HHS secretary Thompson will not stay on for second term

Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday announced that he would not continue to serve in the Bush cabinet if President Bush were to be reelected to a second term, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Thompson had hinted in May that he would likely not stay on as head of HHS for a second term, but he did not make a formal announcement until this week. Thompson, the former governor of Wisconsin, said he plans to return to his home state. He said he likely will not challenge Democratic senator Russ Feingold in the 2004 senatorial election but added, "I will someday run for elected office again in Wisconsin. Someday." He will remain at HHS through the end of 2004.