Good Monday morning! We back to work after hunkering down for the weekend’s hurricane. Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more coverage of GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry’s thoughts on health policy and politics. Here’s what we’re reading:
The Associated Press: Deficit Panel Members Had Moments Of Independence
Even lawmakers most loyal to their leaders and political party on occasion buck them with a flash of independence or bipartisanship. That includes some of the six Republicans and six Democrats given the task of finding up to another $1.5 trillion deficit savings over the next decade (Margasak, 8/29).
The Washington Post: Rick Perry Has Distanced Himself From George W. Bush’s Brand Of Conservatism
Perry, who closely allied himself with Bush earlier in his career, was a supporter of Bush’s tax cuts and praised his leadership on national security issues. But he has been critical of Bush’s fiscal stewardship and his attempts to court the political middle by taking on issues such as education, immigration and Medicare. He has said that “this big-government binge [in Obama’s tenure] began under the administration of George W. Bush” (Bacon, 8/28).
For more headlines …
The New York Times: As States’ Rights Stalwart, Perry Draws Doubts
From his lawsuits challenging federal health care and environmental programs to his suggestions that Texans were so angry with Washington that they might consider secession, Mr. Perry has repeatedly invoked the 10th Amendment — reserving to the states the powers not explicitly given to the national government (Fernandez and Ramshaw, 8/28).
Los Angeles Times: Ruling May Broaden Insurance Plans’ Coverage For Mental Illness
A Northern California woman’s treatment for anorexia at a residential facility was medically necessary and must be covered by her healthcare plan, a federal appeals court has ruled in a case that could lead to more extensive benefits for those being treated for mental illnesses (Williams, 8/28).
Los Angeles Times: After The Hospital, A haven For Homeless Patients To Recuperate
A taxi dropped off Kim McAuliffe, clutching a plastic bag of medications, at a Los Angeles motel. She had just been discharged from Garfield Medical Center and had nowhere to go. … Everyone here has been in a hospital, is ill and homeless. Outside, the place looks like a standard motel, with a sign advertising color TV and air conditioning. Inside, nurses help homeless patients change bandages, take medication and recover from surgeries. Opened 10 months ago by the nonprofit Illumination Foundation, the Recuperative Care Center has 20 motel beds where homeless patients with acute illnesses or injuries recover after being released from local hospitals (Gorman, 8/28).
