Obama announces Sebelius resignation, successor

President Barack Obama and his nominee to become Health and Human Services secretary, Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell, right, listen as outgoing Secretary Kathleen Sebelius speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Friday, April 11, 2014, where the president made the announcement.
President Barack Obama and his nominee to become Health and Human Services secretary, Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell, right, listen as outgoing Secretary Kathleen Sebelius speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Friday, April 11, 2014, where the president made the announcement.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama praised outgoing Health and Human Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for helping to steer his health care law's comeback after a rocky rollout, even as he nominated a successor aimed at helping the White House move past the political damage.

"Under Kathleen's leadership, her team at HHS turned the corner, got it fixed, got the job done," Obama said in a Rose Garden ceremony Friday morning. "And the final score speaks for itself."

About 7.5 million people have signed up for health insurance through the new law, exceeding expectations after website woes stymied sign-ups for weeks when enrollment opened last fall.

Obama nominated his budget chief, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, to replace Sebelius, calling her "a proven manager" who knows how to get results. Burwell was confirmed by the Senate 96-0 for her current post last year.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Upcoming Events