Behind-The-Scenes Players Daschle, Carper, Orszag Help Guide Health Debate - Kaiser Health News

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Though he has no official government position, Tom Daschle, a former Senate leader and one-time nominee for health secretary, is still attending key health-reform meetings, the Associated Press reports. "The outsized role is unusual for someone who's an adviser to lobbying firms, especially given Obama's campaign vow to change business as usual in Washington," according to the AP. This week, Daschle met with current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and the "actual HHS secretary, Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius was Obama's second choice for the job after Daschle withdrew amid (a) tax controversy." A spokesman for Reid said it was President Obama's idea to include Daschle in the overhaul effort (Werner, 12/2).

Meanwhile, "Daschle's history as an adviser to some of the health care industry's most influential companies is raising the ire of public interest groups and GOP officials, who have questioned his increasingly prominent roll," Politico reports. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said "Mr. Daschle's presence in this meeting raises serious ethical concerns and should make clear to the American people that special interests, not their interests" are at issue in the health debate (Frates and Brown, 12/2).

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