In Iowa, Perry rips Romney over healthcare plan
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (L) and Texas Governor Rick Perry participate in the CNN/Tea Party Republican presidential candidates debate in Tampa, Florida September 12, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Scott Audette
DES MOINES, Iowa |
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican Rick Perry ramped up his criticism of presidential rival Mitt Romney on Friday, describing the health plan Romney backed in Massachusetts as socialized medicine and a miserable failure.
Perry, the Texas governor who leads opinion polls for the 2012 Republican race, attacked the healthcare law Romney signed as Massachusetts governor for forcing residents to get health insurance or pay a penalty.
"You know the model for socialized medicine has been tried before and it didn't work," Perry said during a speech at the Iowa Credit Union League's annual meeting. "It failed miserably whether it was in Western Europe or in Massachusetts."
Romney has been a target of frequent criticism for backing the Massachusetts plan, which conservatives see as a precursor to President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul.
Romney has defended the Massachusetts law, while attacking Obama's federal version. He has said he wants to repeal the law Obama signed last year.
"We invite Governor Perry to come to Massachusetts so that he can see for himself that people buy private health insurance in a free market system. It is reckless and irresponsible to suggest otherwise," Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams said."
On the second day of a trip to Iowa, which holds the first nominating contest in the Republican race, Perry also ridiculed the jobs plan being pushed in Congress by Obama.
"We've tried for 2 1/2 years ... to stimulate the economy and you've got to ask yourself: 'How'd that work for us?'" Perry said. "Not very well."
Perry, a staunch social and religious conservative, has come under attack from his rivals for some of his policy stances in Texas and for his views on the Social Security government retirement program, which he has called a "Ponzi scheme" and a "monstrous lie."
Asked about the criticism, Perry said it was "political cowardice at its greatest."
In a Florida debate on Monday, Perry said he wanted to protect Social Security benefits for retirees and those nearing retirement, but would like to start an honest conversation about how to make the system financially sustainable.
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WHAT HAPPENED TO TEXAS?
Perry’s results:
Percent of Uninsured Children – 1st
Percent of Population Uninsured – 1st
Percent of Non-Elderly Uninsured – 1st
Percent of workforce making minimum wage – 1st (Tied w/ Mississippi)
Children Living in Poverty – 4th
Women Living in Poverty – 6th
Teenage Birth Rate – 7th
Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Scores – 45th
% of Population 25 and Older with High School Diploma – 50th
Percent of Population with Employer-Based Health Insurance – 48th
Per Capita State Spending on Medicaid – 49th
Health Care Expenditures per Capita – 44th
Physicians per Capita – 42nd
Registered Nurses per Capita – 44th
Percent of Non-Elderly Women with Health Insurance –50th
Percent of Pregnant Women Receiving Prenatal Care in First Trimester – 50th
Median Net Worth of Households – 47th
Average Credit Score – 49th
Retirement Plan Participation – 47th
Recognized Cancer-Causing Carcinogens Released into Water – 7th
Toxic Chemicals Released into Water – 1st
Toxic Chemicals Released into Air – 5th
Amount of Carbon Dioxide Emissions – 1st
Volatile Organic Compounds Released into Air – 1st
Recognized Cancer-Causing Carcinogens Released into Air – 1st
Hazardous Waste Generated – 1st
Definitely not a perry supporter nor a romney either. what I do find funny is that they will tear each other apart then once the primary is over they will be holding hands singing be home by ya and praising the winner. no different in the democratic camp I’ll be there when there is actually a primary. most of these republican contenders or just the same old status quo, washington do nothing change nothing, two step. the way it’s going some troy’s we are going to have in 2012, really bad or worse. if ever we needed a true independent candidate we need 1 now. I think ross perot what I had a legitimate shot if you ran against these obama and the republican of choice from this group.
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