Rick Perry's views on Medicare, other health policy issues draw scrutiny

Aug 24 2011

The GOP presidential hopeful's views on key issues have triggered examination by news outlets. Meanwhile, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare program, has opted not to join the presidential primary contest.

Los Angeles Times: Rick Perry's Views On The Constitution Get Closer Scrutiny
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, faulting much of what the federal government did in the 20th century, has called Social Security a "failure" and "an illegal Ponzi scheme" and also cast doubt on the constitutionality of federal laws on food safety, minimum wages, bans on child labor, environmental protection and Medicare. …  Perry's 191-page book drew little notice when it was published in November. But now that he is running for the Republican nomination for president, his views on Social Security and other federal programs will be carefully scrutinized (Savage, 8/23).

Politico: Trial Lawyers Prep For War On Rick Perry
The governor has pushed through a string of tort reform laws, including a 2003 measure putting a monetary cap on non-economic damage awards. He passed another law in the most recent Texas legislative session, making it easier to dismiss some lawsuits and putting plaintiffs on the hook for legal costs in certain cases that are defeated or dismissed. The campaign for tort reform in Texas began in the 1990s, well before Perry was governor, but the Republican can legitimately claim some credit for the results. It's a story Perry proudly tells on the stump, casting himself as the man who mastered a legal system run amok and made Texas friendlier for business (Burns, 8/22).

The Wall Street Journal: Ryan Shuts Door To Presidential Run
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan ended weeks of speculation over a possible presidential bid by announcing Monday that he wouldn't make a late entry into the 2012 race. In announcing his decision, Mr. Ryan acknowledged the pressure he has been under from an array of prominent Republicans to consider joining the GOP nomination fray. Mr. Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, has made no secret of his own dissatisfaction with the current field, which he says has failed so far to put forward any clear plans to overhaul the country's entitlement programs and reduce government spending. … A Ryan budget plan that passed the House earlier this year and included sweeping cuts to Medicare made him a darling among many conservatives. But it also made Mr. Ryan a favorite target of Democrats, who said they relished the chance of running against him in 2012 (King, 8/22).