GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry on health issues

In analyzing Texas Gov. Rick Perry's health record, medical malpractice reform is one of the issues he appears to be most passionate about.

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).

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).

The Hill: PolitiFact: Perry's Tort Reform Claims Are 'False'
The website PolitiFact.com on Friday threw some cold water on Texas Gov. Rick Perry's claims about tort reform in his state -; claims tort-reform supporters often tout as a model for other states. Perry has said on the campaign trail that Texas gained 21,000 new doctors because of malpractice reforms in his state. PolitiFact said that claim is "false." Doctors and other supporters of state laws that cap jury awards in medical malpractice cases often argue that the high cost of malpractice suits keeps some doctors away. Reducing the cost of lawsuits -; which in turn cuts the cost of malpractice insurance -; makes it easier for doctors to open up shop, they argue (Baker, 8/26).

Kaiser Health News: Perry's Prescription: Medical Malpractice Reform
Just a few weeks into his campaign, Texas Gov. and presidential candidate Rick Perry isn't talking a whole lot about health care, except to criticize President Obama for last year's law. And he's not considered a health care expert. But he's is passionate on one point: Fixing the nation's health care system must include a major reform of the medical malpractice system (Werber Serafini, 8/26).