to the Gulf Coast region since Katrina struck, Bush got a first hand look at the hardship by dining at a fancy restaurant and staying at a luxury hotel.

CNN records the latest spin from Karl Rove’s attorney, Robert Luskin:

“He’s told everyone who’s asked him, including the federal prosecutor, that he’s not part of any scheme,” Luskin said.

He said that’s the allegation the president and White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan were commenting on when they received assurances from Rove that he did nothing wrong.

According to the transcripts, that’s not true. McClellan was not assured by Rove that he was “not part of any scheme.” McClellan was categorically assured by Rove that he wasn’t involved. Period. From the 9/29/03 briefing:

Q All right. Let me just follow up. You said this morning, “The President knows” that Karl Rove wasn’t involved. How does he know that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I’ve made it very clear that it was a ridiculous suggestion in the first place. I saw some comments this morning from the person who made that suggestion, backing away from that. And I said it is simply not true. So, I mean, it’s public knowledge. I’ve said that it’s not true. And I have spoken with Karl Rove –

There was more of the same at that morning’s press gaggle.

As Stephen Colbert notes, mainstream sources like CNN appear unwilling to fact check statements from people like Luskin because there is a “fear of looking too aggressive.” So it’s up to the Daily Show and blogs to sort out the spin from the truth.

A new study on health care costs for U.S. companies was released this morning by Hewitt Associates:

For 2006, Hewitt expects health-care costs to rise 9.9 percent on average”¦health care is growing about three times faster than wages, the survey showed.

Skyrocketing health care costs are crippling companies like GM:

GM reported Tuesday it lost $1.1 billion in the first quarter, its largest quarterly loss in more than a decade, and it cited the cost of providing health coverage for its workers and retirees as a main culprit.

Workers also suffer:

Wage increases are expected to be about 3.6 percent, while contributions and out-of-pocket expenses are projected to rise 11.6 percent. For a person who makes $40,000 per year, that increase in health-care costs would take out about 23 percent of their overall salary gains.

American Progress has a plan to address this challenge by providing affordable health-care for everyone. (And we propose a way to pay for it.)

But let’s not talk about that. What this country really needs is more tax cuts for the rich.

TIME quotes a Bush advisor on the special prosecutor’s office: “These guys are bullies, and they threaten you.”

life without Karl Rove. (Via TalkLeft)

to avoid “unnecessary travel,” Bush and his gas-guzzling entourage seek photo-ops today on their eighth trip to the Gulf Coast since Katrina struck.