Daschle accepts Health and Human Services Cabinet post

By Barbara Soderlin and Kevin Woster, Journal staff | Friday, November 21, 2008

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Dr. Kevin Weiland was a teenager in 1978 when Tom Daschle made his first run for the U.S. House, and since he couldn't yet vote, Weiland volunteered to drive seniors to the polls in Madison, where he lived.

In the initial count, Daschle won the race by just 14 votes, and since Weiland had driven 17 seniors to the polls, the new congressman thanked the teen for the winning effort.

Thirty years later, on Wednesday, Weiland -- now an internal medicine specialist in Rapid City -- was e-mailing Daschle congratulations on his new job as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a Cabinet-level position in President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

"I just think it's great to have Tom Daschle back in D.C. working again," Weiland said. "Knowing him since 1978, he just had a real passion for health care."

The doctor said Daschle would fight for veterans' health care, the uninsured and for patient access to primary care.

Daschle, a close adviser to Obama throughout his presidential campaign, recently wrote a book on his proposals to improve health care, and he is working with former Senate leaders on recommendations to improve the system.

"I kind of had a feeling this would be his destiny," Weiland said Wednesday.

Daschle's work with the Department of Health and Human Services will include oversight of many large programs that affect South Dakotans, including the Indian Health Service, Medicare and Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health research organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The department has a budget of $707.7 billion and employs nearly 65,000.

Weiland and others in health care and politics here praised Daschle's work and said as secretary he would be good for Americans and good for South Dakota.

"To have a personal connection and someone who knows our state, it will improve," state Secretary of Health Doneen Hollingsworth said, referring to health care here.

"He will not forget his roots," she said. "He's a very strong leader in a very important position in a very critical time in our country."

Hollingsworth said Daschle's experience with rural health care issues, Native American health care disparities and his accessibility to his constituents will all be assets that will help the state.

"So often, we struggle; for example, when we talk to people in the Beltway about rural health issues, people can't understand how rural we are," she said. "That's nothing we'll have to teach the secretary. He knows it well."

Robert Moore, a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Council member, agreed Daschle's appointment reflects well on South Dakota and will bring good news in health care for Native Americans nationwide.

"I think it's a great honor for South Dakota. And I think it's a great opportunity for tribal nations to really be involved in determining the future of our health care," Moore said. "Some years ago, Sen. Daschle was one of the first to raise the awareness of health care disparities in Indian Country by taking to the U.S. Senate floor charts showing those disparities."

The charts showed that the federal government spent more per capita on health care for federal prisoners than for Native Americans, Moore said.

Moore expects Daschle's understanding of tribal struggles and respect for treaty rights to permeate the HHS staff and programs.

"I'm hopeful that as he moves forward with choosing staff members in HHS that they, too, are mindful of trust responsibilities, treaty obligations and the philosophy of making quality health care for Native Americans a priority," he said.

Former South Dakota Gov. Bill Janklow called Obama's selection of Daschle "a brilliant decision." Although a Republican, Janklow worked closely with Daschle when the Democrat was minority and majority leader in the U.S. Senate on programs and projects beneficial to South Dakota.

"Most politicians talk. Tom sits and listens and talks last. He lets everybody have their say," Janklow said. "He's not an arguer. He's always calm. He doesn't get ruffled. And he's smart. I mean, he's smart."

Janklow said those who think Daschle's appointment will bring sweet deals specifically for South Dakota are wrong. Daschle will take a broader view in his new position, and in the long run, that will benefit South Dakota.

"What's in it for South Dakota? Good government," Janklow said. "What's good for America is good for South Dakota."

South Dakota Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said she was waiting for official confirmation of the appointment. But she noted Daschle's experience in health care issues in the U.S. Senate and his leadership role on health care in Obama's transition team. She said appointing Daschle as HHS head was a "wise choice" by Obama.

Herseth Sandlin said Daschle would bring skills and knowledge to the job that would help with key issues such as health care in rural areas and providing better service to those now underinsured and uninsured.

"Obviously, I'd be excited to have him serve in that role," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.