-->

• Kathleen Sebelius is the United States Health and Human Services Secretary. Before accepting the position with the Obama Administration, Sebelius was the 44th governor of Kansas. She delivered the Democratic response to President Bush's 2008 State of the Union Address on January 29, 2008, and was one of four co-chairs for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.The Wichita Eagle: Sebelius will be at center of Democratic convention

  On June 16, 2009, Sebelius indicated during an interview that a public-run health plan was still in the works and would create a healthy competition within the industry, rather than drive private insurers out of business as opponents of the plan fear.National Public Radio: Sebelius says public plan to survive (June 16, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: May 15, 1948
  2. Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
  3. Confirmed into office: April 28, 2009
  4. Party: Democrat
  5. Spouse: Gary Sebelius
  6. Father: Former Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan
  7. Alma mater: Trinity Washington University, University of Kansas
  8. Previous position held: Governor of Kansas
  9. Second female governor of Kansas
  10. Time called her one of the five best American governors in 2005
  11. Was considered an Obama VP possibilityCNN.com: Obama VP team discusses 20 possible picks (June 10, 2008)
  12. Co-chairwoman of the 2008 Democratic National ConventionKansas City Star: Sebelius to speak at Democratic National Convention

• Early Life

  Sebelius earned her Master's degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. She served in the Kansas House of Representatives before becoming insurance commissioner in 1994.

• Positions

  1. Pro-choice
  2. Opposes concealed handgun rights; repealed a law banning civilian machine gun ownership
  3. Opposes capital punishment

• Department of Health and Human Services

  On March 2, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services.USAToday.com: It's official: Sebelius to be nominated (March 2, 2009) Sebelius was officially sworn in on March 31, 2009, in a confirmation hearing chaired by senator Ted Kennedy, who was making a rare appearance. During the hearings she highlighted increasing health costs as the greatest threat to the country's long-term economic stability. CNN: Sebelius confirmation hearings open on Capitol Hill (March 31, 2009)

  The Senate Finance Committee voted 15 to 8 in favor of sending Kathleen Sebelius' nomination for Health Secretary to the Senate for a full vote on April 21, 2009. On April 28, 2009, in a vote of 65-31, the U.S. Senate confirmed Sebelius' appointment to secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Bloomberg: Sebelius Confirmed, Completing Obama's Cabinet With Flu Leader (April 28, 2009)

• Sebelius and Obama

  Sebelius was an early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential run, and was rumored to be a strong contender for a Cabinet seat. But in December 2008, Sebelius removed her name from consideration, sparking speculation that she might run for a Senate seat in 2010.Politico: Sebelius sparks Senate speculation (December 16, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Kathleen Sebelius VP | Barack Obama | University of Kansas | 2008 Democratic Convention | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | State of the Union Address 2008 | Kansas | Nancy Ann DeParle

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page