Mark Childress

Acting General Counsel, Health and Human Services Department (since February 2010)

Why He Matters

Childress is a longtime aide and confidant of former Sen. Tom Daschle. He was expected to have two titles in the Obama administration: chief of staff at HHS and deputy director of the White House Office of Health Reform. But when Daschle, who was to run both of those offices, withdrew his name from consideration over tax issues in February 2009, Childress was left without a clear role.

Despite the early confusion, Childress carved out a major role for himself in the fight to pass and then implement health reform.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Senior adviser for health reform, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (April 2009 to April 2010); Partner, Foley Hoag Law Firm (2007 to 2009); Principal legal officer of the Cape York Aboriginal Development Corporation in Queensland Top adviser (2004 to 2007), Sen. Tom Daschle 's office (D-S.D.) (2000 to 2004), Senior Attorney, White House Counsel's Office (1998-2000);
Hometown: North Carolina
Alma Mater: Yale University, undergraduate; University of North Carolina, law school

Spouse: Katherine
DC Office: 428 Senate Dirksen Office Building
Web site

Path to Power

Not to be confused with the Alabama novelist of the same name, Childress is a seasoned Washington veteran who has successfully navigated the corridors of power in the executive branch and on Capitol Hill. Though he shuns the spotlight, he is among one of Daschle's closest advisers and poised to be one of the most influential players at HHS.

A native of North Carolina, Childress attended Yale University undergraduate and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Law School. His first job in Washington was as a staff attorney at the Agriculture Department.

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Three years later, in 1989, he became general counsel to then-Senate Labor Committee Chairman Kennedy. There he shaped several major bills related to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries and developed a keen understanding of how the legislative process works.

Childress stayed with the committee into 1995 and then joined the Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based nonprofit research group focused on protecting public health.

For a few years, Childress traveled and worked in Africa and taught law in Arkansas. A somewhat shy intellectual, Childress has never gotten heavily involved in political campaigns.

In 1998, Childress moved to the Clinton administration. As a senior attorney in the White House Counsel's office, he was "responsible for helping identify and secure approval for all positions requiring U.S. Senate confirmation, including federal judges and members of the Cabinet."

George W. Bush's victory in 2000 sent Childress back to Capitol Hill where he was a top adviser to Daschle, the Senate Democratic leader. His official title was chief counsel, an influential role in which he and Daschle's other top lieutenants made many key decisions.

Childress was often tapped to negotiate across the aisle on behalf of Daschle. In 2004, he is credited with helping resolve a stalemate over 25 of President Bush's stalled judicial nominees.

That same year, Daschle lost an unusually bitter re-election campaign to Republican Rep. John Thune (S.D.).

As Thune arrived in the Senate to replace Daschle and President Bush was being sworn in for a second term, Childress headed for Australia. For close to two years, he was the principal legal officer of the Cape York Aboriginal Development Corporation in Queensland. He negotiated several contracts with multinational firms on behalf of Aboriginal landowners.

After the stint in Australia, Childress joined the Boston-based law firm Foley Hoag as a partner in January 2007. He worked in the life sciences and energy technology and renewables areas, as well as the firm's governmental strategies group. Childress has said he did lobbying work at Foley Hoag. While in private practice, he also served on the board of the Environmental Working Group.

In late 2008, Childress' old friend Daschle was asked to fill a double role in the incoming Obama administration, as Health and Human Services secretary and the newly-created position of White House "health czar." Childress looked like a shoo-in for a spot in one of those offices. But in February 2009, Daschle had to withdraw his name from consideration over unpaid taxes.

But Childress was not adrift for long. In April 2009, Sen. Kennedy (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, asked Childress to come on as a senior adviser for health reform.

The committee released one of the first health-reform bills before Kennedy's death in August 2009.

Childress stayed with HELP as Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) took over the chairmanship.

When, after mush haggling and many iterations, health reform legislation finally passed in February 2010, Childress moved on to the Health and Human Services Department, to oversee implementation of the new laws as acting general counsel.

The Issues

Childress is known for his savvy political insights and extensive experience in health law. During his years on Capitol Hill, he also mastered the art of scheduling debate and votes on the Senate floor.

At the Senate Labor Committee, Childress played a major role in devising regulations relating to the Food and Drug Adminstration. He was "one of the principal staff authors of the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 and the Prescription Drug User Fee Act."

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The Network

Childress has a well-developed Washington, D.C. network. Friends and allies are sprinkled throughout the Obama administration and Democrat-controlled Congress. He is among one of Daschle's closest confidants and most trusted strategists.

At HHS, Childress works with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and her deputy William V. Corr.

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Campaign Contributions

Childress and his wife have donated to a handful of Democrats in recent years, according to reports analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics.

In June 2007, he gave $1,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He has also made contributions to William Cahir, John Olver and Paul Hodes, all Democrats.

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Additional Resources