Politics

Romney dogged by a tale of two health plans

Pat McMahon Contributor
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Mitt Romney, along with some other Republicans likely to run for president in 2012, is raising money this year for congressional candidates who want to repeal President Barack Obama’s sweeping health-care law.

But as Mr. Romney tours to promote his new book, some people have been posing an uncomfortable question: If he opposes Mr. Obama’s health-care policy, why did Mr. Romney shepherd a near-universal health-insurance system into law as governor of Massachusetts?

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, likely to run for president again in 2012, signs a copy of his book Wednesday in Manchester, N.H.

“People have been coming to me and saying, “Well, why are you against this health-care policy in the federal government when your man, Mitt Romney, has done the same thing in Massachusetts?” said Bob Letourneau, a Republican state senator from Derry, N.H., addressing Mr. Romney Wednesday night during a question-and-answer session at Saint Anselm College.

On Thursday morning in Bedford, N.H., Mr. Romney heard from Charles Arlinghaus, who opposes the federal law's requirement that nearly all Americans buy health-insurance coverage. Mr. Arlinghaus, a Republican who leads a local think tank, told Mr. Romney at a breakfast that drew 150 people that many conservatives opposed the Obama plan because they viewed the Massachusetts precursor as a failure.

Full story: Romney Dogged by a Tale of Two Health Plans – WSJ.com