By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

If I was in Kathleen Sebelius's shoes (though not those ruby red slippers, please!) I'd take the job as health and human services director if offered.

It's a big job, one that would allow her to use her administrative expertise and maybe float some of the good health care ideas that her Legislature has bottled up for the last four or so years.

Sebelius doesn't have Washington experience, but she knows how to pull in good people who can help a cause.

Yes, the governor would be walking out on Kansas and on her party at a bad time. But her Legislature isn't going to let her accomplish anything for the the rest of her term. The best Sebelius can hope for is to tread water for the next two years.

Lieutenant Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, is as capable as Sebelius of vetoing destructive budget bills and coal plant legislation.

Some say Parkinson doesn't have the clout to prevent a veto override, as Sebelius usually manages. The flip side is that he hasn't generated the resentment that the governor has, and may get along better with the GOP.

The biggest problem with Parkinson is that he's announced he doesn't want to continue his political career. That means the Democratic party will be devoid of heavy hitters if Sebelius goes to Washington. But she shouldn't feel too guilty about that. Unless some little-known Kansas Democrat concocts a political steroid, fast, the fates are aligned for Sam Brownback to be the next governor of the Sunflower State.