Reports: Obama Chooses Daschle as HHS Secretary

The Washington Post reports that President-elect Obama has chosen former Senate Majority Leader and South Dakota Democrat Tom Daschle as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Sources also report that Daschle will be given broad healthcare policy responsibilities that include expanding healthcare coverage while reducing costs.

Daschle’s book, "Critical: What We Can Do about the Health-Care Crisis," called for a healthcare oversight entity similar to the Federal Reserve Board. He was supporter of the failed Clinton health plan in the early 90s.

The Republication National Committee is already criticizing the choice of Daschle, an early Obama backer, saying that both Daschle and his wife work for lobbying firms.