Daschle outlines reform plan during confirmation hearing

During the first day of confirmation hearings for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle formally began the process of laying out the Obama Administration’s plans for health reform (Source: “Daschle Lays Out a Plan to Overhaul Health Care,” New York Times, Jan. 9, 2009).

Speaking before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Daschle said that the nation’s economic struggles only make health reform more pressing.

“As we face a harsh and deep recession, the problem of the uninsured is likely to grow,” he said.

After the hearing, Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts said “Reform is urgently needed and Tom Daschle is just the person for the job.”

Less enthusiastic about Daschle’s nomination is Robert Moffit of the Herritage Foundation, who in an opinion piece on the think tank’s Web site offers questions he would like to see asked of Daschle (Source: "Key Questions for Senator Tom Daschle, Nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services,” The Heritage Foundation Web Site, Jan. 7, 2009).

Although his confirmation is fairly certain, Daschle is expected to face tougher questions about spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlement programs when he appears before the Senate Finance Committee for a second round of confirmation hearings.