HHS Secretary Thompson Likely To Announce Resignation in Next Few Days, Source Says
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson is expected "within days" to announce his resignation and likely will be replaced by CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, according to an unnamed Republican with ties to the Bush administration, the New York Times reports (Stevenson/Drew, New York Times, 12/3). Conflicting opinions of people close to Thompson have "spawned a guessing game" over whether he will resign and what his next position might be, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Moreover, some observers have speculated that HHS Deputy Secretary Claude Allen also is being considered for the Cabinet position, "adding fuel to the fire of a resignation," according to the Journal Sentinel. Thompson has "dodged questions" about his upcoming actions, saying that he might comment on Friday, according to the Journal-Sentinel. Some Thompson associates have said that he is no longer interested in the position as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, viewing it now as "a step down," the Journal Sentinel reports. Those close to Thompson also have said that he would not join Aurora Health Care. The Journal Sentinel speculates that Thompson could resign and enter the private sector while maintaining a role public policy, such as by serving on a presidential Social Security reform commission.
Response
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan declined to comment on individual Cabinet members. He added, "The president continues to move forward on the transition process and decisions about his second-term team." Chuck Thompson, who served as Wisconsin Department of Transportation secretary when Thompson was governor of the state, said, "He gave no indication whatsoever what his plans are, what he wants to do and where he'll end up next. That's his nature. He isn't going to show his cards until he's ready to play." Dutko Group lobbyist David Beightol said, "[Thompson] can play in the state sphere and in the federal sphere. He has expertise in health care." He added, "He's going to have a position that's big enough to accommodate his appetite for public policy and something that's going to stimulate him as much as being governor and secretary of HHS has" (Skiba, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 12/2).
