CNN: Obama Picks Daschle to be HHS Secretary

WASHINGTON—President-elect Barack Obama has picked former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services, according to a report by CNN.

CNN said three sources close to the presidential transition said Daschle, the former Senate Majority Leader, indicated that he wants the job.

In addition, CNN reported that Daschle will also be the incoming administration’s “healthcare czar” and will report directly to Obama. “The significance is this guarantees that by wearing two hats Daschle, and not White House staffers, will be writing the health care plan that Obama submits to Congress next year,” according to CNN.

Daschle advised Obama during this year’s presidential campaign and is a supporter of a government-funded healthcare program to cover the nearly 46 million Americans who don’t have health insurance.

In early October, Politico speculated as to who might be HHS secretary in an Obama administration. Daschle was first on the list.

Politico said some of the pros to a Daschle appointment included his participation in the failed 1993 Clinton healthcare plan, which means he “understands the game.” He also laid out his healthcare reform ideas in a new book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.”

On the other hand, Politico said his long tenure as the Democratic Senate leader left Daschle with a reputation as a "political animal" that could make it more difficult to create the type of bipartisan deal needed for healthcare reform.

No timetable for the announcement has been set, according to CNN. However, in the next few weeks, Daschle is expected to join the Obama transition team as a lead healthcare advisor.