Suzanne C. DeFrancis

Suzanne Cox DeFrancis, of Maryland, was appointed March 29, 2005, by President George W. Bush to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the Department of Health and Human Services. Her appointment was sent to the Senate April 5, 2005, and she was confirmed July 22, 2005. DeFrancis replaced Kevin Keane.

Profiles
Suzanne DeFrancis "previously served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Communications. Prior to this position, Ms. DeFrancis served as Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs at Porter Novelli. Earlier in her career she served as Deputy Director of Communications and Congressional Affairs at the Republican National Committee and as a speechwriter in the Nixon administration." 

"DeFrancis got her start in Republican Party politics as a speechwriter for Spiro Agnew. Her career has included speechwriting or communications jobs on Capitol Hill, at the Republican National Committee, and, most recently, in the Bush White House as deputy assistant to the president for communications," Ceci Connolly wrote in the July 1, 2005, Washington Post.

"During four years at the Porter Novelli public affairs firm, DeFrancis supervised several large projects for health industry groups, including the Health Benefits Coalition and the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.

"DeFrancis is a graduate of the National Cathedral School in Washington and the University of Colorado. DeFrancis and her husband have three children," Connolly wrote.

Patients' Bill of Rights Act & Health Care Benefits
On January 23, 2002, when President Bush and Senator Edward M. Kennedy were in negotiations over the Patients' Rights Bill:
 * "Suzanne DeFrancis, a spokesperson for the Health Benefits Coalition, which represents employers and insurers, said, 'We are incredulous that talks on this bill are still going on. How in the world can Washington pass a bill that raises health costs at a time when costs are already going through the roof? ... Why are Congress and the White House discussing legislation that would make things worse?'" --''New York Times, 1/23/05.

SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush administration cronyism and incompetence