Kansas Governor picked for health

President Barack Obama has chosen Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to be his cabinet secretary charged with helping to overhaul US healthcare, a US official said on Saturday.

Citing her experience in Kansas healthcare and in reaching across party lines, the official said Obama would formally announce his decision today to nominate his fellow Democrat to be secretary of health and human services.

Obama plans a summit at the White House on Thursday to discuss ways to reform US healthcare, which will cost Americans some $2.5 trillion this year while leaving about 45 million uninsured.