Thomspon Says He Is Likely to Finish Term as HHS Secretary

HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Sept. 3 denied reports that he planned to leave the position as early as Feb. 1 and said that he would serve through President Bush's four-year term in office, which expires in January 2005, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports (Skiba, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/4). On Aug. 23, Thompson told reporters in Madison, Wis., that "he is not committed" to the position past February 2003 and that he has considered offers from the private sector. Thompson said that before he became HHS secretary, he told President Bush that he would serve two years in the position (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/26). Thompson said that he made the comments in response to a "sort of love-in" with Wisconsin reporters, who said that "Wisconsin needed him back as governor," the Journal Sentinel reports. However, he acknowledged that he has received offers from the private sector, although he did not provide details. Thompson said that he will likely run for office in the future,adding, "I will eventually go back to Wisconsin. Whether or not it's later rather than sooner, I can't say," he said (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/4).