Uh-oh... Walker appointee responsible for ebola response in WI

[lutefisk]

Remember the controversy in 2012 surrounding the appointment of the unqualified Karen McKeown as State Health Officer and Administrator of the Wisconsin Division of Public Health? If there is a public health emergency, this Walker appointee's lack of qualifications and experience could have devastating consequences for the people of Wisconsin. Hey, Walker and Ryan Murray at WEDC only screw up with our money- this inappropriate appointee is responsible for life and death. Another example of Walker choosing politics over the health and well being of the people of Wisconsin.

I'm not being an alarmist, but I do think it's important to see how what Walker has done is more than politics- it affects our health and safety. To me, this is a scandal that should cause Walker supporters to question his judgment.

Wisconsin Democratic Party officials on Friday blasted the appointment of a Texas nurse as the new administrator of the state Division of Public Health, suggesting she was picked because of "her right-wing ideology."

"Scott Walker's extremist health care czar has picked a home-schooled nurse from Texas with no relevant experience for a top public health position responsible for emergency preparedness," said Graeme Zielinski, communications director for the state Democratic Party.

Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith earlier this week chose Karen McKeown to replace Dr. Seth Foldy as the division's administrator. The position is responsible for the state's response to public health threats and emergency preparedness.

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Wisconsin's health officer is charged with everything from making sure the state has an emergency plan for threats like H1N1 to managing environmental hazards like lead paint to coordinating immunization campaigns. Previous occupants of McKeown's job have boasted a lengthy list of experiences and advanced degrees in the specialty.

Dr. Seth Foldy, former Gov. Jim Doyle's last appointment to the post, was a pediatrician and the former Milwaukee health commissioner. He also held a master's degree in public health from the Wisconsin Medical College, according to the department's press release about his appointment in 2010.

What McKeown does have in addition to her nursing background is something she shares with her new boss, Secretary Smith -- experience as a fellow with the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Just last month, Heritage published a 19-page paper by McKeown titled: "Empowering Patients as Key Decision Makers in the Face of Rising Health Care Costs," an article that Robert Kraig of Citizen Action of Wisconsin called a "weird mix" of conservative ideology and McKeown's own observations about work on the front lines of palliative care. (McKeown's piece argues "American values of limited government and individual liberty and responsibility" demand that patients and not "an unaccountable government body" control health care decisions.)

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[Politicalboi]

1. Time to break out the

Plastic and duct tape. Now place the plastic over your head and seal it tight with duct tape. See, problem solved. And it didn't even cost much money.

[lutefisk]

3. Not sure why you recommend suicide...

...in response to my example of how completely messed up my state is and that we have few if any qualified people in appointed (but important) state government positions. Sheesh.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Great example of a State that has

transitioned from one of the most Progressive states(with every child vaccinated in 1949)to one of the most assbackward states in 2010 were if you don't want to be included in a great health care society,so be it. Like one said,Ignorance is bliss.

[Scuba]

4. Walker administration continues to put us at risk.

[hue]

5. Does homeschooled, obviously ignorant McKeown even believe in vaccinations & science?