Daschle appointment makes South Dakota a player
Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Tom Daschle as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would ensure the agency has a leader with good, practical insights into health care at its basic level, several South Dakotans in the industry said Wednesday.
Becky Nelson, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, said the former three-term senator is knowledgeable, pragmatic and inclusive.
"We're very excited and pleased and feel that it's such an honor for former Senator Daschle and for South Dakota to have a South Dakota-born boy in the Cabinet of the president-elect, it's just phenomenal," she said in an interview.
Nelson called Daschle a skilled statesman who understands health care at every level.
Daschle is indeed well-qualified, said Bob Burns, retired head of the South Dakota State University Political Science Department.
"Our nation has many, many challenges, none of which I believe are insurmountable. But it's going to take some quality people being able to reach compromise decisions for our nation to overcome those challenges," Burns said.
Among the challenges Daschle would confront: Medicare, Social Security and the nation's uninsured.
Democratic officials said he had accepted the offer but the appointment has not been announced.
The South Dakota Democrat has been a close adviser to President-elect Barack Obama and recently wrote a book proposing ways to improve health care. He's also working with former Senate leaders on recommendations to improve the system.
Daschle served eight years in the U.S. House and 18 years in the Senate before losing a 2004 re-election bid to Republican John Thune. He served 10 years as Democratic party leader, which "gives him some great credentials on working with health care reform in the United States Congress," Burns said.
"And even though Health and Human Services is a large and complex Cabinet department, his past experience shows he's got the leadership to lead that department."
For South Dakotans, the appointment would mean all aspects of the population will be well represented as the health care debate begins next year, including farmers, American Indian reservation residents and seniors, said Sarah Jennings, AARP state director.
"His roots are firmly in South Dakota," she said.
Access to care is a major concern for the state's rural areas, so it's not just limited to Sioux Falls and Rapid City, Jennings said.
Sanford's Nelson said she talked with Daschle for about a half hour several weeks ago about health care reform and Obama's vision. "I think Daschle has been such a supporter of Obama and his ideas, his approach and knowledge of South Dakota will help."
Nelson said Daschle's practice of visiting all of South Dakota's counties when he was campaigning gives him a deep understanding of health care at every level.
She also said he knows the positive aspects of the U.S. health care system along with the problems it's facing.
Daschle "was a friend of health care in South Dakota when he was in the Senate," said Bud Jones of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations.
"We're really pleased that he understands rural health care."
Jones said his organization's board, meeting Wednesday, passed a resolution of congratulations for Daschle.
Burns said he couldn't think of another South Dakotan who has served at the Cabinet level.
Having someone from the state in that spot would ensure rural health care needs such as skyrocketing costs are addressed, he said. And though Indian Health Services is under the Interior Department, Daschle's background working with American Indians would ensure they are included in any comprehensive health care plan, Burns said.
Though Daschle played a political role in getting Obama elected, the president-elect is choosing qualified people for key positions, he said.
And if his health care plan would save money, it could be part of the solution to getting the economy on track and not an issue that has to wait, Burns said.
"There's no question we can bring greater efficiencies," he said.
"President-elect Obama couldn't have made a better choice" than Daschle, said Rick Hauffe, executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party.
Daschle has much credibility and a real knowledge of health care problems, Hauffe said.
"The best news is that we have a real strong consumer advocate in the health care position, so he understands the position very well but whose greatest concern is going to be the affordability and the availability of quality health care to people of all ages and income levels," he said.
Former state Republican Party chairman Joel Rosenthal said that although he disagrees with Daschle's philosophy and many of his positions, he's very capable, "a good pick" for the position and would represent South Dakota well.
"I've been sort of Tom Daschle's adversary, but I've always admired his ability," Rosenthal said.
Becky Nelson, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, said the former three-term senator is knowledgeable, pragmatic and inclusive.
"We're very excited and pleased and feel that it's such an honor for former Senator Daschle and for South Dakota to have a South Dakota-born boy in the Cabinet of the president-elect, it's just phenomenal," she said in an interview.
Nelson called Daschle a skilled statesman who understands health care at every level.
Daschle is indeed well-qualified, said Bob Burns, retired head of the South Dakota State University Political Science Department.
"Our nation has many, many challenges, none of which I believe are insurmountable. But it's going to take some quality people being able to reach compromise decisions for our nation to overcome those challenges," Burns said.
Among the challenges Daschle would confront: Medicare, Social Security and the nation's uninsured.
Democratic officials said he had accepted the offer but the appointment has not been announced.
The South Dakota Democrat has been a close adviser to President-elect Barack Obama and recently wrote a book proposing ways to improve health care. He's also working with former Senate leaders on recommendations to improve the system.
Daschle served eight years in the U.S. House and 18 years in the Senate before losing a 2004 re-election bid to Republican John Thune. He served 10 years as Democratic party leader, which "gives him some great credentials on working with health care reform in the United States Congress," Burns said.
"And even though Health and Human Services is a large and complex Cabinet department, his past experience shows he's got the leadership to lead that department."
For South Dakotans, the appointment would mean all aspects of the population will be well represented as the health care debate begins next year, including farmers, American Indian reservation residents and seniors, said Sarah Jennings, AARP state director.
"His roots are firmly in South Dakota," she said.
Access to care is a major concern for the state's rural areas, so it's not just limited to Sioux Falls and Rapid City, Jennings said.
Sanford's Nelson said she talked with Daschle for about a half hour several weeks ago about health care reform and Obama's vision. "I think Daschle has been such a supporter of Obama and his ideas, his approach and knowledge of South Dakota will help."
Nelson said Daschle's practice of visiting all of South Dakota's counties when he was campaigning gives him a deep understanding of health care at every level.
She also said he knows the positive aspects of the U.S. health care system along with the problems it's facing.
Daschle "was a friend of health care in South Dakota when he was in the Senate," said Bud Jones of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations.
"We're really pleased that he understands rural health care."
Jones said his organization's board, meeting Wednesday, passed a resolution of congratulations for Daschle.
Burns said he couldn't think of another South Dakotan who has served at the Cabinet level.
Having someone from the state in that spot would ensure rural health care needs such as skyrocketing costs are addressed, he said. And though Indian Health Services is under the Interior Department, Daschle's background working with American Indians would ensure they are included in any comprehensive health care plan, Burns said.
Though Daschle played a political role in getting Obama elected, the president-elect is choosing qualified people for key positions, he said.
And if his health care plan would save money, it could be part of the solution to getting the economy on track and not an issue that has to wait, Burns said.
"There's no question we can bring greater efficiencies," he said.
"President-elect Obama couldn't have made a better choice" than Daschle, said Rick Hauffe, executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party.
Daschle has much credibility and a real knowledge of health care problems, Hauffe said.
"The best news is that we have a real strong consumer advocate in the health care position, so he understands the position very well but whose greatest concern is going to be the affordability and the availability of quality health care to people of all ages and income levels," he said.
Former state Republican Party chairman Joel Rosenthal said that although he disagrees with Daschle's philosophy and many of his positions, he's very capable, "a good pick" for the position and would represent South Dakota well.
"I've been sort of Tom Daschle's adversary, but I've always admired his ability," Rosenthal said.
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