Pawlenty aims verbal barb at Romney

On Thursday, GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty called rival Mitt Romney a "co-conspirator" in the federal health overhaul. He also repeated his call for repealing the measure, and maintained that, when he was governor, he handled health reform "the right way."

Los Angeles Times: Three Days Later, Tim Pawlenty Punches Back At Romney (On Twitter)
One of the standout moments in Monday's GOP candidates' debate was when Tim Pawlenty backed down from his attack just one day earlier linking the health care plans of President Obama and Mitt Romney as "Obamneycare." For a candidate hoping to establish himself as the lead challenger to the GOP's nominal front-runner, Pawlenty's response was seen as a missed opportunity. … On Thursday, Pawlenty seemed to admit as much, taking to the social media site Twitter to try and regain his footing. "On seizing debate opportunity re: healthcare: Me 0, Mitt 1. On doing health care reform the right way as governor: Me 1, Mitt 0," Pawlenty tweeted (Memoli, 6/16).

The Associated Press: Pawlenty: Romney A 'Co-Conspirator' In Obamacare
Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty on Thursday called rival Mitt Romney a "co-conspirator" in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, his sharp language a contrast to his refusal to criticize the former Massachusetts governor when they appeared together in a televised debate (6/16).

Politico: Pawlenty Sticks With Health Law Repeal
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants to make health care more efficient, paying providers for better medical care rather than just more of it. But he still wants to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law — even though it sets up experiments that are supposed to do the same thing. It's a conflict Pawlenty had to explain away Wednesday in a speech at an America's Health Insurance Plans conference, as he faced questions about why he wants to get rid of a law with at least some of the same reform goals he talks about (Nocera, 6/16).

Market Watch: T-Paw Talks Obamacare Repeal To Insurers
Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty took his case for a consumer-driven health care plan directly to insurers on Thursday, saying that policyholders have to have "some skin in the game." Speaking at the annual gathering of the trade group for health insurers, America's Health Insurance Plans, in San Francisco, the former Minnesota governor repeated his call for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare" as he called it. Pawlenty said the 2010 passage of the act was taking the nation down the wrong path for keeping U.S. health care sustainable (Britt, 6/16).

Modern Healthcare: Providers Must Lead, Pawlenty Tells Insurers
Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said in a keynote address to health insurers that providers need to offer leadership to reform the U.S. healthcare system. "We want the medical community to lead the effort," Pawlenty said at the annual conference of America's Health Insurance Plans, in San Francisco (Vesely, 6/16).