The Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, will likely be nominated by President Obama as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the New York Times reports.

As a governor she has first-hand experience in Medicaid administration. Moreover Sebelius is known as a skilled political negotiator, a trait that will be needed if the new administration addresses a plan for universal health care.

The president's first choice for the post, Tom Daschle, pulled his name out of consideration after a tax controversy.