Haley Barbour slams "RomneyCare" at health care hearing

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour hit Mitt Romney's so-called "RomneyCare" health care plan on Tuesday, arguing that the legislation - which Romney enacted while serving as the governor of Massachusetts - might work for some states, but it wouldn't work for his.

"Massachusetts has a state health insurance program that they're happy with," said Barbour, a Republican, at a hearing on health care reform before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday. "And that's their right."

Barbour continued, "We don't want that. That's not good for us...We don't want community rating. We don't want extremely high mandatory standard benefits packages."

"Different states have different problems," he said. "We have different ideas."

Romney, like Barbour a potential GOP presidential contender for 2012, has in recent months become the target of extensive criticism over the health care plan he passed while governor of Massachusetts -- particularly as the matter has increasingly become one of the most contentious issues in American political discourse.

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Members of the Obama administration have pointedly said in the past they used "some good ideas" from Romney's health care legislation when formulating their own bill - and President Obama on Monday went out of his way to praise Romney for his plan.

Romney has said in interviews he is "not apologizing" for the legislation and has called for the repeal of Mr. Obama's health care bill - but many believe the matter could end up being a major political liability for his prospects in presidential race, were he to enter the fray.

Indeed, rhetoric surrounding the issue remains heated.

At the hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican, called the federal law's mandates "onerous and unsustainable."

"Nearly one year after the president signed the health care package into law, we are still finding more costly consequences," he said in a prepared statement.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) argued alternately that states enjoy "considerable flexibility in the management and design" of Medicaid, and described Republicans' proposed amendments to the reform package "radical changes that will add to the number of uninsured," Bloomberg reports.

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[observingpolitics]

http://www.observingpolitics.blogspot.com/2011/02/difference-between-romneycare-and.html

[observingpolitics]

There is a complete difference between a state plan and a federal plan. The fact that Romney used this plan for MA does not mean he thinks it is a good plan on a national level. For instance, he couldn't exactly get rid of the federal tax exemption for employer provided insurance, or allow people to purchase insurance across state lines as Governor. More importantly, a state and the federal government have completely different powers under the Constitution.

I explain some important differences at my blog:
http://observingpolitics.blogspot.com/2011/02/difference-between-romneycare-and.html

[harpyw]

RenaeMe1972--10 points! If anything, Romney is one of the strongest candidates in regards to healthcare. First of all, he was responsible in actually addressing the issue in his state (unlike any of the several former or current GOP governor's potentially running in 2012), he's seen first-hand the strengths and the weaknesses of his plan, and he agrees with Barbour that federalism is key--put the power of healthcare into the hands of the states. Remember the 10th Amendment? Romney is just as conservative as Barbour in that regard. He's more moderate in other issues of course but one thing Romney stands firm with the Right is federalism in respect to healthcare.

The Left is trying so hard to sick the Tea Party on Romney because they know he may be able to beat Obama. I think he can. It's so obvious it's disgusting. Civil wars don't help parties. It's unfortunate to see.

And the Left should even take a serious look at Romney because, again, he has experience without peer (among 2012 options) in healthcare issues and knows how to advise individual states accordingly. He acknowledges what may work in one state wont in others, a clear reality dismissed in the mind of our current president.

[crazyname]

I guess this is a way fo rthe dems to attack Romney by agreeing with him on his healthcare bill that Mass. passed and then turned it ino a boondoggle. They could now call it the Mass, healthcare bill but it is probably a way to take a swipe at Romney to take him off the top of the list.

[Romneyin2012]

I don't dismiss the fact the Romney will have a tough time in the South, however, he almost won Florida, which whoever wins that state will probably win the nomination. The Chris Christie voters will most likely support Romney in the first poll mentioned. Any poll that has Gov. Christie among the candidates should be considered false. Huckabee will do well in tiny southern states but will fail to win the big states because of lack of money and poor organization.

Many in the media mention the Romneycare in Massachusetts as being a huge liability for Mitt but hardly anyone mentions Mike Huckabee's many political problems on several issues. Huckabee is for the Fair Tax, however, as Governor he raised taxes by half a billion dollars. He advocates a tough 9 point plan to crack down on illegal aliens but as Governor he vetoed a bill that would deny illegal immigrants tuition breaks and state benefits. He called it " unchristian." He granted more pardons and commutations than the surrounding states of Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma combined. He was for "true Cap and Trade," legislation. Huckabee is the true Flip Flopper in the race.

[jamesm88888]

Barbour and Huckabee are showing that we can't trust them to tell the truth about Romneycare or health care reform.

They are either overstating, understating, or remaining silent about salient points of health care reform. Ask yourself why. These candidates are insane if they think they have anything to say to us in 2012.

Why can't Barbour and Huckabee tell the truth?

Examine closely these facts -

Newt Gingrinch responded to the critical view of Romneycare:

" Romney is firmly committed to repeal of Obamacare
" It's not accurate or fair to compare Obamacare and Romneycare
" Romney vetoed many provisions of the Mass bill and Romney was overridden by Democrats
" The original Romney bill was better and practical than what the liberal Democrats did to it
" The Democrats overrode Romney's original bill on a whole series of items
" The issue is not as clear cut as Tea Partiers think or the liberal media has made the issue out to be

http://www.knrs.com/onair/Rod-...

Conservative Think-tank = the Heritage Foundation responded to Romneycare:

- Heritage On Romney's Individual Mandate: "Not an unreasonable position, and one that is clearly consistent with conservative values." [Heritage, 1/28/06]

- Heritage On Romney's Insurance Exchange: An "innovative mechanism to promote real consumer choice." [Heritage, 4/20/06]

- Heritage On Romney's Medicaid Expansion: Reduced "the total cost to taxpayers" by taking people out of the "uncompensated care pool." [Heritage, 1/28/06]

Other facts on Romneycare

Fact 1: He vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a controversial $295-per-employee assessment on businesses that do not offer health insurance and provisions guaranteeing dental benefits to Medicaid recipients.

Sources:
LeBlanc, Steve (April 13, 2006). "Mass. governor signs health bill, with vetoes". The Beaufort Gazette. Associated Press: p. 4A. http://news.google.com/newspap....

Fact 2: The legislature overrode all eight vetoes.

LeBlanc, Steve (April 26, 2006). "Mass. House Overrides Gov. Romney Veto of Health Care Fee". Insurance Journal. Associated Press. http://www.insurancejournal.co....

Fact 3: Romney said of the measure overall, "There really wasn't Republican or Democrat in this. People ask me if this is conservative or liberal, and my answer is yes. It's liberal in the sense that we're getting our citizens health insurance. It's conservative in that we're not getting a government takeover.

Source: Belluck, Pam (April 6, 2006). "On Health Care, Massachusetts Leaders Invoke Action, Not Talk". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04....

Fact 4: Obamacare is government healthcare takeover.

Romney's accomplishments:
* Earned over 260 million in the private sector - 25 years

* Successful Romney companies: Dominos Pizza, Staples, Accuride, Brookstone, Sealy Corp, Sports Authority, and Artisan Entertainment, Monsato Company, Outboard Main Corporation, Burlington Industries, Corning Incorporated
* Romney's companies have created over 10,000 jobs

* Took 2002 Utah Winter Olympics' 300 million deficit and turned it into a 100 million dollar surplus - the most successful games on record.

* Took Massachusetts 1.5 BILLION dollar deficit and turned it into a 600 million dollar surplus withOUT raising income and other taxes (he did raise some "fees" on other services - about 2 million worth.)
* Balanced the budget every year he was in office without raising income taxes and adding to state debt.
* 80,000 new jobs created under his watch in MA

[SVBunderson]

This is not a "slam" on Romney at all. In fact it backs up Romney's position on healthcare. Romney would absolutely agree. Let every state craft their own healthcare plan. What works in Massachusets will not work in Mississippi. Romney has been saying this for years.

[tryalittlehonesty]

Haley Barbour is unabashedly shameless in making ridiculous or utterly stupid statements. Mississippi is ranked dead last -- 50th -- in terms of health care of its citizens. I guess Barbour is happy because he is able to get or afford health care in his state. God, this upcoming presidential election is going to be fun to watch.

[jimbom121]

So I take it Barbour, if he remains governor, will not be looking at better ways to provide access to healthcare in Mississippi?

Can someone remind me what percentage of Mississippi citizens have health insurance???? Oh yeah 24%.

[endurorob_5]

Where did you get that number? 20% do not have insurance.

[jimbom121]

I meant 24% do not have health insurance. 3rd highest in the country.

[RenaeMe1972]

How is this a "slam"? He's says if it works for MA, great, but it won't work for MI. (Diff'rent Strokes theme here)