Obama's New White House Office of Health Reform

Jeanne Lambrew

Today at 11 am Eastern, Obama will officially announce Tom Daschle as his choice to head up Health and Human Services. Daschle will also direct a new department, according to Politico:

Daschle will also be director of a new WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF HEALTH REFORM. The deputy director will be Jeanne M. Lambrew, a Senior Fellow at American Progress and an associate professor of public affairs at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. She was one of two 'narrators' who co-wrote Daschle's health-care book, 'Critical,' out early this year. Her bio says that during the Clinton administration, 'She was the White House lead on drafting and implementing the Children's Health Insurance Program ... She also worked at the Department of Health and Human Services during the 1993-1994 health reform efforts.'

Politico's Chris Frates scoops: 'President-elect Obama will name Mark Miller, executive director of Congress' Medicare advisory agency, as head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.'

But will Obama answer questions about Blagojevich? I sure hope so.
Politico's questions:

PRESS CORPS PREP – Politico's Kenneth P. Vogel and Carrie Budoff Brown, '7 Blago questions for Obama' at his news conference this morning, his first since Blagojevich was charged:

1 – 'Did you communicate directly or indirectly with Blagojevich about picking your replacement in the U.S. Senate?'

2 – 'Why didn't you or someone on your team correct your close adviser David Axelrod when he said you had spoken to Blagojevich about picking your replacement?'

Last month, Axelrod unambiguously described a conversation between Obama and Blagojevich about filling the seat. 'I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them,' Axelrod told an interviewer from Chicago's Fox affiliate. ... Axelrod issued a statement [Tuesday] saying he 'was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then, or at any time, discuss the subject.'

3 -- 'When did you learn the investigation involved Blagojevich's alleged efforts to 'sell' your Senate seat, or of the governor's impending arrest?'

4 – 'Did you or anyone close to you contact the FBI or U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald about Blagojevich's alleged efforts to sell your Senate seat to the highest bidder?'

5 – 'Did federal investigators interview you or anyone close to you in the investigation?'

6 – 'When did you and Blagojevich last speak and about what?'

7 – 'Do you regret supporting Blagojevich?'