(Mass.) Romney's clout in the Legislature dissolving quickly

[midnight armadillo]

Romney's clout in the Legislature dissolving quickly
Timetable could hinder major policy initiatives

By Frank Phillips and Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff | July 30, 2005

(Mass.) Governor Mitt Romney's chances of winning passage of several major policy initiatives, including healthcare reform, are quickly dissolving because many Democratic lawmakers have concluded he will run for president and do not want to hand him legislative successes to advance his national ambitions.

Romney has signaled he will announce his intentions in the fall, creating a tight timetable to act on his initiatives. Lawmakers of both parties, Democratic strategists, and lobbyists assert that his already diminished influence would evaporate if he decides to forgo a reelection campaign and signal that he will seek the 2008 GOP presidential nomination.

The state Democratic Party is convinced that Romney won't run for reelection and plans to hire a national opposition research firm to compile dossiers on the two Republicans most likely to vie for his office, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey and Charles D. Baker, chief executive of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Democrats say the turning point in their calculations came this week when Romney staked out a firmly antiabortion position in vetoing a bill to expand emergency contraception.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/07/30/romneys_clout_in_the_legislature_dissolving_quickly?mode=PF

[gratuitous]

1. What?! Democrats actually playing politics and looking ahead?!

I'm sure they'll get back in line now that the Globe has pointed out the opposition's party doing some actual opposing. Can't be having divergent viewpoints in government! It confuses people and makes it so that the Republicans can't do anything they darn well please. So knock if off, already.

[midnight armadillo]

3. MA politics have always been tough

No wimp Dems here, for the most part.

[yy4me]

2. Romney is a turncoat

Those of us in Massachusetts have watched this do-gooder Olympic wonder boy change his position on the womens wights issue to what he sees as politically expedient. One of the reasons he was elected Governor was because of his support of womens rights. Now, figuring he better cozy up to the conservatives, he has changed his tune. He said he was going to initiate a state wide affordable health care plan mandating health insurance based on ability to pay for the uninsured. This is now out the window too. Following his career has been a lesson in "why I do not like politicians". Always the self serving position. To heck with the needs and wants of the electorate. I wish he would go back to Michigan, or to someplace where he can blow his own horn and let someone who really cares run this state. Maybe thats just a pipe dream. Maybe no-one really cares anymore. He has "FRISKED".

[Wabbajack]

4. Romney never had any clout in the legislature