(Mass.) Governor likely to veto health fee

[Eugene]

(Boston Globe)

Governor likely to veto health fee

Stance angers top Democrats; override seen

By Frank Phillips and Scott Helman, Globe Staff | April 12, 2006

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.

In an op-ed column published in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, Romney blamed
"my Democratic counterparts" for including what he called an "unnecessary and probably
counterproductive" fee in the healthcare bill. He warned that he would take "corrective
action" to reject the fee and raised a subtle objection to the legislation's expansion
of Medicaid.

The column surprised and angered top Democrats around the state, who said publicly
and privately yesterday that Romney had sprung his objections on them after inviting them
to today's signing ceremony. Beacon Hill officials said Romney is likely to issue his veto
after the ceremony, probably in a letter to lawmakers.

A veto would be easily overridden by the Legislature, because of the large majority
of Democrats. But Democratic leaders were nonetheless upset that Romney and his staff
would not detail his objections fully, leaving them in the position of joining the
celebration without knowing what was coming next.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/12/governor_likely_to_veto_health_fee
(Boston Globe - free registration may be required)

Mittens wants compulsory health insurance for residents but employers
that don't offer it apparently should get off scott free.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. What a snake in the grass.

After he gets his face all over TV about how great he is for this bill.

[AllieB]

2. Romney is such a turd

the only penalties that he cares about are the ones that affect the working poor, who will be penalized for not opting into health plans they can't afford.

I'm glad we have a Democratic majority in the state legislature when Romney pulls crap like this.

[tinymontgomery]

3. Once again Dems trust a repuke

and get taken. When will they learn that repukes are the lowest form of life and not to be trusted?

[Vinca]

4. I'm afraid this so-called health plan is much ado about keeping

the insurance companies in business. As for the $295 a head fee, why wouldn't every company dump their employee healthcare plans at that price? It's a fraction of what they pay. Suddenly, tens of thousands of the middle class are on the hook for insurance premiums (middle class = too poor to afford it, too rich to qualify for subsidies). Me thinks Mitt is trolling for a campaign mantra.

[JerseygirlCT]

6. That's the part that really gets me.

How much per person w/o health insurance? 1k or something? And a corporation is being unduly burdened with $295 per person?

How's that work out?

[Vinca]

7. It's a win/lose situation for business.

Big business wins (again) by dumping their healthcare coverage and opting for the $295. Up and coming, "Mom and Pop" businesses who are budgeted to the penny won't be able to afford the $295. Why can't they emulate the Canadian system instead??????

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Exactly.

Wonder why not prorate that a bit?

Oh, because it might make sense, and because big biz wouldn't like it.

I'm laughing here, wondering where the big health insurers come down on this one...

And I agree with you -- single payer is the answer in the long run. All we're doing is spinning wheels trying to avoid it.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Figures. One of the slight impositions on corporations

to persuade them to actually cover employees...