Finally, the 99th day of the Obama Presidency, his cabinet is complete with the confirmation vote for Kathleen Sebelius, the Governor of Kansas, as Secretary of Health and Human Services. It certainly is a necessary situation to have an HHS Secretary finally, with the Swine Flu crisis that has emerged these last few days in America. Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security Secretary, has been filling in during the early days of this new challenge.
Now the question is how far will Obama go to obtain a real reform of our health care system. In many ways, this is the biggest domestic policy issue after dealing with the economic crisis that became evident last September. Sebelius should be able to articulate a program that will gain the backing of the Democratic majority in both houses. There is no time to waste, as we remain the only industrial democracy still allowing health insurance corporations to control the destiny of the people and allow nearly 50 million Americans to have no health care plan other than the emergency room.
The Second Hundred Days ending in early August will be judged to a great extent by the action on a health care plan. It is time for the party of the President to unite around the President as he attempts to bring necessary health care reform, which is long overdue.