Daschle Also to Oversee New Health Reform Office

President-elect Barack Obama today announced his choice of former Sen. Tom Daschle as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and chief of the new White House Office of Health Reform. After losing re-election in 2004 as South Dakota's Democratic senator, Daschle worked as a public policy advisor and on the legislative and public policy group at the law firm Alston & Bird. Daschle counseled clients about health care, financial services, taxes, and trade, according to the firm's Web site. He is not a registered lobbyist. In addition to his HHS portfolio, Daschle will coordinate efforts within the administration to reform the nation's health care system, according to a Democratic official familiar with the plans. "He will be the White House's voice on this critical issue," said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the subject.

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