By Jim Cardle
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The AARP the focus of an investigation by a House subcommittee in part for the role it played in passing and benefiting from President Obamas landmark health care law has reportedly received a waiver making it exempt from the law. The waiver was revealed by Let Freedom Ring which has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Health and Human Services Department.
The AARP was one of 200 organizations that reportedly received waivers in the latest round and conservative critics of the law say that the Obama administration allies are essentially receiving political payoffs for helping push through the new law.
Dr. Milton R. Wolf a physician and columnist at The Washington Times says that over 1300 organizations and seven states have now received waivers; he adds that 20 percent of waivers have gone to the congressional district of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Wolf is President Obamas cousin as well.
The AARP has issued no public comment on its website.
Pawlenty Runs for President
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has made it official: Putting weeks of speculation to rest the Republican is running for president in 2012. Pawlenty made his announcement in an online video but was to travel to Iowa home of the first caucuses next year to enter the race formally.
Politicians are often afraid that if theyre too honest they might lose an election" he said. Im afraid that in 2012 if were not honest enough we may lose our country."
Now at age 50 Pawlenty was on the short list of vice-presidential running mates for Sen. John McCain in 2008 and is now pitted against the front-runner in the polls former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney who recently announced hed raised $10 million. Watch Pawlentys announcement video here.
Ryan Defends Plan
After having his plan to reduce the deficit and tackle entitlement spending criticized by former House speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich Republican Rep. Paul Ryan has struck back calling Gingrichs remarks a gross mischaracterization" of his plan.
Appearing on the Sunday talk shows Ryan said his plan would cut $6 trillion in spending over a decade and replace the current government-run Medicare program with subsidies so individuals could buy similar insurance from the private sector. His plan would begin with people turning 65 in 2022.
Also on Sunday Gingrich seemed to tone down his criticism after previously
calling Ryans plan right wing social engineering" saying he and Ryan are now on the same side."
Obama Criticized On Mideast Peace
The president last week called for Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to move forward using the boundaries that resulted from the 1967 Arab-Israeli War instead of the boundaries that resulted in territorial gains for Israel in 1973 which Israel has stated as its starting points for a permanent peace agreement.
The president addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to the sound of applause but a few boos were heard from the crowd according to reports. National Journal has a roundup on the issue.
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Mike Rogers called the presidents public statement a colossal mistake." Former House speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich called the presidents announcement extremely dangerous."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the president Friday and emerged saying the 1967 borders are simply indefensible."
