Perry attacks Romney on Mass. health plan, similarities to Obama

In a campaign swing through Iowa, GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry drew distinctions between himself and Mitt Romney, another Republican presidential candidate, by highlighting the similarities between the federal health law and the Massachusetts health plan that became law while Romney was the state's governor.

Los Angeles Times: Rick Perry Tells Iowans That Romneycare Cost Them
Texas Gov. Rick Perry opened an Iowa campaign swing tonight by ramping up his attacks on Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney's record as Massachusetts governor, calling his "misguided health mandates" a burden to taxpayers nationwide (Finnegan, 9/15).

The Associated Press: Republican Perry Says Romney Health Plan Cost Jobs
Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry said Thursday the health care bill GOP rival Mitt Romney enacted in Massachusetts paved the way for President Barack Obama's federal health law last year and cost the state jobs (9/15).

Des Moines Register: Perry: I'm Distinguishable From Obama; Romney Is Not
It's time for Republicans to throw their support behind a candidate who can clearly be distinguished from President Obama, Rick Perry told a crowd here Thursday night, directly taking a swipe at Mitt Romney. "Government-mandated, government-run health care is part of what he put in place as the governor of Massachusetts," Perry, the Texas governor, said to a crowd of around 300 people at a Greene County GOP dinner here. "I think it's very important that we nominate someone who does not blur the lines between President Obama and the Republican Party" (Clayworth, 9/15).

CBS News: Perry Takes Aim At Romney, Obama Health Care Plans In Iowa Speech
GOP frontrunner and Texas Gov. Rick Perry stepped up his criticism of Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney and President Obama over health care Thursday in a speech hat reflected the frontrunner's desire to move back to attack mode after playing defense all week on some of his own policy positions. "Romneycare has driven private insurance costs up by $4.3 billion in Massachusetts," said Perry. Citing a study that showed Romney's health care program cost 18,000 jobs, Perry invited his audience of about 275 at the Greene County fairgrounds to "think about what Obamacare is going to do to this country." President Obama has called the Massachusetts health program that Romney enacted a model for his own (Kaplan, 9/15).

Reuters: Perry Says Romney Not Stark Enough Contrast To Obama
As Massachusetts governor, Romney signed a law requiring Massachusetts residents to get health insurance or pay a penalty. Perry, citing a Beacon Hill Institute study, said the state lost thousands of jobs because of the mandate. "If it cost Massachusetts 18,000 jobs, think about what ObamaCare is going to do to this country," Perry said. "RomneyCare has driven private insurance costs up by $4.3 billion in Massachusetts" (Henderson, 9/16). 

National Journal: Perry Back On Attack
Texas Gov. Rick Perry stepped up his criticism of Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney and President Obama over health care Thursday in a speech that reflected the GOP frontrunner's desire to move back to attack mode after playing defense all week on some of his own policy positions. "Romneycare has driven private insurance costs up by $4.3 billion in Massachusetts," said Perry. Citing a study that showed Romney's health care program cost 18,000 jobs, Perry invited his audience of about 275 at the Greene County fairgrounds to "think about what Obamacare is going to do to this country." President Obama has called the Massachusetts health program that Romney enacted a model for his own (Kaplan. 9/15).