GOP presidential hopefuls offer Medicare, health reform opinions

Pawlenty offers his Medicare policy positions with care while California Healthline looks at steps he took during his tenure as Minnesota's governor to refashion the state's health system. Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich vows to repeal the health law.

The Wall Street Journal: Pawlenty Breaks With Ryan On Medicare
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who formally entered the presidential race this week, broke gingerly with House Republicans on Wednesday and said his plan to secure Medicare's finances will allow seniors to choose between the current fee-for-service program or other options (Weisman, 5/25).

The Hill: Pawlenty Toes Line On Ryan Budget
Tim Pawlenty on Wednesday talked up his sweeping plans for fiscal reform before a Washington audience while deflecting questions about Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) controversial budget proposal. Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, made his first appearance in the nation's capital since officially announcing his presidential candidacy Monday, promising to "tell the truth" to voters on controversial topics (Fabian, 5/25).

California Healthline: The Other Republican Health Reformer
Among the GOP's bushel of would-be presidents, Romney's dramatic health reforms command all the press — but rival Tim Pawlenty may have overseen the more radical changes, at least on paper. Before taking a prominent, if largely symbolic role resisting last year's national health care overhaul, the former Minnesota governor signed off on a series of legislation that refashioned his state's health care system (Diamond, 5/25).

The Washington Post: Gingrich Takes Few Questions, Avoids Press At NH Town Hall
In the lobby of Derry Medical Center here, the former speaker of the House vowed to repeal President Obama's health care law and replace it with a state-based, free-market approach (Henderson, 5/25).