Research Briefing

THEY SAID IT!

Obama’s HHS Secretary Says She’s “Not A Principal” In Democrats’ Government-Run Health Care Negotiations 

WHY CAN’T OBAMA’S HHS SECRETARY GUARANTEE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN FUTURE GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE NEGOTIATIONS?

Obama’s HHS Secretary Can’t Guarantee Transparency Of Health Care Negotiations Because She’s “Not A Principal In The Negotiations.” “Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, told Congress on Wednesday that she could not guarantee greater openness in negotiations over legislation to remake the nation’s health care system. ‘I am not a principal in the negotiations,’ Ms. Sebelius said in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee. ‘Nor is my staff.’ Ms. Sebelius said administration officials provided ‘technical support’ to Congress, but did not control the negotiations. (Robert Pear, “Health Official Can’t Guarantee Openness In Talks,” The New York Times, 2/4/10)

And Obama’s Secret Negotiations To Push Government-Run Health Care Bill Continue As “White House Aides Have Privately Told Dem Congressional Aides That the White House Supports The House Passing The Senate Health Reform Bill With A Reconciliation Fix.” (Greg Sargent, “White House Privately Signaling Support For House Passing Senate Bill With Fix, Aides Say,” WhoRunsGov.com’s “The Plum Line,” Blog, 2/3/10)