimony prepared for his appearance before a Senate committee, Sebelius promised to President Barack Obama's goal of the redesign of the health system to cover 48 million uninsured Americans.

"Inaction is not an option. The status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable," said Sebelius, citing the high costs of health care were badly she says families and paralysis of the economy.

"Currently, there is no relief in sight, she said.

Sebelius was in health, education, labor and pensions of nearly two months after Obama's first choice for HHS secretary, the former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, has withdrawn from consideration while apologizing for failing to pay $ 140,000 in taxes and interest.

Chairman of the Committee Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Was the fight against brain cancer, but was expected to preside over the hearing on Tuesday.

Since the withdrawal of Daschle, some battle lines were drawn on Obama health plans revision. In his written testimony Sebelius did not address how to pay for the plan or a reference to what appears to be most divisions _ a proposal endorsed by Obama and many Democrats that would give Americans the opportunity to purchase medical coverage under a government plan.

This proposal has prompted strong opposition from Republicans and the insurance industry who claim that it would drive private insurers out of business.

Daschle was expected to lead to the revision of the health effort HHS secretary and head of the White House, Office of Health Reform. When he abandoned the work of reflection has been divided and a White House health czar was appointed.

Sebelius is expected to play a major role in health legislation efforts. His background in healthcare includes the blocking of an insurance company merger in Kansas while the insurance commissioner in 2001.

Sebelius, 60, a Democrat, used that victory as a central element in his campaign for governor next year, casting itself as a staunch defender of consumers.

The health committee will not actually vote on Sebelius sending "nomination to the full Senate. This is the responsibility of the Finance Committee of the Senate, which held Sebelius' confirmation hearing Thursday.

Sebelius did not address the issue in his written testimony, but it would face questions about his views on abortion. Anti-abortion groups strongly opposed Sebelius, a Catholic who supports abortion rights. She has vetoed several bills in Kansas to impose new restrictions on abortion providers or regulations on clinics. Just Friday, however, it has signed a law that ensures that women and girls seeking abortions are allowed to see the ultrasound images or hear the fetal heartbeat before the procedure.

"I feel it has strong personal opinions, but he worked hard to make abortion as rare as possible," Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., A member of the Finance Committee, said in an interview.

The Health and Human Services oversees the giant Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs for the elderly, poor and disabled, and also includes the Food and Drug Administration. The ministry has a budget of over $ 700 billion and a workforce of more than 65,000 people.

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Associated Press Writer Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report.