President Barack Obama plans to nominate Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sebelius was an early Obama supporter. She will be charged with reforming the nation's health care system as head of a department that includes the Indian Health Service.

In Kansas, Sebelius has a mixed record on tribal issues. The Kickapoo Tribe declared a health care emergency when its IHS contract health care funds ran out but didn't appear to get any support from the state.

Her administration went after tribes for not collecting a gasoline distribution tax in a dispute that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. She signed compacts for off-reservation casinos but later backed a commercial casino law that tribes opposed.

Obama's first HHS nominee, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota), a strong tribal advocate, withdrew due to tax problems.

Get the Story:
Sebelius's Political Skills, Experience Win Plaudits (The Washington Post 3/2)
Obama Pick Gets a 2nd Chance on Health Care (The New York Times 3/2)

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