National Review: If I were president, on Day One I would issue an executive order paving the way for Obamacare waivers to all 50 states. The executive order would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and all relevant federal officials to return the maximum possible authority to the states toinnovate and design health-care solutions that work best for them.
As I have stated time and again, a one-size-fits-all national plan that raises taxes is simply not the answer. Under our federalist system, the states are “laboratories of democracy.” They should be free to experiment. By the way, what works in one state may not be the answer for another. Of course, the ultimate goal is to repeal Obamacare and replace it with free-market reforms that promote competition and lower health-care costs. But since an outright repeal would take time, an executive order is the first step in returning power to the states.Hum, I see two problems with this approach.
First, blue states will no doubt institute mini ObamaCares with their waivers. That's OK, because isn't that is what the Tenth Amendment is all about? But what if you are a conservative or Republican in a blue state? You will be stuck with ObamaCare whether Obama wins or Romney wins. If that is the case, why bother to enthusiastically support Romney?
Second, I can easily see this executive order scheme taking the heat off Republicans to immediately repeal ObamaCare. Red States will no doubt go for free market and pro-individual solutions. As those states remove the specter of ObamaCare, pressure on the Republicans from the right might diminish. Sheepish Republicans who prefer to shy from a fight might just be happy to let things be. In that case, the only thing standing between us and an awful return of ObamaCare will be an executive order.
This idea from Romney seems like an attempt to make himself look less flip floppy and more consistent this time around. First, there is his refusal to admit that RomneyCare was a mistake. Then he offers up the States' Rights excuse to explain away his bad decision. Now he is taking the States' Rights idea one step further with this executive order idea. This maybe a good thing for Mitt Romney's presidential aspirations, but is it really the best way to go for America?
Via: Memeorandum
Via: National Review
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8 comments:
How exactly does this help he mess he left in his own state?
I live in a state where Obamacare would never be implemented on the state level so great for me. But, the people in MA are waiting weeks to get an appointment and the costs are going through the roof.
To answer your question: no, no, a thousand times no. Romney is a progressive,not a conservative, and all this drivel about states' rights doesn't change the fact that when he was governor, his plan for the Commonwealth was socialist. Period. The states suddenly have the right to set up unconstitutional mandates? RomneyCare is an absolute nightmare. Unless your illegal immigrant who needs an abortion, then Romney has you covered. On what planet is using taxpayer money for abortion a conservative ideal? Which galaxy labels "conservative" the spreading of wealth by the state? And please, someone tell me, how forcing citizens to buy healthcare or pay a fine is either constitutional or conservative.
While we're at it, someone please explain to me how Romney's not only funding abortions for illegal immigrants on the taxpayers dime is A-OK in conservative thought but also how his literally ignoring the sanctuary cities here in MA is so conservative. When Coakley made that seemingly stupid statement that "it's not illegal to be illegal in MA," she was right. And Romney lived it every day he was in office (until days, maybe weeks, before he left office to run for president--had to set up the APPEARANCE of conservative values, after all). How can anyone think he's a conservative? He's a progressive, always has been (he only decided to pretend to be a Republican in 1994 when he figured that would give him the best shot at taking Ted Kennedy's Senate seat--the Gingrich revolution was supposed to sweep this progressive creep into the Senate).
Everything he does (not what he says, he's just like the Liar in Chief EXCEPT Romney has a record. A long one. Of being a freaking progressive.).
Oops, sorry Clifton, I've been seeing too much about Romney these past couple days and guess I had some stuff to vent. You rock. Romney is crap. And I'm all vented now. *smiles*
There is nothing Romney can do to get my vote, except the the (R) candidate facing Obama in November, 2012 (I pray he's not the one - will have to hold my nose and pull the lever, as I did for McCain)
You make two great points that I hadn't considered about Romney issuing waivers. Thanks for that.
I'm also starting to hear rumblings that all of the waivers coming out of the Obama Administration may actually give ammunition in the courts since selective waivers would violate the "equal protection" clause. We can only hope.
Great points Clifton.
I still don't see another Republican, though, who can beat Obama.
Palin: No.
Huckabee: No.
Pawlenty: Probably not.
Gingrich: No.
Trump: LOL!
Paul: LMAO!
Romney: Maybe.
Obamacare is DOA. It will not be funded, and it will not be enforced. Republicans have a lock on the Senate in 2012.
The next Supreme Court pick is the most important decision that will be made in the next two decades. If we take our eye off that ball, we're lost. Obama must lose at any cost!
Repealing Obamacare just to sign its death certificate doesn't come close in importance to that. The right SCOTUS choice could kill it deader than any repeal. It violates the Constitution, and that ruling will prevent efforts in the future.
If Obama made an irrevocable promise to appoint conservatives to the Court in its next two vacancies, I'd vote for him. He and his appointees don't matter anymore. At this point they are mere annoyances.
Instead of repealing a bad law, he just wants us to rely on him to shelter us from it.
That's just major suck right there Mr Romney. It's like, you take us for stupid or something.
Which part of "repeal" doesn't they get it.
2nd Anony.
Oh, S, Clifton.....I had about forgotten the Obama sex doll thing. Please do not link that again.
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