In naming his national health care team, President Barack Obama has named a Rockwood, Tenn., native to serve as director of the White House Office for Health Reform.
Though Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will be the public face as secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, Nancy-Ann DeParle will be guiding many of Mr. Obama’s new policy moves.
Former colleagues said Ms. DeParle’s elevation to a White House position comes after many years of distinguished public service.
Chattanooga attorney James Hall got to know Ms. DeParle through Democratic political circles.
He called her appointment a proud moment in Tennessee and for the University of Tennessee, where Ms. DeParle was the first female student body president.
“Obviously, she’s extremely intelligent and she’s a good listener and she’s a very humble person,” he said. “I’ve known her for long period of time and she’s a wonderful leader and she’s a wonderful mother and just outstanding.”
From 1987 to 1989, Ms. DeParle was commissioner of the Department of Human Services in Tennessee under Gov. Ned McWherter.
From 1993 to 1997, she was chosen by President Bill Clinton to serve as associate director for Health and Personnel at the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Nashville lawyer J.W. Luna also knew Ms. DeParle at UT. They also both served in Cabinet positions during the McWherter administration.
“I was really ecstatic to hear she was appointed,” Mr. Luna said. “She’s a fantastic person, a really brilliant mind who has a deep calling to public service.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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DeParle and Sebelius splitting what Daschle was going to oversee makes one wonder how smart Obama thought Daschle was:
http://eyeontn.com/?p=753
I am embarrassed Tennessee is involved with 'reforming' national health care. 'Reforming' really means socializing into a national health care program where the government will decide who gets health care and to what extent. Since Tennesseeans were forced into the first state-wide health care program by Al Gore and the govenor at that time in the 80's, the state's budget for this expense has gone way too overboard; and it will continue to mushroom out of bounds while it will cost the citizenry more and more of their earnings.
One good thing about DeParle's appointment is there will be one less liberal living out of state!