Romney, Hatch, Bennett All Supported Health Insurance "Mandate"

2006 - Romney: "We insist that everybody who drives a car has insurance.  And cars are a lot less expensive than people." In other words, a mandate.

1993 - Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett co-sponsored a GOP health reform bill requiring people to have medical coverage. In other words, a mandate.

WTF? - There was an exemption for people opposed to holding coverage for religious reasons???

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Republican attorneys general in more than a dozen states, including Utah, are suing over health care reform passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, for "forcing" people to get medical insurance.

But just four years ago, when he was governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney signed a bill into law requiring people to have medical coverage.  And back in 1993, Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett co-sponsored a GOP health reform bill, which seemed to do the very same thing.

The measure, more than 300 pages long, had brief but potent language, under a section entitled "Universal Coverage."  It read, "Effective January 1, 2005, each individual who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States shall be covered under--(1) a qualified health plan, or (2) an equivalent health care program."  There was an exemption for people opposed to holding coverage for religious reasons.

In a Wednesday satellite interview with 2News from Washington, Senator Hatch said he joined with Republicans 17 years ago, who were trying to defeat "Hillarycare," a reference to then First Lady Hillary Clinton's push for comprehensive health care reform.  Since, Hatch said he has studied and researched constitutional law, and changed his mind about mandated coverage.

"If they mandate you have to buy insurance, it'll be the first time in this country that the government can tell you what to buy," said Hatch, warning the measure could portend even more government control in the future.

A spokesperson for Senator Bennett said he is intent on repealing "Obamacare," but that Bennett has looked at mandated coverage as a way to reduce medical costs.

The 1993 GOP legislation fizzled in Congress, as did the Clinton administration's mammotth health care overhaul, but Massachusetts' health reform measure came to life under Governor Mitt Romney.
Several years ago, Romney signed a major health care bill into law that required people in Massachusetts have medical coverage, or reportedly face fines. 

In a Washington Post story in 2006, Romney was quoted as saying, "We insist that everybody who drives a car has insurance.  And cars are a lot less expensive than people."

Romney, now, may not view mandated coverage in the Massachusetts' law, and federal health care reform as the same.

But, contacted by 2News, Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland seemed to link Romney, Hatch and Bennett to GOP "hypocrisy" in the debate.  His most direct criticism may have been leveled against Bennett, who is facing what seems to be a serious reelection challenge within his own party.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Mitt Romney
• Orrin Hatch
• Bob Bennett
• Robert Bennett
• Utah
• LDS
• Mormon
• Obamacare
• Romneycare
• GOP
• HCR
• Health Care Reform
• Mandate

[omiolo2]

your fixation with ALL things Mormon and from Utah, seems unhealthy at best.

Do something productive with your life! Bitterness is NOT a good thing.

Go out and help the poor, volunteer, etc.

[YesOn1Maine]

That's pretty funny coming from such a prolific commenter like yourself. Touch a nerve?

In any case, thanks for the concern, but uploading clips from local Utah newscasts is not exactly hard work. I think I'll survive.

[sfafasfasfsa]

if the smartest guys in the party supported it until radio talk show host told it was socialism so the smart people have to lie.

Im sorry but im just tried of stuff like this

[NowThePeople]

@Aegius Yea but the kicker is that Mitt has said time and time again that his health care reform in Massachusetts has actually helped lower the cost, and also helped his state. But now that he is running for the GOP candidate he has completely flip-flopped. It is almost embarrassing to see how fake he is being, and how he can't believe the words that are actually coming out of his mouth. He is just telling the GOP what they want to hear so he will get elected, anyone can see right through him.

[Aegius]

Hello? Romney supported Romneycare in MA which required mandatory health insurance. No one is denying that he favored it. Still who cares? It was in 1993, not 2010. If the Repubs screwed up then, so what? They aren't screwing up now by opposing the ridiculous assault on our liberty. If Libs/Lefties want to purchase mandatory health ins, go ahead, but don't drag the rest of us into it.

[ayethereztherub]

@YesOn1Maine Tu quoque, much?

[suemorphplus2009]

@jedmerrill also take a comparison with the states as well. States vary in demographic, medical statistics, etc. It's worth some discussion. The differences between a single federal mandate and accounting for state differences is worth discussion. I think it's worth accounting those differences.

[ChinoBlanco]

On what planet is Romney in a position to accomplish anything other than taking potshots at Obama? Here's a newsflash: Romney doesn't currently hold political office, he's not even a declared candidate, and it's looking increasingly as if he has no path to the GOP nomination. So, who is Mitt Romney? A one-term former governor making dubious claims about legislation that he likely would've supported if it had been his own. Mitt is freaked and left the middle ground on HCR behind days ago.

[jedmerrill]

We've gone through a year of debate. It's natural that people should emerge more enlightened, and possibly less so in certain areas. For example, some of us now say we should do nothing, where a year ago we might have at least wanted to allow transference between jobs. (An element of Romney's bill.) I believe Romney is best positioned to deal with finding the middle ground. He wants to repeal the bad Obama bill and put together a more common sense, free market solution focused on deregulation.