Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Price of RomneyCare
Wall Street Journal ^ | July 29, 2008 | Op-Ed

Posted on 07/31/2008 8:49:09 AM PDT by greyfoxx39

Gearing up for 2009, liberals are eager to claim Massachusetts as a Valhalla of health reform. Their enthusiasm is apparently evidence-proof.

-SNIP-

Most of this growth in coverage has instead come via a new state entitlement called Commonwealth Care. This provides subsidized insurance to those under 300% of the poverty level, or about $63,000 for a family of four.

-SNIP

As this public option gets overwhelmed, budget gaskets are blowing everywhere. Mr. Patrick had already bumped up this year's spending to $869 million, $144 million over its original estimate. Liberals duly noted that these tax hikes are necessary because enrollment in Commonwealth Care is much higher than anticipated. But of course more people will have coverage if government gives it to them for free.

-SNIP_

Mr. Patrick wants one-time (yeah, right) charges of $33 million on insurers and $28 million on providers, plus some shuffling of state funds. The balance comes from an estimated $33 million boost in the state's "pay or play" tax: If businesses don't offer "fair and reasonable" insurance to their employees, they get hit.

-SNIP-

A state-sponsored study shows that total spending on mandates was $1.32 billion in 2005, or 12% of premiums. The study is devastating despite its pro-mandate slant.

-SNIP-

Not that such practical lessons have stopped liberals from joining the Massachusetts parade. They have to gussy up the state's model because the extravagant claim that led to its creation -- that health care will be less expensive if everyone is covered -- is being relentlessly discredited.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: election; healthcare; mccain; romney; romneylegacy; vp
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last
To: ari-freedom; greyfoxx39
we also have to deal with the medicare prescription drug expansion which Bush supported and McCain opposed and filibustered.

And yet McCain supports a socialist Health Care plan that forces the Feds to give money to the states to cover those who cannot afford insurance (Illegals mostly).

4. Socialist Approach to Economics IV.:  Wants to implement a socialist Health Care proposal that includes providing tax-coffer monies (your tax dollars) to the states to provide Health Care Insurance for those who either refuse to pay for it, or are unable to afford it (mostly illegal aliens).


So what's your point?
21 posted on 07/31/2008 9:26:50 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (GOP: If you reward bad behavior all you get is more bad behavior.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39
The five states with least favorable business climates are Califorinia (lowest ranking), New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

Oh yeah. Let's let Myth Romney and his myopic cultists
ruin America, just like he (and they) did to Massachusetts. [/s]

Romney was rated a "C" overall by Cato. Here are the facts.

As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.
* Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.
* Between fall 2003 and autumn 2006, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly three times Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.
* While 8 million Americans over age 16 found work between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed Massachusetts residents actually declined by 8,500 during those years.
"Massachusetts was the only state to have failed to post any gain in its pool of employed residents," professors Sum and McLaughlin concluded.
In an April 2003 meeting with the Massachusetts congressional delegation in Washington, Romney failed to endorse President Bush's $726 billion tax-cut proposal.
[Cato Institute annual Fiscal Policy Report Card - America's Governors, 2004.]

22 posted on 07/31/2008 9:27:00 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39

This CommonwealthCare, aka. RomneyCare, is statewide health care insurance -— mandated, subsidized and controlled by the government.

RomneyCare is socialism and has been a loser since day one.


23 posted on 07/31/2008 9:27:12 AM PDT by Reagan Man ( McCain Wants My Conservative Vote in November --- EARN IT or NO DEAL !!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39
How dare you criticize Mitt Romney. You only wish you were so perfect...

And handsome...

And brilliant...

And had such good hair...

24 posted on 07/31/2008 9:29:24 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libbylu
LOL...

Look we all know you are in love, literally, we get it. Still does not change the fact that Romenycare, among other things, is not a “Conservative” position to be taken by one advertised as the great “Conservative”. It is no mare going to make Mitt a conservative than believing it is not raining keeps you dry in a thunderstorm...

25 posted on 07/31/2008 9:32:05 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39
Romney ain't going to be VP unless the religious bigots make enough noise that McCain looks at it as a good opportunity to throw them under the bus and counter the sympathy vote likely to be generated by racist bigots who won't vote for Obama due to his skin color.

But blaming Romney for an ultraleft successor royally screwing up a moderately screwed up program is over the top. The People's Commonwealth was bound and determined to get socialized medicine in one form or another. Romney tried to give them a form which would keep a small measure of sanity with competition, users paying something and the like.

Yes, it was foolish to expect an electorate this dumb wouldn't change it after he left office. But the man's background is as a businessman, not a politician. Businesses have been known to actually improve imperfect programs in order to survive rather than screw them up more in order to get a government bailout.

In the end, the Massachusetts problems may actually do the country a favor by causing the sheeple who are all to ready to drive down the path of socialized medicine to think again.

26 posted on 07/31/2008 9:33:58 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or, are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SoConPubbie

the point is to fight it, not try to defend it. Everyone else was on board with everything Bush did because Bush could do no wrong. It’s great that everyone is picking on McCain where he is wrong but where were conservatives when Bush expanded govt for the past how many years? They went along with it.


27 posted on 07/31/2008 9:34:07 AM PDT by ari-freedom (I support the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus! http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

Romney was wrong just as McCain was wrong for opposing ANWR, border, etc. You don’t have to try to defend the indefensible.


28 posted on 07/31/2008 9:37:06 AM PDT by ari-freedom (I support the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus! http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Deb
Romney actually fought for, and got, the cheaper, more efficient health program. The Democrats were trying for all out Communism. He did what he could.

For anyone that knows about Massachusetts, the Governor actually has very little power - especially with a veto-proof legislature enshrined in Boston. The lesson learned, unfortunately is that if you are a Mass Republican - don't bother to run for office. You will only be mocked by the rest of the GOP and be accused of being a collaborator for executing the duties of your office.

29 posted on 07/31/2008 9:37:07 AM PDT by rhombus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39
Shut up and drink the Kool-Aid and say to yourself, Mitt is a conservative, Mitt is a conservative.

How in the world did this RINO become the savior for conservative beltway pundits?

30 posted on 07/31/2008 9:39:41 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman
"But blaming Romney for an ultraleft successor royally
screwing up a moderately screwed up program is over the top.

Myth ought run for the position of "Professional Victim" Dictator-for-Life-Romney inflicted the final coverup of the BIGdig,
AND socialized medicine, AND gay marriage,
AND millions of criminal illegals (raping and running over children every day),

AND murderer-freeing liberal judges on the citizens WITHOUT A VOTE.

But you claim HE is the victim. Thinking people say otherswise.

Pray for the VICTIMS of Mitt Romney.

31 posted on 07/31/2008 9:42:04 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: rhombus

Agreed. It really is a no-win office for Republicans.


32 posted on 07/31/2008 9:42:44 AM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman; ejonesie22; Reagan Man; metmom
In the end, the Massachusetts problems may actually do the country a favor by causing the sheeple who are all to ready to drive down the path of socialized medicine to think again.

Making lemonade when all you have is a lemon?...does it go well with green jello...;)

blaming Romney for an ultraleft successor royally screwing up a moderately screwed up program is over the top.

Hmmmm....IF this "screwed up program" was NOT already in existence, how could it have been "royally screwed up by an ultraleft successor"?

Sorry, that logic escapes me, but it sounds quite a bit like "anything to prop him up" by a Mitt supporter.

33 posted on 07/31/2008 9:46:40 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Eighteen new "I love Romney" threads in the past week,.and counting! Flacking for VP or love-god?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39

**The liberals love it!**

And the conservatives don’t. Smaller government, please.


34 posted on 07/31/2008 9:46:47 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhombus
Romney had the power, but ignored it.

Victim #1


National Guard Lt. Anthony Circosta poses in his backyard in Agawam, Mass., on June 9, 2007.
At left, his wife Danielle and daughter Kylie, 2, talk near the swing set. Circosta,
a decorated Iraq War veteran, seemed like an ideal candidate for a pardon from
then-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the 29-year-old's boyhood conviction
for a BB gun shooting.
Romney denied the pardon, twice,
despite the recommendation of the governor's council.

35 posted on 07/31/2008 9:49:46 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: rhombus
Romney had the power, but ignored it.

Victims aplenty. The Maucks have not been heard from, have they?

THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMNEY AND HIS JUDGES

"Governor Mitt Romney, who touts his conservative credentials to out-of-state Republicans,
has passed over GOP lawyers for three-quarters of the 36 judicial vacancies he has faced,
instead tapping registered Democrats or independents -- including two gay lawyers who
have supported expanded same-sex rights, a Globe review of the nominations has found.
Of the 36 people Romney named to be judges or clerk magistrates, 23 are either registered Democrats
or unenrolled voters who have made multiple contributions to Democratic politicians
or who voted in Democratic primaries, state and local records show.
In all, he has nominated nine registered Republicans, 13 unenrolled voters,
and 14 registered Democrats."
- Boston Globe 7/25/2005


and this

Romney Rewards one of the State's Leading Anti-Marriage Attorneys by Making him a Judge
Romney told the U.S. Senate on June 22, 2004, that the "real threat to the States is not the
constitutional amendment process, in which the states participate,
but activist judges who disregard the law and redefine marriage . . ."
Romney sounds tough but yet he had no qualms advancing the legal career of one
of the leading anti-marriage attorneys. He nominated Stephen Abany to a District Court.
Abany has been a key player in the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association which,
in its own words, is "dedicated to ensuring that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision
on marriage equality is upheld, and that any anti-gay amendment or legislation is defeated."
- U.S. Senate testimony by Gov. Mitt Romney, 6/22/2004 P>


and then this.....

Romney announces he won't fill judicial vacancies before term ends
Despite his rhetoric about judicial activism, Romney announced that
he won't fill all the remaining vacancies during his term - but instead
leave them for his liberal Democrat successor!
Governor Mitt Romney pledged yesterday not to make a flurry of lame-duck
judicial appointments in the final days of his administration . . . David Yas,
editor of Lawyers Weekly, said Romney is "bucking tradition" by resisting the urge to
fill all remaining judgeships. "It is a tradition for governors to use that power to appoint judges
aggressively in the waning moments of their administration," Yas said.
He added that Romney has been criticized for failing to make judicial appointments.
"The legal community has consistently criticized him for not filling open seats quickly enough
and being a little too painstaking in the process and being dismissive of the input of the
Judicial Nominating Commission," Yas said.
- Boston Globe 11/2/2006

36 posted on 07/31/2008 9:49:49 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Deb

I wonder, if Massatwosh!ts is as liberal as folks want us to believe is the reason Mitt couldn’t fix the state, what was it about Mitt that got him elected Governor of such a liberal bastion? The voters obviously don’t want a conservative, the elected representation from that state shows that. What did such liberal voters see in Mitt Romney that they liked so much, they elected him as their governor?


37 posted on 07/31/2008 9:51:30 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Diogenesis

Are you telling me the legislature has no role in approving selected judges in Massachusetts?


38 posted on 07/31/2008 9:52:20 AM PDT by rhombus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39
Mitt violated the “Don't start none, won't be none” rule.

Even giving him the benefit of the doubt and saying it was a decent idea (it wasn't) he had to know he was playing straight into the democrats hands on this issue.

39 posted on 07/31/2008 9:53:33 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Ol' Sparky

He is very, very pretty...

Sadly, that is where we are now days...


40 posted on 07/31/2008 9:54:35 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson