Kansas Governor, and former insurance commissioner, Kathleen Sebelius is the “top choice” for the next secretary of health and human services, according to a report in the New York Times.

The report says advisors to President Barack Obama have tabbed the governor as their top candidate after the failed nomination of former senator Tom Daschle, who backed out due to tax issues.

Sebelius served as Kansas’ insurance commissioner from 1994 to 2002, helping to draft a proposed national bill of rights for patients and blocking a BlueCross BlueShield move that would have raised premiums, the report notes, in addition to her post as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Having passed an economic stimulus, signing legislation to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay and passing reforms on banks and foreclosure efforts, one of the next likely targets of the Obama Administration is health care reform and the quest toward universal health care.

While Daschle seemed the ideal candidate given his bipartisan support, Sebelius also has also earned respect from both sides of the aisle in her own state, a key element in getting any legislation passed in the growing divide between D.C. Republicans and Democrats.

If nominated, it will be interesting to hear how Sebelius will put her former insurance experience to good use and perhaps bring some insight from the agent and broker community so far ignored in any universal coverage scenarios.

But a tip to the Obama Administration before picking anyone for the HHS post: check their tax returns first.