Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ted Cruz To Take Lead Role In Anti-Planned Parenthood Campaign As He Courts Evangelicals
The Washington Post: Cruz’s Evangelical Outreach Shifts Into High Gear
Sen. Ted Cruz, who has assiduously courted evangelicals throughout his presidential run, will take a lead role in the launch this week of an ambitious 50-state campaign to end taxpayer support for Planned Parenthood — a move that is likely to give the GOP candidate a major primary-season boost in the fierce battle for social-conservative and evangelical voters. (Zezima and Hamburger, 8/23)
The Associated Press: Walker's Health Plan Hinges On A Tricky Subsidy Rollback
Republican Scott Walker's plan for repealing and replacing President Barack Obama's health care law hinges on what many see as a nearly insurmountable obstacle — getting 60 votes in the Senate. Walker's solution for winning over enough lawmakers? In a nutshell, he would first strip away the federal health insurance subsidies that they and their staff get as government employees. That, he says, would expose them to the same premium increases that many Americans have to pay and prompt Congress to act on his plan. (Bauer, 8/24)
Cleveland.com: Rick Perry Criticizes John Kasich's Decision To Expand Medicaid
Three Republican presidential candidates made the case to conservative voters gathered here Saturday that each was the best choice to lead the country, but only one took aim specifically at a fellow GOP contender. Texas Gov. Rick Perry criticized Republican governors who expanded Medicaid. ... In explaining his decision to expand Medicaid, Gov. John Kasich has said the more than $13 billion federal dollars Ohio receives for the program belong to Ohioans and would be spent in other states if Ohio did not accept them. Perry, without mentioning Kasich's name, said that argument was "just nonsense." (Borchardt, 8/24)
Columbus Dispatch: Kasich Team Returns Fire On Rick Perry Comments At Koch Brothers Summit
Harsh criticism over Gov. John Kasich's acceptance of federal money to expand Medicaid by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry drew a rapid response from the Ohio governor's campaign. Perry's comments Saturday at the Americans for Prosperity summit in Columbus stand in stark contrast to his actions as governor, when Texas accepted federal money from President Barack Obama's stimulus, said Rob Nichols. (Rowland, 8/23)
The Associated Press: In Alabama, Trump Says He'd Like To Have Election Tomorrow
Republican front-runner Donald Trump rallied thousands of supporters in south Alabama by telling them: "I would like to have the election tomorrow. I don't want to wait." ... And he again promised to "repeal and replace Obamacare" — the health care law that's President Barack Obama's defining domestic achievement. (8/22)
CNN: Jindal Brags About Showing Planned Parenthood Videos To Protesters
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal bragged Friday that when abortion rights demonstrators showed up at the governor's mansion to protest his recent cuts to Planned Parenthood, he had a surprise for them: large screens to display the secretly-recorded videos that have roiled the controversial organization. (Killough, 8/21)
On the Democratic side of the campaign trail -
Politico: Bernie Sanders Dings Nikki Haley On Medicaid
As he campaigns through South Carolina, Sen. Bernie Sanders is taking more than a few shots at Gov. Nikki Haley and the state’s conservative legislators on health care. In multiple speeches here, the liberal Democratic presidential candidate and Independent senator from Vermont has a one-two punch ready: South Carolina should have expanded Medicaid and the decision not to was fueled, at least in part, because President Barack Obama wants that to happen. (Strauss, 8/22)
