It didn't take long for President Obama to name a new head for the Department of Health and Human Services after the White House announced Kathleen Sebelius' departure last night. At a press conference this morning, the president said he will tap Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the current director of the Office of Management and Budget and a former member of the Clinton administration, for the job.
Obama praised Sebelius, saying she will "go down in history" for her role helping shape and rollout the Affordable Care Act (commonly known as ObamaCare). He acknowledged there were problems during the debut of the health care law, but said her team "got it fixed." He added: "I will miss her advice. I will miss her friendship. I will miss her wit."
As for Burwell, Obama called her a "proven manager" and "a steady hand on the wheel." He also noted that she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate last year for her current post. "I'm assuming not much has changed since that time," he joked.
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