Whether or not you subscribe to the Axelrod principle that the 100th Day of President Obama’s term was nothing more than a Hallmark holiday for the inside-the-Beltway crew, it remains undeniable that Obama’s first 100 days were the most action-packed of any President’s in history. On top of the economy, Iraq and Afghanistan, just look at the events of the past five days.
Sebelius, Specter, swine flu – and now Justice David Souter. Is it humanly possible to add more political excitement to this week?
On the eve of Day 100, Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius was finally confirmed as HHS Secretary, just in time to lead the government’s efforts to address the formerly-known-as-swine-flu outbreak. First order of business was to jump in at the helm to oversee the Administration’s rebranding plan to rename the outbreak the H1N1 flu. But swine flu was quickly overtaken by Specter fever.
Preempting the Sebelius announcement Tuesday and momentarily eclipsing the potential pandemic was even bigger news from Capitol Hill. Arlen Specter, the senior senator from PA, dropped the filibuster bombshell that he was crossing the aisle to join the Democratic Party. Facing an increasingly challenging fight in Republican primary from staunch conservative Pat Toomey, Specter made a strategic choice to forgo his GOP seniority and run for reelection as a Democrat.
The impact of this week’s seismic political developments on health care goes well beyond political lines and H1N1. Sebelius’ swearing in means that Obama’s health team can now take shape. The health care community anxiously awaits Peggy Hamburg’s confirmation as FDA Commissioner and hopes that nominees for permanent heads at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as the Surgeon General, will proceed quickly. Obama Administration health reform efforts that have been hindered without a leader at HHS can now move forward, too.
Turning back to Specter, a loss in 2010 would be a huge blow to the health community. Specter has been one the most vocal Congressional champions of medical research, embryonic stem cell innovation and support for the NIH. Just this week he introduced the Cures Acceleration Network (CAN) Act, which would help to speed the translation of basic science into new health treatments. The two-time cancer survivor reasserted his commitment to strengthening the nation’s research capacity in his announcement Tuesday. In the bigger picture, Specter could potentially give the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate to pass key legislation. Democrats clearly hope Specter will put his support behind their health reform initiatives and other legislative priorities.
And finally, with the news today that Souter will reportedly step down from the court as early as this June, the President will have his first opening to name a new Supreme to the bench, arguably the greatest opportunity any Administration has to influence long-lasting policy change. With Specter’s move to the Democrats, Obama may have the potential luxury of a filibuster-proof Senate to confirm his nominee. And breathing room to move past the chaotic, politically divisive first 100 days to fully implement his platform for change.
Courtney Gray Haupt, Senior Director, Public Affairs and Health Policy