Daschle Will Bring A Lot To The Health Care Debate

Asserts Alan Stewart Carl, about President-Elect Obama's top pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services. The moderate blogger writes about former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle: "So, is he up to the task? Well, he’ll definitely come prepared with some ideas. In fact, he’s written a book on the issue. And, he’s written numerous articles advancing his ideas, including this one for the Huffington Post earlier in the year. One of Daschle’s reform ideas is to cut through the rat’s nest of bureaucracy by establishing a Federal Health Board..."

He continues his commentary: "I don’t know enough about the full scope of Daschle’s ideas to pass judgment at this point. But I do like that he seems to understand the problem isn’t just a supply issue, but a cost one as well — and it’s going to take a lot more than just throwing heaps of money at the current system. I’m not sure about this Federal Health Board but I’m completely in favor of untangling the often incomprehensible bureaucracy that’s been created by decades of local, state and national laws. Presumably, Obama tapped Daschle for this post because the President-elect intends to rely on the former Senator’s expertise and advice on health care. Obama talked big during the election about reform. But actual, workable reform is going to take a lot more than a commitment to expanding health care. It’s going to take some serious thinking and hard work. We’ll see if Daschle is up to the task, but he certainly seems to be well-versed in the issue."