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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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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius quits after botched Obamacare rollout | Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius quits after botched Obamacare rollout |
| (about 11 hours 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 | 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 Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell welcomed Sebelius' resignation but appeared to indicate an willingness to open dialogue with Burwell even as he declared that "Obamacare has to go." | |
| "I hope this is the start of a candid conversation about Obamacare's shortcomings and the need to protect Medicare," said McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. | |
| 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. |
| House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, a staunch supporter of the health care law, praised Sebelius as a "forceful, effective and essential" member of the administration. "Secretary Sebelius was a leader in the long effort to make history for our country with passage of the Affordable Care Act," the California Democrat said in a statement. | |
| 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. |