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February 26, 2009 6:32 PM

Sen. Ron Wyden, also a healthy choice

The name of the Oregon Democrat immediately surfaced after President Obama's first choice to be secretary of health and human services, Tom Daschle, withdraw amidst a tax kerfuffle. As Northwest political presence picks up in the new administration, Wyden would be another powerful addition to the cabinet. Rumor has it, the job is going to Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The Democratic governor is a former state insurance commissioner, and as governor she oversees a state Medicaid plan. If health care reform is expected to be a priority for President Obama, she is a capable choice. So is Wyden, which is why his name popped up and stayed in play.

Wyden is author of the Healthy Americans Act, legislation to provide universal health insurance coverage through a market based plan. His bill has lots of Senate sponsors and its future is brighter with a new administration open to creative ideas. "If you don't fix health care, health-care expenses are going to make this banking-bailout deal look like a rounding error," Wyden told a meeting of health-industry leaders last November.

Wyden's interest in the topic go back decades in Oregon when he was an organizer and legislative director for the Gray Panthers. Lawyer Wyden also knows his way around a basketball court. This White House and president still might find a place for him.

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