By The Kansas City Star Editorial Board

The waiting, singer Tom Petty once opined, is the hardest part. But that premise is about to be tested, now that Kathleen Sebelius has finally moved from the governor’s mansion in Kansas to become the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary in Washington.

Both Sebelius and Kansas’ new governor, Mark Parkinson, confront large and unusual challenges as they step into their new jobs. Fortunately, their backgrounds suggest both are up to the task.

The administration’s extensive vetting of Sebelius and the U.S. Senate’s unnecessarily long confirmation process left one of the federal government’s most crucial posts in the hands of an interim director for three months. And it rattled nerves in Topeka, as legislators struggled with the state’s most difficult budget in decades while the governor’s office was in limbo.

Sebelius’ confirmation attracted an undue amount of noise from conservative groups. By zeroing in on her protection of abortion rights, they distorted the true picture. Sebelius is a moderate who has broad political appeal and whose executive skills are respected even by adversaries.

She has a record of defending the right principles, including clean air and adequately funded schools. Her fortitude and interest in making bureaucracies work more efficiently make her an excellent pick for the federal post.

Parkinson, the former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, switched to the Democrat’s side to be Sebelius’ running mate in 2006.

Since then, he has turned out to be surprisingly apolitical, which may be just what the state needs right now. Republicans say the fact that Parkinson has declared he won’t run for any office in 2010 will enable them to work with him without political distractions.

Sebelius’ challenges

Sebelius must quickly get up to speed on the workings of her sprawling department. Twenty top positions in the department are subject to Senate confirmation, and President Barack Obama has nominated people to fill only five of them.

But even hiring decisions must take a back seat to the public health emergency caused by the potentially deadly swine flu.

Sebelius will ask Congress for funds to develop a vaccine and to help local health departments combat such epidemics.

Republican lawmakers must set aside political differences and acknowledge Sebelius’ leadership role.

Her greatest long-term challenge will be to work with Obama and others to craft a health care reform plan.

Sebelius fought to expand access to medical care as Kansas governor, but was largely thwarted by the GOP-controlled Legislature. The Democratic majority in Congress presents her with a better opportunity to make progress.

Parkinson’s challenges

“Our immediate problem is that we have a $328 million budget shortfall,” the new governor said at his swearing-in ceremony Tuesday night.

And that’s after lawmakers have already accounted for the state’s share of federal stimulus money and proposed spending $500 million less than this year.

Parkinson and lawmakers must balance the budget without further crippling the state’s ailing economy or severely weakening its schools and universities. They also must avoid draconian cuts in social services. Waiting lists for services for citizens with mental disabilities, in particular, are too long already.

Legislators have worked hard so far to put together a responsible budget that keeps the state’s priorities intact and spreads the cuts around. Kansans have reason to be proud of the cooperative manner in which lawmakers have handled the financial crisis.

The latest pessimistic revenue forecasts will require even more compromises. Republicans must accede to suspending some tax credit programs designed to help businesses. Democrats may have to agree to limited cuts in elementary and secondary education.

Kansas lawmakers are back in session this week to agree on a budget and reconsider legislation that Sebelius has vetoed. They are expected to attempt to override her veto of an energy bill that allows for construction of two polluting coal-fired plants in western Kansas.

It’s past time for Kansas to shelve the coal plant idea and concentrate on renewable energies, for which federal incentives are available. Parkinson must use his best persuasive skills to prevent the Legislature from overriding the veto.