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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/10/health-secretary-kathleen-sebelius-to-quit-after-botched-obamacare-rollout
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Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius quits after botched Obamacare rollout | Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius quits after botched Obamacare rollout |
(35 minutes later) | |
Sebelius, | Sebelius, |
who oversaw the creation of the Affordable Care Act and has been a | who oversaw the creation of the Affordable Care Act and has been a |
lightning rod for criticism over its bungled rollout, will formally make | lightning rod for criticism over its bungled rollout, will formally make |
the announcement on Friday. | the announcement on Friday. |
Her | Her |
departure comes less than seven months before the midterm elections, in | departure comes less than seven months before the midterm elections, in |
which Democrats across the country fear they will be punished at the | which Democrats across the country fear they will be punished at the |
polls over the introduction of the healthcare law, known as Obamacare. | polls over the introduction of the healthcare law, known as Obamacare. |
A | A |
White House official told the Guardian that Obama would announce | White House official told the Guardian that Obama would announce |
Sebelius’s departure at 11am on Friday. The announcement will be made in the | Sebelius’s departure at 11am on Friday. The announcement will be made in the |
Rose Garden of the White House. Obama, standing beside his vice president Joe Biden, will announce his nomination for her replacement is Sylvia Mathews Burwell. | Rose Garden of the White House. Obama, standing beside his vice president Joe Biden, will announce his nomination for her replacement is Sylvia Mathews Burwell. |
Burwell has been director of White House’s Office of Management and Budget since April. She was unaminmously confirmed in that post by Congress, a sign that Obama hopes to avoid a protracted and bruising confirmation process. | Burwell has been director of White House’s Office of Management and Budget since April. She was unaminmously confirmed in that post by Congress, a sign that Obama hopes to avoid a protracted and bruising confirmation process. |
“Secretary | “Secretary |
Sebelius notified the president in early March of her decision,” said | Sebelius notified the president in early March of her decision,” said |
the White House official, who was not authorised to speak on the record. | the White House official, who was not authorised to speak on the record. |
“At | “At |
that time, secretary Sebelius told the president that she felt | that time, secretary Sebelius told the president that she felt |
confident in the trajectory for enrollment and implementation of the | confident in the trajectory for enrollment and implementation of the |
Affordable Care Act, and that she believed that once open enrollment | Affordable Care Act, and that she believed that once open enrollment |
ended it would be the right time to transition the department to new | ended it would be the right time to transition the department to new |
leadership.” | leadership.” |
The official added: “The president is deeply grateful for her service.” | The official added: “The president is deeply grateful for her service.” |
The | The |
White House will hope Sebelius’s departure will bring to an end one of | White House will hope Sebelius’s departure will bring to an end one of |
the rockiest chapters of Obama's presidency, which began in October | the rockiest chapters of Obama's presidency, which began in October |
after the federal healthcare website – a crucial portal on which people could | after the federal healthcare website – a crucial portal on which people could |
sign up for health insurance – was beset by technical issues. | sign up for health insurance – was beset by technical issues. |
Millions | Millions |
of people were unable to access the site, amid crashes and glitches, | of people were unable to access the site, amid crashes and glitches, |
and at periods it seems the fiasco would derail the entire healthcare | and at periods it seems the fiasco would derail the entire healthcare |
law. | law. |
Republicans | Republicans |
pounced on the bungled rollout of the federal law, which also led to | pounced on the bungled rollout of the federal law, which also led to |
some Americans losing their insurance plans, despite being promised by | some Americans losing their insurance plans, despite being promised by |
Obama they could keep their existing arrangements. | Obama they could keep their existing arrangements. |
Sebelius | Sebelius |
has been health and human services secretary since 2009, and her role | |
as a chief architect of Obamacare, a hugely complex piece of | as a chief architect of Obamacare, a hugely complex piece of |
legislation, was instrumental in the decision to keep her in post, even after the website failures. | legislation, was instrumental in the decision to keep her in post, even after the website failures. |
The | The |
timing of her departure appears to have been carefully orchestrated to | timing of her departure appears to have been carefully orchestrated to |
capitalise on the unexpectedly high numbers of people who enrolled on | capitalise on the unexpectedly high numbers of people who enrolled on |
for new healthcare plans before the deadline drew to a close last week. | for new healthcare plans before the deadline drew to a close last week. |
Contrary | Contrary |
to early fears that the stuttering website and disastrous press | to early fears that the stuttering website and disastrous press |
coverage would lead to insufficient numbers of uninsured people signing | coverage would lead to insufficient numbers of uninsured people signing |
up to under the new healthcare exchanges, Obama announced earlier this | up to under the new healthcare exchanges, Obama announced earlier this |
month that more than 7 million people had enlisted. The figure was | month that more than 7 million people had enlisted. The figure was |
higher than expected, providing a much need boost to Obama’s flagging | higher than expected, providing a much need boost to Obama’s flagging |
presidency. The White House is desperate to press home the impression it has turned a corner in the healthcare debate. | presidency. The White House is desperate to press home the impression it has turned a corner in the healthcare debate. |
A | A |
former governor of Kansas, Sebelius is one of Obama’s longest-serving | former governor of Kansas, Sebelius is one of Obama’s longest-serving |
cabinet members, although their relationship has been strained by | cabinet members, although their relationship has been strained by |
the flawed rollout of the healthcare law which, despite recent | the flawed rollout of the healthcare law which, despite recent |
improvements, will leave an indelible mark on his second term in the | improvements, will leave an indelible mark on his second term in the |
White House. | White House. |
Hours | Hours |
before the announcement of her departure was leaked on Thursday, | before the announcement of her departure was leaked on Thursday, |
Sebelius appeared on Capitol Hill, where has | Sebelius appeared on Capitol Hill, where has |
routinely been hauled before Senate and House committees for a grilling. She | routinely been hauled before Senate and House committees for a grilling. She |
made no mention of her intention to stand down when she appeared before | made no mention of her intention to stand down when she appeared before |
the Senate finance committee. Instead, she announced 400,000 more | the Senate finance committee. Instead, she announced 400,000 more |
people had enrolled for healthcare under the new law than first | people had enrolled for healthcare under the new law than first |
reported, taking the total tally to 7.5 million. | reported, taking the total tally to 7.5 million. |
The | The |
additional figures were accounted for by a decision by Sebelius to | additional figures were accounted for by a decision by Sebelius to |
allow extend the deadline individuals who have had trouble signing up | allow extend the deadline individuals who have had trouble signing up |
for plans, from 31 March until 15 April. It was one of several deadline | for plans, from 31 March until 15 April. It was one of several deadline |
extensions and last-minute changes introduced by the administration | extensions and last-minute changes introduced by the administration |
in recent months to keep Obamacare afloat. | in recent months to keep Obamacare afloat. |
The | The |
administration has not said how many of those who have already signed | administration has not said how many of those who have already signed |
up for insurance closed the deal by paying their first month’s premiums. | up for insurance closed the deal by paying their first month’s premiums. |
Neither have Sebelius or other senior officials said how many people | Neither have Sebelius or other senior officials said how many people |
lost their plans because their did not meet the requirements of the ACA. | lost their plans because their did not meet the requirements of the ACA. |
Despite | Despite |
repeatedly being pressed by senators to shed more light on the figures, | repeatedly being pressed by senators to shed more light on the figures, |
Sebelius resisted the questioning and – much as she has over the last | Sebelius resisted the questioning and – much as she has over the last |
five months – absorbed the heat on behalf of the administration. | five months – absorbed the heat on behalf of the administration. |
By | By |
appointing Burwell as her replacement, Obama has opted for an official | appointing Burwell as her replacement, Obama has opted for an official |
that has not been too closely associated with the creation of Obamacare, | that has not been too closely associated with the creation of Obamacare, |
although she has had a front-row seat druing rollout fiasco in her role | although she has had a front-row seat druing rollout fiasco in her role |
at the OMB. Previous | at the OMB. Previous |
to her administration post, Burwell ran the Bill and Melinda Gates | to her administration post, Burwell ran the Bill and Melinda Gates |
Foundation, and a shorter stint as president of the Walmart Foundation. | Foundation, and a shorter stint as president of the Walmart Foundation. |
She | She |
was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to run the government’s crucial | was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to run the government’s crucial |
budget department less than a year ago, potentially making it more | budget department less than a year ago, potentially making it more |
difficult for Republicans to object to her appointment. Still, | difficult for Republicans to object to her appointment. Still, |
her confirmation process is likely to be fraught, with Republicans, who | her confirmation process is likely to be fraught, with Republicans, who |
advocate entirely repealing Obama’s healthcare law, determined to | advocate entirely repealing Obama’s healthcare law, determined to |
punish the president and his party over the flawed rollout of the law. | punish the president and his party over the flawed rollout of the law. |
“The president sought a nominee with strong credentials in management, | “The president sought a nominee with strong credentials in management, |
implementation, and performance for this important role,” the White | implementation, and performance for this important role,” the White |
House official said, adding that Burwell has “a record of building | House official said, adding that Burwell has “a record of building |
bipartisan consensus to get things done”. | bipartisan consensus to get things done”. |
Around | Around |
50 million Americans lacked health care coverage before the | 50 million Americans lacked health care coverage before the |
introduction of Obama’s divisive healthcare reforms. The law’s passage | introduction of Obama’s divisive healthcare reforms. The law’s passage |
in 2010, and withstanding of a Supreme Court challenge and the 2012 | in 2010, and withstanding of a Supreme Court challenge and the 2012 |
presidential election, make it the single most important domestic legacy | presidential election, make it the single most important domestic legacy |
of Obama’s presidency. | of Obama’s presidency. |