health and human services

Gays Get Hospital Visitation Rights

Staff / Truthdig Apr 16, 2010 Addressing an important rights issue, President Barack Obama has written a memo ordering hospitals in the U.S. to grant to gay and lesbian partners the same visitation privileges already enjoyed by married heterosexual couples. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Colbert Drops the Act for Haiti

Staff / Truthdig Jan 16, 2010 In a rare moment of on-air candor, Stephen Colbert consults with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius about the situation in Haiti and learns a very important texting trick that viewers can use to send money, now, to add to the earthquake relief effort. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Taps Sebelius for Top Health Post

Staff / Truthdig Mar 3, 2009 Let's try this again, shall we? Tom Daschle didn't make the cut, but President Obama has a new contender for secretary of health and human services. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who may be vulnerable to attacks on the abortion issue, faces a potentially challenging confirmation process. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Daschle Drops Out

Staff / Truthdig Feb 4, 2009 Memo to anyone still angling for a top position in the Obama administration: Pay your taxes. Tom Daschle is the latest political player to find himself out of the running -- in his case, to head the Department of Health and Human Services -- after tax issues came to light. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Obama Backs Embattled Daschle

Staff / Truthdig Feb 3, 2009 Will tax problems sink former US Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's chances of becoming the next U health secretary? President Obama apparently hopes that this won't be the case. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Settles on 3 More Cabinet Picks, Sources Say

Staff / Truthdig Nov 20, 2008 Those famous "multiple Democratic sources close to the transition" have revealed three more members of Barack Obama's Cabinet: Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as secretary of health and human services, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as chief of homeland security and Obama's billionaire buddy and top fundraiser Penny Pritzker to head the Commerce Department. Update: Pritzker is out. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )