The Transition Team: Tom Daschle, HHS

As President Elect Barack Obama names his incoming cabinet of advisors and experts, the Daily Dose will help you track his healthcare team. First up…

Health and Human Services Secretary: Tom Daschle

Tom Daschle

Daschle, a former senator regarded as an expert on Capitol Hill dynamics, was one of the first people Obama told about his tentative plans to run for president. Daschle left the senate in 2004, the year Obama was elected; while their jobs never overlapped, sources say Obama looked to Daschle for advice on navigating the Senate. Daschle’s support of Obama during the election strained his relationship with both Clintons.

Daschle co-authored a book on health care policy called “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis.” In it, he totes what would become Obama’s major talking points: Americans should be able to keep employer based insurance, other options should be developed to supplement the uncovered, Medicare shouldn’t pay for unnecessary, harmful treatments. A key difference from Obama (and more in line with Hillary Clinton’s view) is a call for all Americans to be required to buy more health insurance.

Daschle will be in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, a $707 billion agency.