Sen. Pat Roberts called for the resignation of Kathleen Sebelius Friday night, saying her reign as secretary of Health and Human Services is a failure. YES, the rollout is rocky. Bound to happen when you let outsiders design and operate your own system. And so contrary to our inherent bootstrap mentality.
The proof? U.S. citizens applying for health insurance have overwhelmed the federal government’s internet sites.
No, Sen. Roberts, the secretary and her crew are to be commended for their ongoing efforts to promote the new health care program.
And it’s Kansas’ fault for not designing its own program to handle the purchase of insurance premiums.
States that defaulted to the federal marketplace — including Kansas — are experiencing problems getting on the network. In truth, never in their wildest dreams did federal officials think so many states would defer to the federal program.
State-run operations are seeing a higher rate of success of entering applicants into the health exchanges where they review myriad premiums to suit their health needs and pocket books.
As of last week, Washington state already had enrolled more than 9,400; Connecticut, 1,175; New York, 40,000; and California, 16,000.
Let us remember, that Kansas refunded more than $30 million when Gov. Brownback came into office and told Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger he did not want Kansas to participate in the design phase of the marketplaces.
Had we stayed the course, many Kansans would be resting easy by this point knowing their insurance was in place; not to mention the extra money in our budget for taking a lead in the health care overhaul.
Roberts’ attack was disingenuous. U.S. citizens know the system’s glitches are because of high demand, and yes, a learning curve needs to be aggressively addressed.
The mean-spirited attack is also a sorry picture of Roberts’ loyalties. As a young man, Roberts began his career serving as an aide to Sebelius’ father-in-law, Congressman Keith Sebelius, in 1969, and in fact, succeeded him in Congress.
The two families have known each other for decades, enjoying a “special relationship,” Roberts said when he introduced Sebelius at her Senate confirmation hearing and voted for her nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
How the tides turn when politics dictate loyalties.
— Susan Lynn
Roberts sacrifices longterm friendship for political chit
