Reason Morning Links: Public Option Returns, Bailout Perks, Ducking the Census

• White House claims stimulus has "created or saved" 250,000 education jobs.

• Census expects low response rate next year due to identity theft, home foreclosures, mistrust of government.

• Biggest financial firms were boosting executive pay, perks even as they were collapsing, taking bailout money.

• Public option makes a comeback in the Senate.

• South Carolina GOP chairmen pen op-ed defending Sen. Jim DeMint, explaining that he watches over taxpayer money "like a Jew." (Correction: The actual phrase "like a Jew" doesn't appear in the op-ed, and shouldn't have been put in quotes.)