Governor Kathleen Sebelius


Preparation to Serve

Kathleen Sebelius was elected the 44th Governor of the State of Kansas in 2002, becoming the first daughter of a Governor in US history to be elected to that same position.

Previously, she served as Kansas Insurance Commissioner, helping protect Kansas consumers from fraud and abuse. She also served in the Kansas Legislature, and as an advocate for domestic violence victims.

Accomplishments

Governor Sebelius is moving Kansas forward through independent leadership and a dedication to common-sense solutions.

Creating good jobs for Kansans has been a top priority for Governor Sebelius, and that focus has paid off with 18 straight months of job growth. Taxpayers and businesses have also benefited from her efforts to cut waste in government—an effort that has seen almost $1 billion in savings so far.

But because good schools equal good jobs, Governor Sebelius has also focused on improving Kansas schools. Kansas made a new investment in schools in 2005, but the Governor believes increased accountability must accompany that new investment. Sebelius has initiated a series of audits of school districts to help schools spend money more wisely, making sure money goes to help children learn rather than disappearing into administrative costs.

Administrative costs are also a focus of her health care reforms. Governor Sebelius believes medical dollars should go to patient care, not paperwork, which is why she’s working with business leaders and health experts to tackle the 30% of every health care dollar that is lost to administration. She’s also helping Kansans get access to more affordable prescription drugs, and has reorganized the state government’s health care operations to increase efficiency and lower costs.

Finally, Governor Sebelius believes every Kansas family deserves a safe neighborhood and community. That’s why she pushed for a law that makes it more difficult to get the ingredients to make meth—a law that has already reduced the number of meth labs in Kansas by more than half. It’s also why she’s seeking to increase jail sentences for sexual predators. And since a strong military helps ensure a safe Kansas, Governor Sebelius has taken action to reduce the financial burden of service on military personnel and their families.

Link to official site