The Future of RomneyCare [it needed $800 million in federal 'stimulus' to stay afloat] [Romney fail]

National Review ^ | 2009-07-09 | Lucy Morrow Caldwell

[rabscuttle385]

As Jim Geraghty notes over at the Campaign Spot, the race for Massachusetts governor is heating up. Yesterday, Charlie Baker, the relatively unknown CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, announced his plans to face off against Christy Mihos in the Republican primary, in hopes of challenging incumbent Democrat Deval Patrick in the general election.

As the CEO of a major regional insurance company, Baker’s a health-care guy, and that’s very important in Massachusetts. Under Patrick, the Bay State has struggled to effectively institute the comprehensive health-care plan devised by former governor Mitt Romney. Though Massachusetts has achieved nearly universal health-care coverage for its residents, the state is now grappling with the high costs.

Judging by this 2006 interview with Boston magazine, Baker may be the one candidate who can inject some common sense into the debate. Though he stressed the need for large-scale reform, Baker also warned of the dangers of a system in which bureaucrats rather than doctors are making health-care decisions.

Governor Patrick’s poll numbers are low; one survey this spring found that less than 30 percent of Massachusetts residents approve of his job performance. In March, Patrick deflected nearly $800 million from his state’s share of the economic-stimulus bill in order to keep Massachusetts health-care workers afloat. That doesn’t bode well for the long-term sustainability of RomneyCare.

At any rate, this may be a race to watch.

Lucy Morrow Caldwell is an intern at National Review.

[rabscuttle385]

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[DoughtyOne]

How does the above headline gell with this:  Romney Gives Mass. Health Reform An 'A' [praises Romney Care, says it's time to go nationwide]

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[ejonesie22]

[mrsixpack36]

It is really mind-boggling that this Bozo even calls himself a republican with a straight face.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Epic arrogance. Epic ego.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Romney Fail Placemarker

[ejonesie22]

Per our conversation...

[Hugin]

Where are all the Romniacs who ridiculed Huckabee as a “nanny-state socialist”?

And Myth said today that he wants to bring this to all America?

No thanks.

[rabscuttle385]

Where are all the Romniacs who ridiculed Huckabee as a “nanny-state socialist”?

Huckabee is a "nanny-state socialist" who supports cap-and-tax.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1916761/posts

[exist]

What no more Mark Sanford posts?

[rabscuttle385]

What no more Mark Sanford posts?

Still trying to deflect the criticism away from your Socialist master, eh, Mittbot?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Slick Willard Hussein *omney.

[Antoninus]

Any “conservative” who still supports Flip Romney is either a fool or a crypto-lib.

[exist]

Slick Willard Hussein *omney.

Mega Dittos.

[Hugin]

Mike says he is for “voluntary cap and trade” (whatever the hell that is), not government mandated caps and taxes. I’m disapointed that he buys the whole global warming bull at all, but here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNq6pIYewIo

[ejonesie22]

You left off the following:

- In love.

- On the payroll.

- Lefty plant (but they aren't that good)

- Have “personal reasons” to support him at the expense of their “principles”...

[hiredhand]

Hey! If Barney Frank were to say it, wouldn't it be Womney? :P

...or would that Elmer Fudd? ...Wehwood Womney! BWAH! HA! HA! :-) ...Swick Wehwood!... :-)

[rabscuttle385]

Mike says he is for “voluntary cap and trade” (whatever the hell that is), not government mandated caps and taxes.

Read the original Bloomberg news report from 2007. Huckabee was quite clear about supporting mandatory cap-and-tax. If he is now supporting a "voluntary" cap-and-tax, then he has flip-flopped just like Slick Willard.

[ak267]

....Sarah making notes (and future campaign ads) out of this.