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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama 'plans Daschle health post' | Obama 'plans Daschle health post' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President-elect Barack Obama will appoint senior Democrat Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services Secretary, according to US media reports. | US President-elect Barack Obama will appoint senior Democrat Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services Secretary, according to US media reports. |
| Mr Daschle was the Democrats' Senate Majority Leader from 2001 until 2003. | Mr Daschle was the Democrats' Senate Majority Leader from 2001 until 2003. |
| As head of the health and human services department, Mr Daschle will oversee Mr Obama's proposed reforms to the US healthcare system. | |
| Mr Obama has said that establishing a system of universal healthcare coverage is one of his top priorities. | Mr Obama has said that establishing a system of universal healthcare coverage is one of his top priorities. |
| Senate heavyweight | |
| During the election campaign, Mr Obama pledged to offer a new state-administered health insurance plan to people who are currently uninsured, while assuring people who are satisfied with their existing employer-provided coverage that they would not be forced to give it up. | During the election campaign, Mr Obama pledged to offer a new state-administered health insurance plan to people who are currently uninsured, while assuring people who are satisfied with their existing employer-provided coverage that they would not be forced to give it up. |
| The details of his reform package could change, however, as Mr Obama attempts to push legislation through Congress. | The details of his reform package could change, however, as Mr Obama attempts to push legislation through Congress. |
| The BBC's Adam Brookes, in Washington, says the decision to appoint Mr Daschle shows that Mr Obama feels he needs a senate heavyweight to help him persuade Congress to back the reforms. | |
| The news of Mr Daschle's probable appointment follows reports that Mr Obama has decided to appoint Eric Holder as his attorney-general, and may ask former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination Hillary Clinton to serve as secretary of state. |