NEWS FLASH

Rick Perry Gains From The Social Security, Health Care Benefits He Hopes To Privatize | A favorite talking point of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s is to criticize the failures of entitlements while glorifying the efficiency of the private market, saying, “I do advocate totally rethinking the safety net, personal security programs completely.” Perry’s health care plan includes pushing seniors into the private insurance market and raising the Medicare eligibility age, but Perry himself stands to gain a six-figure pension for his years of elected service. The Texas Tribune reports that Perry has had access to taxpayer-supported health care since 1968, and if he completes his current term, he could collect more than $140,000 annually. Perry’s campaign has not released any details on the candidate’s retirement plans and whether he intends to collect. Regardless, his plan to privatize Social Security and Medicare would leave his own lifetime benefits untouched.

-Rebecca Leber