For your information.
Posted on 08/11/2009 8:17:25 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
Hugh Hewitt talks health care with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
AUDIO
HH: Joined now by former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. Governor Romney, welcome back to the program, always a pleasure.
MR: Thanks, Hugh. It’s good to be with you, Hugh.
HH: Tell me what your thoughts are as we watch the debate over President Obama’s proposed radical revisions to American health care are.
MR: Well, I think he’s going way beyond what the American people think is right, and way beyond what’s necessary. I think we all recognize that we have a problem, that people are worried that if they lose their job, they would lose their insurance. That’s a real problem, and having a lot of people without insurance is a problem. But we can get people insured, and we can take away the worry of people losing their coverage without having to have the government get into the insurance business, and ultimately move to a single-payer system. That is the wrong way to go, and I think America’s responding the way you’d expect, which is hey, we value our independence. We do not want government taking over health care.
HH: Now Governor, when you were governor of Massachusetts, you oversaw a massive health care revision to the state law. Has that worked? And what does it have in common or not in common with President Obama’s proposals?
MR: Well, there are a number of features about it that I think are working quite well. One, we have been able to get virtually all of our citizens insured, and no one in Massachusetts has to worry that if they were to lose their job, that they would lose their insurance. That’s a very comforting thing. They can hold onto their insurance, or buy a private plan that they can keep with them all their life at a reasonable price. Those are very good things. The cost of our system has been about 1-1/2% of the state budget, about $350 million dollars. So it doesn’t have to break the bank. My plan actually would have been a zero cost proposal, but my friends in the legislature decided to add a few more benefits than I thought were necessary. That’s the nature of the democratic process. But getting people insured does not have to break the bank, and it does not require government insurance. The thing I like about our plan in Massachusetts is you people who want insurance get private, free market insurance. There is no government option, there is no government insurance plan. And that’s where Barack Obama has gone wrong. His plan costs way too much, it’s a trillion dollar mistake, and he gets the government in the insurance business, and they should not be there.
HH: Our mutual friend, Tim Pawlenty, has taken some shots. Some people think it’s early maneuvering for 2012, Governor Romney, about the Massachusetts plan. I’m sure you noted those. Are they fair criticisms?
MR: You know, I’m sure a number of the criticisms that are spoken about our plan are fair. There are a number of adjustments that certainly need to be made from time to time, and we said that at the time we put the bill in place. There’s some things about it I don’t like that actually I vetoed at the time that the bill was coming through. My veto was overridden. That’s the way things work in the world of politics. So I don’t mind people pointing out places where they think we could make improvements. But I’m pretty proud of the fact that we got our citizens insured, and that we did it without breaking the bank, and that we proved that you don’t have to get the government in the insurance business to get our citizens insured. And now the big task, which is the other 90% of the job, is figuring out how to get health care costs from rising through the roof. And that’s, I think, a problem that everybody recognizes. We just can’t have costs going up and up and up. And I think it’s one of the criticisms most people have of the Obama plan, which is it does virtually nothing to stop the growth in health care costs. Nor did ours, by the way. We got everybody insured, but getting health costs reined in is the big challenged, and there are a number of ideas out there now that I think have a lot of merit. But Barack Obama’s plan is certainly not going to help.
HH: Now before I move to the specifics of the Obama proposals, the federal system allows states like Massachusetts to innovate. We take what’s good, and we spread, and that which doesn’t work doesn’t spread. That’s what we did with welfare reform in the 90s. Does Obamacare preempt a process that really needs to replicate across the other states as it happened in Massachusetts?
MR: Yeah, that’s the sad thing, and I know when I was running for president, I was criticized because I said look, in solving the issue of our health care problems, I’d like to let states have more flexibility, and use money we’re sending them in Medicaid, and then payments to care for the poor called dish payments. I’d like them to be able to use those funds as they see fit. Let’s learn from their experiments before we put in place a federal one size fits all plan. And you know, I continue to believe that as we deal with something as important as health care, that having a few Congressmen draft a bill that no one has a chance to read, including the Obama administration, and then saying this is now going to be the future for health care for all Americans, that’s just crazy. So I’m a big believer that experimentation should occur at the state level, that states like ours that have had some experience should be examined thoroughly. The good, you know, kept, the bad thrown out. There’s no question there’s some aspects in the Massachusetts plan I’d like to see changed. I said it at the time. So yeah, I’m afraid that the Obama plan basically says hey everybody, all the states, you all step aside. We’re going to get rid of federalism when it comes to health care, and that would be a huge mistake.
HH: Today, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer penned a column in USA Today that includes these two paragraphs. “However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue. These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland, and protestors holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another Congressman in Texas where protestors also shouted just say no, drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion. These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views, but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task before.” The headline, Un-American Attacks Can’t Derail Health Care Debate, is causing enormous controversy. What do you make of the merits of the Speaker and the majority leader’s comments today, Governor Romney?
MR: Well, I must admit, that with all the years that I’ve watched politics in this country, there’s always been a very healthy debate. And sometimes, there is good information and bad information, but that’s the nature of a debate. People are going back and forth with their various viewpoints, and ultimately, we settle on what we think is the right thing. I think it’s in some respects a little amusing to watch the folks on the left so critical of demonstrations of political discussion. Demonstrations and energy and anger has always been sent from the left, and has been lauded by the media. The mainstream media, when I was a young man, put a young person on the cover and said the America’s youth, that’s the man of the year because they’ve been so disruptive and stood up to the power of the nation. And funny thing that when people from the right and the conservative world stand up and finally express some anger at this extraordinary health care takeover, the liberals are having a hard time and crying foul. But gosh, they’ve been playing this game for many, many years. Actually, as I think about this kind of debate and the rigor of this debate, it goes back to the time of Adams and Jefferson. You know, these guys were hammer and tong back there, and that’s just part of the political process. Get used to it, don’t cry about it.
HH: Big Pharma has entered the list on the side of Obamacare, and has committed $150-$200 million, surprising a lot of people, that they are doing so. I got an e-mail today from a neurologist in San Diego saying as a consequence, he will no longer meet with any pharmaceutical representative until they stop this, and is urging me to urge other doctors not to meet with pharmaceutical reps until they get out of this game, because it’s going to kill his practice. Are you surprised by big pharma is going hard left on this, Governor Romney?
MR: You know, I don’t know company by company how they line up, but I do believe that they have counted the noses, and they say look, there are 60 Democrats in the Senate, they have a supermajority in both houses, and they are going to put through a health care bill, and there’s nothing Republicans can do to stop it. Democrats, I think they’re saying, pharma’s saying Democrats are going to get behind Obama. He made this his signature campaign pledge. He has to have a bill, and therefore, they’re going to get something through, and we better cozy up to him, hold our nose, and hold out for as good a deal as we can possibly get. I think they’re calculating what’s in their best financial interest. What is unfortunately missing, I think, from their calculation is that what’s in the best interest of the American people and the American economy and the American homeowner. And I’m saddened by the fact that I think they’re counting dollars rather than counting their patients and their doctors.
HH: Seniors seem to have mobilized against this. Have you ever seen a bill pass over even lukewarm opposition of seniors, much less the kind of aggressive opposition that we’ve seen in the last two weeks, Mitt Romney?
MR: Well, I must admit if the seniors really say wait a second, we do not want to see this kind of wholesale change in the health care system in this country, we are not comfortable with it, I think if Congressmen and Senators hear a strong plea from the seniors, and they get e-mails and letters, and they see an outcry from seniors, I think they’re going to say whoa, wait a second, particularly the blue dog Democrats are going to say hey, you know, I just got sent here to Washington because I said I was a conservative Democrat. And if it turns out that this is going to kill me, well, I’m going to be out of office. That I think is the only real strong prospect for stopping this huge power grab that the Obama administration has in store for health care, and that is getting conservative Democrats to say wait a second, my constituents are speaking loud and clear, I’m not going to go against them.
HH: Last question, you’re on the road a lot, Mitt Romney, for Republicans who are bracing for 2009 in Virginia and in New Jersey, and the 2010 elections. Are they united on health care? Are they united in their opposition to a government plan?
MR: I haven’t heard a single Republican say that they’re in favor of the Barack Obama government insurance plan. I haven’t heard anybody say they want to do that. Republicans have different views. Republicans have put out different health care plans. Senator Bob Bennett, together with Senator Wyden of Oregon, a Democrat, put together a health care bill, has a very interesting aspect to it I think is interesting. Then there others, Paul Ryan has come out with a bill. So there are a number of plans, but no one I know of is in favor of this Barack Obama government insurance option.
HH: Mitt Romney, always a pleasure, thank you, Governor.
End of interview.
For your information.
Sorry, not interested.
Mitt is a man without standing concerning socialized Healthcare.
When he is honest about the fact that his version is Socialized Healthcare, then he will have standing.
Senator Claire McCaskill and the Libs don't get why we are so angry. WE ARE ANGRY BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING OUR FREEDOM TO HEALTH CARE!!!
And another thing about the "myth" that McCaskell stated that there was no provision for money for abortion in the bill. If that is the case they why was an amendment to specifically prohibit money for abortion shot down twice in committee? And why is Planned Parenthood supporting this Health Care bill? They were there in force with signs at the bogus townhall by Obami today!
Thanks for the post. I didnt realize MR had vetoed some parts of the healthcare bill and got overridden.
I was also under the impression from folks here that the Mass plan was a gov’t insurance plan. MR seemed to contradict that here, saying it is a PRIVATE insurance plan people buy.
You’re welcome.
“There’s some things about it I don’t like that actually I vetoed at the time that the bill was coming through. My veto was overridden.”
Not to mention the courts sticking their big noses into the mix. Mitt Romney is a good family man who does not deserve all the crap dumped on him here.
Thank you for posting this.
Obliging people to get insurance rather than spend $300-$400/month on coffees, drinks with friends, manicures, pedicures, facials and highlights means that they don’t show up at ERs claiming to be uninsured/indigent. It doesn’t mean that the MA gov’t. is in the insurance business.
You’re welcome, dear Saundra.
RomneyCare.....all I need to know.
Not having health insurance when one can, even at a young age, is not a wise decision. If one doesn’t have health insurance, they had better be able to cover the bills.
Mitt needs to go to man-of-few-words training.
bookmark
*Slick Willard megabarf alert*
And i thought he was a Lexus salesman . Had no idea he sold ins.
Here's a take from the Heritage Foundation. The basic minimum coverage set by the Legislature is what can drive up costs. There needs to be a catastrophic only option.
And i thought he was a Lexus salesman . Had no idea he sold ins.
Now that's funny..
Hugh Hewitt is a lightweight. And his continuing support for that equally soft Romney causes indigestion.
The Democrats all know why Americans are angry. They know we don’t want socialized medicine and they know that is what they are creating. They can act dumb for the cameras and hope people won’t figure it out.
They are shocked that the majoirty figured it out - caught them in their long term game.
Yeah. People are just stupid. They generally spend money on ridiculous things and could care less about their health. So it is truly a blessing that we have people like you and Mitt Romney to tell everyone else how to spend their money.
Remove the incentive for allowing them to get care at ERs without health insurance, and they wouldn't spend the $300-$400 on the other stuff you mentioned in the first place.
It doesn’t mean that the MA gov’t. is in the insurance business.
Yes, it does. Now I'm a federalist and believe that if Mass. wants to commit suicide by implementing a universal healthcare scheme, go for it. But be honest about it, and therein lies the problem with Romney. He promoted this crap sandwich and now it's clear that it's not working on a national level and wants you believe that what he did was somehow based on free market principles, and that he opposes the House plan which is based on his own plan? A freeway interchange is more straighter than Romney.
If he didn’t like the final version, why did he have that happy photo op with Teddy and then brag repeatedly about his plan.
If Mitt didn’t like that, he could have vetoed the entire plan when it came to his desk. He didn’t.
Ask yourself two questions:
One, if being “private” is such a big part of it why is it going into tremendous cost overruns for the tax payers of Massachusetts.
Two, if the Democrats “destroyed” it with their over rides 2 years ago why is Mitt giving the plan an “A” and his blessing just this last month, even to the point of floating the idea of going national with it.
Socialism is socialism no matter the bearer...
Have been thinking about this and here is my conclusion: Imagine someone is walking on the side of the road and is shot by a drive by shooter and will die if not immediately taken to the hospital. Does society have a moral obligation to provide medical care to this person even if the person has no insurance and can’t pay? I think it does. And that is what we have effectively decided since hospitals by law may not refuse patients in their emergency rooms.
So maybe this person who was shot had decided that he was a young person who didn’t need insurance, yet now we have to pay for his healthcare. That’s not fair for you and me who have to pick up the bill and that is why, even though it is an abridgement of our freedoms, I think it is justified to require people to have health care insurance. Otherwise, we have a serious free loader problem.
If we didn’t feel the obligation to provide heathcare in the above situation (let the guy die), then I think it would be fine to not require health insurance. You take the risk, you suffer the consequences. But that isn’t the way it is.
Having said that, Obama’s plan is socialism. We don’t need a public plan and we don’t need the government running healthcare or telling us what kind of medical care we can and can’t have. McCain’s plan or the current Republican plan I think makes much more sense.
This clown needs to go retire from public service and go save the Olympics again or something. He has less political experience than Palin and basically spent the last 2 years of his single term prepping for the White House. Romney is a snake-oil salesman, a liar, a double-talking two-faced con artist POS who's political convictions turn on a dime when it suits him. Anyone who gets PWNED by none other than Ted Kennedy in a debate shouldn't be elected dog catcher. You should see that 1994 clip by the way, Teddy completely owned his ass.
The idea had merits in the lab, worthless in the real world.
Mitt should have known that, appears that even after it is a proven failure he doesn't get it.
All vets in that picture, right?
It’s not constitutional to oblige people to buy anything, I’ll concur. And I try to not have an opinion, but it honestly pisses me off that some people abuse the system by not getting healthcare. They can afford it and choose not to. With the ‘savings’, they then buy other things. I’ll give you a very concrete example. There’s a guy I work with whose wife goes to culinary school. He has highlights in his hair and needs to get it touched up regularly. He’s straight and liberal. He told me about a night that his wife went out with her friends, had too much to drink, was awakened with tremendous pain, had to be taken to the hospital and lost part of her pancreas. Was in the ICU for 5 weeks, and then had to be in a hospice for another 4. He said her medical bills totalled $900,000. He paid nothing because he had nothing. So, they had money for the fun stuff - highlights $120 min. every 6 weeks breaking down to at least $20/person, tanning (whatever that costs), other fun acitivities, bikes for both, coffees, drinks with friends, etc.. These things add up. I’m a woman and *I* don’t get highlights. I don’t get manicures and pedicures and massages and lattes. If I didn’t have $400 deducted from my paycheck per month, of course I would have a lot more disposable income. And I still wouldn’t be doing that kind of bogosity, but far be it from me to tell people how to spend their money.
So, I don’t like it that the gov’t. obliged the people of MA to get something, any kind of insurance. I’ll agree with you on that. But you have to agree with me that people like that guy I work with should not be so free as to say, “Oh, heck, if something comes up, we’ll just go to the ER.”
You are required by law to purchase insurance when you drive a car; the same rationale for requiring people to purchase medical insurance for themselves and their children applies here: it is to protect the rest of us responsible people from the 'soft tyranny' over our bank accounts by people who buy big screen TV's & take ski vacations instead of purchasing plans for themselves & their kids. They end up taking their kids to the emergency room for colds, or undergoing emergency surgery after a car wreck - and the rest of us get stuck with the tab in higher premiums!
You say these a-holes should be able to continue to buy their luxuries instead of insurance & gouge the rest of us out of some absurdly construed notion of freedom? Sorry, freeloaders don't have the 'freedom' to rob me. Your bloated sense of entitlement (& quite a liberal one it is, in fact) stops when you hurt me and deprive me of my hard-earned money through your irresponsibility.
Anyone drinking RomneyAid?
Mitt Romney is a good man whose positions and record have been distorted in a deliberate and vicious fashion on this site. The behavior of the Romney haters has damaged the credibility of FreeRepublic.
What a sleazy SOB this Mitt is. If he could dance any faster, his shoes would light on fire.
Based on that rationale, a gov't intrusion into literally every aspect of your life can be justified. Hall monitors for the food you eat. Hall monitors for how you spend your money. Hall monitors for your excercise habits. And hall monitors for your blood pressure when you have to read statements on internet sites that justify massive gov't expensions on the basis that implementing nationwide gov't mandates will make everyone better off.
Sure and the legislature had the votes to override the entire bill if they wanted. Right now the (R) in the state senate is 12.5% and in the house it’s 10%. Not quite sure what the rules are but I’m guessing there wasn’t a whole lot of bargaining power.
MIT ROMNEY, RINO in waiting... "When do I become "god" over my own planet?" Mit
Uggh. A butt-kissing session is what this is. Hewitt has been a shameless shill for Romney going on three years now. On the rare opportunity that I listen to him (usually hoping to hear Mark Steyn), and he announces, “In the next segment, I’ll be talking to Governor Mitt Romney....” *click* off he goes.
Let me offer the first olive branch.
Mitt Romney is no where near as bad a socialist as Obama. He is also much more successful that the sitting president.
Mitt's health care planned passed...
Of course the year is not over, maybe Barrack can catch up...
Best,
Chris
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