Dean to work on healthcare, other issues

WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor and Democratic National Committee chairman, said Monday he will work on healthcare and other issues.

Dean told the Huffington Post, however, he rather would have been part of the Obama administration.

"I was pretty clear that I would have liked to have been secretary of (Health and Human Services) but it is the president's choice and he decided to go in a different direction," Dean told the political Web site in an exclusive interview.

That is not to say he has anything against Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who was Obama's second pick for the post.

"I think she will be very good," Dean said. "She is a very nice person and I think she will be fine."

Dean said besides healthcare advocacy, he will work on progressive political strategy, speeches, education and energy, and election monitoring.

"It is sort of outside government but doing the things that I want to do anyway," he said.

Dean said he would be working with Democracy for America, a grassroots political organization he created when running for president.

"I'll be most interested in their healthcare stuff," he said. "Not only pushing for a healthcare bill but for one with meaningful reform."

Dean added he also plans to advise foreign governments. He heads to Europe this week.

He also will work with the National Democratic Institute, advise the firm McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, work on early-childhood education with a pilot program in New York and get paid for speaking.