HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson Will Not Remain in Position After 2004 Presidential Election
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that although he "won't rule out even running for office again," he would not stay in his current position after the 2004 presidential election if President Bush is re-elected. "I told the president I'm leaving. I have been in government now about 38 years, and I want to run a business. I want a different career. I want to be outside of politics. I want to try the private sector," Thompson said. While efforts to combat HIV/AIDS is the issue Thompson "clearly would like to have define his tenure as health secretary," other goals include a 10-point agenda that includes creating health clinics in Afghanistan for infants and women; more sewer and water services in Alaska; and a focus on disease prevention in the United States, according to the Journal Sentinel (Marchione, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/6). Thompson first indicated that he would not remain with the Bush administration past the 2004 election in a speech in May before the Wisconsin Republican Party convention (California Healthline, 6/4).
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