Santorum: Perry wanted Texas-Mexico health care

daily caller ^ | 09/12311 | Caroline May

[Mozilla]

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Rick Santorum launched a new front for GOP attacks on Gov. Rick Perry’s immigration record during Thursday’s debate in Orlando, Fla., charging the Texas governor with supporting a plan for bi-national health insurance with Mexico.

“I would say that he is soft on illegal immigration,” Santorum began. “[He] gave a speech in 2001 where he talked about bi-national health insurance between Mexico and Texas. I mean, I don’t even think Barack Obama would be for bi-national health insurance.”

Santorum’s comment was part of a larger hit on Perry’s immigration record, in which he cited the governor’s opposition to a border fence and support for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.

Perry did not address the allegation, instead focusing on Santorum’s charge that he is weak on border security.

What did Santorum mean?

In 2001 Perry gave a speech – which still appears on the governor’s official government website — during a Texas border summit. He explained his support for a study on the feasibility of enacting a bi-national health insurance system with Mexico.

“Legislation authored by border legislators Pat Haggerty and Eddie Lucio establishes an important study that will look at the feasibility of bi-national health insurance,” Perry said then. “This study recognizes that the Mexican and U.S. sides of the border compose one region, and we must address health care problems throughout that region. That’s why I am also excited that Texas Secretary of State Henry Cuellar is working on an initiative that could extend the benefits of telemedicine to individuals living on the Mexican side of the border.”

[Mozilla]

Link to the 2001 Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks to the Border Summit

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10688/

Tammy Bruce - Rick Perry Wanted A Bi National Plan That Would Include Mexico For His Perry Care

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_WZcQz1jrE

[ari-freedom]

Perry: And that vision must include the children of undocumented workers. That’s why Texas took the national lead in allowing such deserving young minds to attend a Texas college at a resident rate. Those young minds are a part of a new generation of leaders, the doors of higher education must be open to them. The message is simple: educacion es el futuro, y si se puede.


hmmm

[Cicero]

"I mean, I don’t even think Barack Obama would be for bi-national health insurance.”

Careful. Don't give Zero any ideas, Rick.

Hey, I just realized. There are two Ricks in this race. Kind of confusing.

[cripplecreek]

We allocated an additional $4 billion to the Medicaid program, and more than $900 million to the Children’s Health Insurance Program. I urged legislators to pass a telemedicine pilot program that will enable, through technology, a sick border resident of limited financial means to receive care from a specialist hundreds of miles away. But the effort to combat disease and illness requires greater cooperative efforts between our two nations. It is a simple truth that disease knows no boundaries. An outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis, for example, endangers citizens of both our nations.

Legislation authored by border legislators Pat Haggerty and Eddie Lucio establishes an important study that will look at the feasibility of bi-national health insurance. This study recognizes that the Mexican and U.S. sides of the border compose one region, and we must address health care problems throughout that region. That’s why I am also excited that Texas Secretary of State Henry Cuellar is working on an initiative that could extend the benefits of telemedicine to individuals living on the Mexican side of the border.

Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks to the Border Summit

[Diogenesis]

Cincinatus’ Wife

Comment?

[Mozilla]

The Perry talk on the Tammy Bruce clip starts at about 6:11 in the clip.

[comebacknewt]

It's been discussed on here before.

It isn't nearly as ominous as it sounds. Basically he was going to allow Texas health insurance companies to sell insurance to Mexicans.

Low blow on Santorum's part. Perry seems incapable of defending himself though, and the Perry haters are eating it up -- both on the left and the right wing.

The biggest beneficiary, of course, is Mitt Romney. A damaged Perry probably won't be able to keep Willard from securing the nomination now.

Romney vs. Obama, November 2012. UGH!!

[Borough Park]

The best thing that could happen to Perry at this point is to fall behind Romney in the polls. Then the second tier candidates will turn their fire on Willard.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

[comebacknewt]

Maybe. I think Perry may be damaged beyond redemption though.

I believe he may be the first male candidate to have ever been "Palinized". He is definitely the first Republican to have been Palinized by the rest of the GOP.

I hope we like the eventual outcome of all of this, but I have a strong feeling we won't.

[Marty62]

He supported a feasibility study on the issue. Obviously EVERYRHING he said was predicated on the end to illegal immigration, drug smuggling etc. At the time, Texans were asked by Doctors and Hospitals if you had contact with ANYONE that may have contacted tuberculosis. (Translation- ILLEGALS)

All this jingoistic BS is getting really worrisome. The level of discussion of issues has really taken a large decline.
Trying to pin an issue like this on someone, ANYONE after 10 years is no better than Zero blaming ALL his problems on GW Bush. And that is only 3 years ago.

[Hattie]

The conservatives haven’t even heard about the Trans Texas Corridor yet. Can’t wait for Perry to defend that.

[FlipWilson]

I hear Arlen Spectre is planning on running for office again. I wonder if Rick will support him?

[ImpBill]

"He is definitely the first Republican to have been Palinized by the rest of the GOP."

It has been brutal. So much for the Gipper's 11th Commandment!

[MissouriConservative]

Too many on this board are helping the “Palinization” of Perry. When he has been thoroughly done in, and their idol Palin doesn’t join the race, they will all be pissing and moaning when Romney is the candidate they have to pull the lever for...and I’ll be laughing my ass off all day long because they got what they deserve.

[comebacknewt]

They don't realize they are serving as useful pawns for the establishment GOP who has wanted Romney all along.

At some point, it will become evident to the more self-aware among them, but by then it will be far too late. Heck, it may be too late even now.

Willard is within clear striking distance of the nomination.

[WestSylvanian]

Forget this guy. He makes Jorges W. Bush look positively hard-hearted. When are these people going to put a priority on the interests of the American taxpayer and the security of the American people? Mexico has oil, tourism, natural resources, and a favorable climate. They continue to elect corrupt leaders and to breed criminals of all kinds. Put up a fence, enforce the borders, and let them take care of their own problems. Enough already.

[newzjunkey]

"He is definitely the first Republican to have been Palinized by the rest of the GOP."

Well said.

A heavy critic of Perry on in-state tuition, Mark Levin picked up on that today and said it's time for them to gang up on Romney.