Why did Romney support Romneycare in MA?

[garthranzz]

Given Romney record at Bain, given his record as Governor (job creation), given his approach to business, governance and life, why did he support a form of universal health care? Unless he saw it as a pay-off to the insurance companies and big pharma, it's out of character. That is, it seems to me that any public good that comes out of Romney's actions are purely coincidental and unintentional. He doesn't care if the public (i.e., the 47%) benefits, he's just not going to do anything active for their benefit.

Was Romneycare a case of a positive unintended consequence? Or what?

[Laurajr]

1. Romneycare???

How in the heck did the nomenclature Romneycare get started? Wasn't the Obamacare word created as a slam against the president that he embraced because as he said Obama does care. Every time I hear Romneycare in my head I automatically hear no he doesn't.

[ReasonableToo]

2. Romneycare is the Republican healthcare plan...

... It hands over more insurance customers for the insurance companies. I don't know if MA health care system includes the 85% mandate that the ACA has. Essentially they are very similar - if not the same.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Here's a theory. They say he does nothing without meticulous planning to the nth degree.

Maybe his goal in MA was not to actually push any of his own ideology (he doesn't have any)...but was to position himself for the presidency. For a long time, the most important attribute for being a president (or any office for that matter) was "an ability to reach across the aisle."

For him to support health care for all in MA, he either had to (A) actually believe in it, (B) going along for another purpose, or (C) he doesn't give a shit one way or another if he benefits financially somehow. Since he has proven he doesn't care about anything, it must be B or C

[garthranzz]

4. Thanks, but I'm looking for something even more concrete

I agree with your points, and my initial reaction is it was a combination of B and C - he saw a personal benefit when someone proposed it and went along for the ride.

But that's speculation. The MA plan does help insurance companies, so if that was his motive - helping insurance (and pharmacy) with fall-out to people, then it fits the pattern of his life - profit to investors, big payoff to himself, and there'll be something left over for some of "we the people."

I just wanted to know if there was analysis at the time.

Thanks.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. don't know...but you made me think of something. Obama's plan has that "catch" in it about

having to spend X% on actual care and if they don't, they must rebate.

Bet you ANY MONEY, that is what is the kicker for Romney, why he keeps saying his is different than Obama's. He can't come out and actually say that though - because even he can realize how that would sound if he said this hurts the insurance companies.

[UCmeNdc]

5. Romney destroyed all of his records on the way out of office

So it is really hard to reconstruct his rational for his decisions.

[garthranzz]

7. Bingo!

Deduction, my friends.

[S_E_Fudd]

6. He's a windsock...nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. thanks. my sister and I were trying to come up with something with more repeated movement

than a flip flop. All we could come up with is metronome. But windsock is PERFECT