Thursday, April 13, 2006

Joy, worries on healthcare

Joy, worries on healthcare - The Boston Globe: "Governor Mitt Romney signed most of a sweeping new healthcare bill into law yesterday at a festive Faneuil Hall ceremony hailed as a hallmark of bipartisan achievement, even as healthcare specialists expressed concern that the plan could start losing money in three years."

A campaign commercial in the making

A campaign commercial in the making - The Boston Globe: "In the highly scripted event, the governor's aides left few details unproduced.

Outside Faneuil Hall, arriving guests might have thought they were entering a rock concert. Television news satellite trucks turned Samuel Adams Plaza into a cobblestone parking lot. Out back, steel barricades extended halfway to Quincy Market, preventing any uninvited riffraff from wandering in without a ticket.

Inside, the stage was adorned with twin banners that announced, in Revolutionary War-era font, ''Making History in Healthcare.' Aides to the governor busily passed out campaign-style buttons and programs, printed on stiff marbled paper, with the same logo."

Massachusetts Legislation on Insurance Becomes Law

Massachusetts Legislation on Insurance Becomes Law - New York Times: "The signing ceremony, complete with fife and drum corps, was held in the historic Faneuil Hall before 300 ticketed guests. Speakers included Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, who last shared the Faneuil Hall stage with Mr. Romney in 1994 at a debate in Mr. Romney's unsuccessful campaign for Mr. Kennedy's Senate seat. Now, Mr. Romney is considering running for president in 2008, and the success of the bipartisan health care plan could become a major selling point of his candidacy."

Conservatives split on mandate and business fees

Conservatives split on mandate and business fees - The Boston Globe: "''There is the sense that what Massachusetts has done here is the beginning of a very, very important national debate and that other states will take the framework of what the governor put together, take out the bits the Massachusetts Legislature thought were cute, and that you'll see this in' other states, Norquist said.

As such, he thinks the effort can only help Romney in a presidential bid. ''It would certainly give the governor a very interesting talking point on an issue that is going to be central to any upcoming election,' he said. ''You always have the out that 'I had a really good idea, and the Democratic Legislature messed it up.' '"

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Ceremony looks good to Mass. _ and also potential Romney campaign

WFSB: Ceremony looks good to Mass. _ and also potential Romney campaign: "'In so many ways, he was declaring his candidacy for president of the United States, and he seduced the Democrats into standing on the stage with him,' said Jeffrey Berry, chairman of the Political Science Department at Tufts University. 'How sweet is that?'

Pretty sweet, if you're Romney."

Romney Returns To Rally Republicans

WZZM 13 Grand Rapids - Romney Returns To Rally Republicans: "Romney said he is one of about ten republicans 'considering their options' regarding running for president in 2008. Romney said he would make his decision sometime late this year.
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Mass. Gov. Romney signs landmark health-care bill

(Reuters) Mass. Gov. Romney signs landmark health-care bill: "Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney signed a bill on Wednesday that makes it the first state to require residents to have health insurance.

In a bipartisan ceremony rich in historical symbolism at Boston's 18th-century Faneuil Hall, the Republican governor and likely presidential candidate said Massachusetts was 'once again taking a giant leap forward' as he signed the bill under portraits of Revolutionary War heroes."

Majority of Americans Want Massachusetts-Style Health Law

ABC News: Majority of Americans Want Massachusetts-Style Health Law: "With Gov. Mitt Romney set to sign Massachusetts' new universal health care coverage law today, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds the idea a popular one: Fifty-five percent of Americans say they'd support similar legislation in their own states.

The law, described by its supporters as a national model, requires all residents of the state to have health insurance. It includes a tax penalty for people who don't buy insurance, a $295 per-worker fee for businesses that don't provide it, and subsidies to help poor and low-income residents pay premiums."

FOXNews.com - Mass. Gov. Signs Landmark Health Care Bill Into Law - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum

FOXNews.com - Mass. Gov. Signs Landmark Health Care Bill Into Law - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum: "Gov. Mitt Romney signed into law Wednesday a landmark health care bill designed to insure nearly all Massachusetts residents and set a national standard for other states to follow.

Even as he signed the bill, surrounded by state and congressional leaders at a ceremony steeped in fanfare at Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, Romney faced criticism for his decision to veto a key portion of the bill requiring all businesses that do not provide health insurance to pay a $295 annual fee."

Governor likely to veto health fee - The Boston Globe

Governor likely to veto health fee - The Boston Globe: "Governor Mitt Romney is expected to veto a fee of $295 per employee on some firms that is a key part of the new healthcare bill, angering Democrats he invited to appear with him this morning for a highly choreographed signing ceremony at Faneuil Hall."

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Washingtonians for Mitt

Washingtonians for Mitt: "As you can imagine I'm a avid supporter of Mitt Romney, with hopes that he will be our next president. With that said, even I was a little shaken by the 'individual mandate' clause that is in the new Massachusetts health care bill. Why should someone be (quasi-)forced into purchasing health care if they feel they don't need it? Well, Gov. Romney has shown his reasoning for this in his latest op-ed at OpinionJournal (please read the whole thing!)....."

Let's welcome the newest addition to the Mitt Romney club!
Washingtonians For Mitt

Romney reconsidered

Romney R| RedState: "Following my less than lauded piece on Mitt Romney yesterday, I have been sent some interesting links connected with his education and health care positions. And I do have to say that after reading them, my understanding of Romney's philosophy is greater than it was 24 hours ago--although I remain skeptical (for new and improved reasons)."

Ms. Liz Mair picks apart why, in her opinion, the Mass. health care plan will fail. However, she offers no alternatives and also gives herself an out in case the plan works.

WFSB Romney will sign health bill with trappings - but no employer assessment

WFSB Romney will sign health bill with trappings - but no employer assessment: "The Faneuil Hall setting will denote history and a crowd of invited guests will convey importance, but Wednesday's signing ceremony for the state's new health care bill will contain one off-note.

Gov. Mitt Romney is expected to veto or significantly alter a fee proposed for businesses that do not provide insurance."

Health Care for Everyone?

Health Care for Everyone? - OpinionJournal : BY MITT ROMNEY: "Only weeks after I was elected governor, Tom Stemberg, the founder and former CEO of Staples, stopped by my office. He told me, 'If you really want to help people, find a way to get everyone health insurance.' I replied that would mean raising taxes and a Clinton-style government takeover of health care. He insisted: 'You can find a way.'

I believe that we have. Every uninsured citizen in Massachusetts will soon have affordable health insurance and the costs of health care will be reduced. And we will need no new taxes, no employer mandate and no government takeover to make this happen."

The Real Mitt Romney (Blog)

The Real Mitt Romney|| RedState: "Mitt Romney seems to have answered half of that question ('I'm here to run for President'). But he's failed to give proper attention to answering the first part, leading to many within the party feeling uncertain as to whether he is a liberal who belongs in the Blue Dog Democrat camp, a plain vanilla moderate, or a conservative. And the more you delve into his record, the less clear the answer to the question of who Mitt Romney really is, becomes.

Up until last year, I hadn't heard much about Mitt Romney. The main things I knew were that he featured on Human Events' list of Top 10 RINOs, together with characters like Lincoln Chafee--who www.issues2000.org actually categorizes as a liberal--and that he was the preferred choice for the presidency of a gay friend who is very active in working to entrench gay rights within our system of civil rights, who is politically well-connected in New England (including in Massachusetts Republican circles) and who cited Romney's support--on the record and off-- for civil unions as a big plus in his view."

Salem News Online

Ted has warm words for Mitt: Salem News Online: "Gov. Mitt Romney plans to sign the state's new health care legislation Wednesday with as much fanfare as anyone short of the president can muster — a nod to the importance the new law could play in his campaign should he run for the White House in 2008."

Monday, April 10, 2006

Eric J. Weiner: Mitt Romney's Unfortunate Analogy - Yahoo! News

Eric J. Weiner: Mitt Romney's Unfortunate Analogy - Yahoo! News: "'Driving is privilege, not a right.'

It's likely the first thing you remember hearing in your high school drivers' ed class. And it's meant as a warning. You'd better be a safe driver, because if you screw around that privilege will be taken away."

Reforming education - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Reforming education - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "I was in high school when Sputnik happened. Russia's lead in space frightened us. It also woke us up. President Kennedy issued a call to boost science and math education, to produce more engineers. His vision: Put a man on the moon. America, as always, rose to the occasion. "

Scoop: Suzan Mazur: Big Love, Romney, Bush & Mormons

Scoop: Suzan Mazur: Big Love, Romney, Bush & Mormons: "Romney is one of the most prominent members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), which says it has banned polygamy. So far, however, Romney has not made any public remarks condemning the widespread practice. He has instead joked about it."

Suzan Mazur does a good job of mentioning most prominent political LDS members, but comes off as someone with a bone to pick. Also, she should check her facts (e.g. 3 million Mormons in Mexico see http://www.lds.org/newsroom/ciya/info/0,15251,3964-1-1-79,00.html but even if there were 3 million, what's her point?).

Democracy Project: In Praise of Massachusetts New Medical Insurance Law

Democracy Project: "A well-educated, sane, moderate, elderly friend demanded of me last week: “You know more about health insurance than most. I want a silver bullet to make healthcare sense.” I responded there’s no simple solution, unless one wants to be initially deceived by the sneaky slogans of nationalized one-size-fits-all healthcare. The best one can hope for is an expansion of what works, reveling in the creativity of freer markets, and more directly making those who can afford coverage have coverage."

A Home Run for Mitt Romney? - Maggie's Farm

A Home Run for Mitt Romney? - Maggie's Farm: "Interestingly, it turned out that most of the uninsured in Massachusetts were young single men - they figure they are invincible, and they would rather buy beer and cars and F150s and deer rifles and Ezra Pound poetry and new outboard engines. That is natural - irresponsible, but entirely natural."

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Health care for all

The Journal News: Health care for all: "Massachusetts lawmakers last week set a much higher standard for working together, approving landmark legislation aimed at reducing the number of Bay State uninsured to zero in three years. New York should take careful notes."

Mandatory medical school for all

Palm Beach Post: Mandatory medical school for all: "While the president was looking for savings in all the wrong places, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a really innovative program. Gov. Mitt Romney will sign it, and it will either be the model for all America and possibly put Mr. Romney, a Republican, in the White House, or it will ruin Massachusetts. The votes were 154-2 in the Mass House and 37-0 in the Senate. When they dare, they dare greatly."

Alter: A Rising Star, Out of the Blue - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com

Alter: A Rising Star, Out of the Blue - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com: "Even though he did surprisingly well in a recent Tennessee straw poll, Romney has been viewed as strictly second-tier.

Until now. With the help of forces ranging from the impeccably conservative Heritage Foundation to Ted Kennedy, Romney drafted a health-care plan for his state that passed the overwhelmingly Democratic state legislature last week almost unanimously."

Yepsen: Boston pols good at game

Yepsen: Boston pols good at game: DesMoinesRegister.com: "Romney wants the Republican nomination for president, and success stories like his health-care plan are the sort of get-things-done trait American voters — and Iowa Republican caucus-goers — like to see in presidents."
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