New HHS nominee Sebelius has Kansas music ties to disclose

Introduction

Kansas Gov Kathleen Sebelius, the nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, seems to have considerably less to disclose than the last nominee, Tom Daschle, who withdrew under pressure.

PaperTrail’s examination of the financial disclosure forms she filed as a state elected official reveals a few interesting nuggets, but no immediately apparent conflicts of interest, which must be a relief to the White House.

Sebelius and her husband, a federal magistrate judge, reported no outside businesses, clients, or gifts of more than $500 on forms filed in 2006 and 2008. The couple currently owns three retirement accounts worth at least $5,000.

They do serve on a number of boards, including the National Governors Association (Gov. Sebelius) and the Kansas Music Hall of Fame (Mr. Sebelius).

Before her stint as governor, Sebelius served as state insurance commissioner and, according to The New York Times, refused to take campaign contributions from the industry she regulated.

The Kansas Secretary of State’s office makes financial disclosure forms, known in that state as “statements of substantial interests,” available online but requires that anyone examining the form submit his/her name, occupation, and address — a relatively rare provision.