Former Senator Tom Daschle Withdraws His Nomination
This week former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle withdrew from consideration to become the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Some consider Daschle’s withdrawal to be a blow to efforts to enact timely reform of the nation’s health care system, as he was viewed as someone uniquely qualified to take this project on, due to his knowledge of health policy and many close relationships in the Senate.
In addition to nominating him to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, President Obama had also planned for Daschle to serve as head of a newly created White House Office of Health Reform.
Daschle’s abrupt withdrawal came after he was questioned about his failure to pay all the taxes that he owed after leaving the Senate in 2005. BIAA anticipates that there will be a new nominee announced within the next few weeks and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
