Among those much mentioned as a possible running mate for presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry is second-term Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (Adam Nagourney, “Kerry seeks running mate in 8 weeks”, New York Times/Contra Costa Times, Apr. 4; a Vilsack fan site; David Hogberg, “Vilsack for Veep?”, National Review Online, Feb. 10). Back home in Iowa, liability reform has been a contentious issue in the legislature this year, and although caps on pain and suffering in medical malpractice suits have passed both houses of the legislature, they are considered nearly certain to face a veto when they reach Vilsack’s desk. This does not come as the most total surprise in the world since Gov. Vilsack is a former president of the state’s trial lawyers association. (Tanya Albert, “Iowa governor might not sign tort reform bill”, American Medical News (AMA), May 3)(via MedRants). Another Midwestern Democratic Governor who has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Kerry is Kansas’s Kathleen Sebelius (Mark Z. Barabak, “Edwards Isn’t a Cinch for the No. 2 Slot”, Los Angeles Times, Mar. 3). In one of those coincidences that one encounters so seldom in novels and so often in real life, Sebelius also headed her state’s trial lawyer association, in this case as executive director (see May 5, 2003). See also “Veeps ATLA could love”, Jul. 7-9, 2000.

Filed under: governors, Iowa, politics