Kathleen Sebelius' resignation as the federal government's chief health care officer may have just handed a giant lever to supporters of the Port of Savannah expansion. First, the set-up from the Associated Press:
"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."
…Obama nominated his budget chief, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, to replace Sebelius, calling her "a proven manager" who knows how to get results. The nomination of Burwell, who was confirmed by the Senate 96-0 for her current post last year, appeared aimed at avoiding an election-year confirmation fight.
So what’s the connection? It was Burwell who made the call that kept federal construction funding for the Savannah port out of Obama’s budget proposal in February.
It was to Burwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, that Georgia's congressional delegation unanimously lodged its protest, in a letter in early March. And it was Burwell who replied that she would not move until Congress passed a water resources bill now being ironed out by a conference committee.
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson sits on the Senate committee that will vet Burwell. And U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, who is looking to join the Senate, is on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the HHS budget.
It would surprise no one in Georgia if some hardball tactics are being considered. In an interview this morning with Tim Bryant of WGAU (1340AM) in Athens, Isakson addressed the opportunity:
"Part of our difficulties in getting the [Savannah Harbor Expansion Project] done has been the roadblocks Ms. Burwell has put in front of us. I'm sure, in our confirmation hearing and in that process, Saxby Chambliss and I will both try to hold her feet to the fire on the Savannah port expansion to make sure it gets done."
Speaking of Chambliss: He’s quoted as saying this in a press release that just arrived:
"In my recent dealings with Ms. Burwell, I've had concerns about her willingness to ignore the clear intent of Congress and text of duly enacted laws. Before she is promoted to run Obamacare – a program where this administration continues to illegally ignore the text of their own law – I need to have a better explanation about why she has ignored the direction of Congress as it relates to the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project."
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