Mitt Romney in Newsweek


On Health Care: State universal coverage plan is national test case

Massachusetts has become the pioneer in universal coverage [via Romney's] plan for radically restructuring the health-care financing system. One piece is subsidizing low-income families' purchase of private health insurance, instead of reimbursing hospitals for treating the uninsured. The other big idea creates an insurance exchange-a public bank that will collect the premiums from individuals and pass them on to their chosen insurers-so individuals can buy health insurance with pretax dollars.

The program's passage with overwhelming bipartisan support is a notable achievement. It remains to be seen how many uninsured people actually order policies. Romney remarked, "I wish I were going to be governor the next five years to see it through," but he will step down at the end of this year and is preparing to seek the presidency. Meanwhile, his health plan gives him a unique calling card-and provides the country with an important opportunity to test one possible solution to a vexing problem.

Source: 2008 speculation: Eleanor Clift, Newsweek, "Gore Redux" Apr 28, 2006

On Principles & Values: Faces questions on Mormonism like Kennedy did on Catholicism

Romney has made the decision to step down at the end of this year and is preparing to seek the presidency. His preparations are serious - both in fundraising and in organizing support in early primary states. This is a onetime business consultant who likes to have his ducks in a row.

But he knows the real challenges lie ahead for him, just as they do for his health plan. One special test involves the public reaction to his Mormon faith. He thinks it won't ultimately be a barrier but says, "At some point, I know, I will have to face all the questions about its tenets, just as John Kennedy did in West Virginia and in the meeting with the Greater Houston Ministerial Association," when his Catholicism was an issue. "But I think tolerance will prevail again."

Source: 2008 speculation: Eleanor Clift, Newsweek, "Gore Redux" Apr 28, 2006

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in Newsweek magazine.
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