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Daschle vows to improve health care system

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 9, 2009

WASHINGTON - Tom Daschle told former Senate colleagues yesterday that as health secretary he would learn from Bill Clinton's failed attempt to overhaul health care, an effort criticized as too long, secretive and hard to understand.

"These are good arguments for undertaking reform in a way that is aggressive, open and responsive to Americans' concerns," President-elect Barack Obama's choice to head the Health and Human Services Department said at a hearing. "They are not good arguments for ignoring the problem."

Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader from South Dakota, kicked off the Senate's hearings on Obama's cabinet designees. It was friendly territory as lawmakers he once served with offered praise but few tough questions for what will be a difficult and expensive assignment.

The Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee summoned Daschle, although the Senate Finance Committee will be the panel that votes on the nomination.

He described the U.S. health care system as expensive, mediocre and too often unavailable to those in need. Another former Senate majority leader, Republican Bob Dole of Kansas, helped introduce Daschle at the hearing. Dole said Daschle had a strong understanding of health care and knew how to get things done.

"If anyone understands Congress, it's Tom Daschle," Dole said.

Daschle told lawmakers they would be partners in whatever plans were developed to improve the system. "President-elect Barack Obama recognizes that many of you have been working for many years on these issues, and that any effort at reform will require close collaboration with Congress," he said.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the committee chairman, began the hearing with the first of several warm welcomes for Daschle.

"Reform is urgently needed and Tom Daschle is just the person for the job," said Kennedy (D-Mass.).

In the coming months, Kennedy's committee is expected to help craft legislation to expand health insurance coverage. Lawmakers were eager to get Daschle's perspective.

Republicans said they want to work with Daschle on overhauling the system and asked for his assurance he would seek their input.

"It's the only way we're going to get something done," said Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi, the committee's top Republican.