selelius

Months after rumors started that she would be part of the Obama cabinet, today, its official. President Barack Obama has nominated Governor Kathleen Sebelius as his secretary of health and human services.

If confirmed by the Senate, which is expected, Kathleen Sebelius, who served eight years as the Kansas insurance commissioner, will be working along side Barack Obama on one of his top priorities’ overhauling the nation’s health care system in an effort to provide affordable coverage to all Americans.

Obama and Sebelius shared the stage in the nation’s capitol. It’s been more than a year since they did the same thing in El Dorado when candidate Obama visited his grandfather’s hometown.

On Monday, the president offered a number of explanations as to why Sebelius is his health and human services nominee.

“As a governor, she’s been on the front lines of our health care crisis,” President Obama said. “She has deep knowledge of what the burden of crushing costs does to our families and businesses. That’s why she fought to give Kansans access to quality, affordable health care.”

“Mr. President, I share your passion and commitment to health care reform,” Sebelius said. “During the campaign, you talked about watching your mother spending her final days battling for her insurance benefits; a situation all too familiar to too many Americans.”

Fellow Kansans Pat Roberts and Bob Dole were also there to lend their support to Sebelius.

“People in Kansas, we stick together,” President Obama said. “I’ve got my own Kansas roots here.”

Sebelius said her Kansas roots made accepting the nomination a very difficult decision.

“You, Mr. President, reminded me that it’s possible to help Kansas, and help the United States at the same time,” she said.

It was just about three months ago when Sebelius announced she was removing her name for a possible cabinet position, saying she had too many responsibilities in Kansas.

There is no word yet on when her confirmation hearings might begin. Her biggest opposition at this point appears to be from the pro-life movement.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site can be found by clicking on the following links http’//www.hhs.gov/