Last fall Deval Patrick took a very courageous step and outlined a comprehensive health care program. And now, what does he have to show for it? Nothing except the two taxes he advocated to fund the program (a tobacco tax and the employer payroll tax). So politically heâll have nothing to run on in November about providing more health care coverage and he painted a big targetâno, a huge targetâfor the Healey consultants to hit him as a tax and spend liberal. Real smart.
Sam Kelleyâwhat will you talk about now Doctor?
Kerry Healey. Yes Kerry Healey is a net loser here. One of the cornerstones of the successful Republican strategy to continually win the Governorship is the message that we need the Republicans to keep the crazy Democratic Legislature in check. Well that dog wonât hunt this year because of the love fest between Mitt, Trav and Sal. I sure hope the Mass Dems have a tape of Romneyâs âfarewellâ speech last year, where he praised the legislative leadership. That will make an amusing counter-ad with the Rs unleash their attack on the Democratic Legislature. Neutralizing this Republican strength is well worth the present we gave Mitt in his hopeless run for the Republican nomination for President.
I agree about Patrick. Refusing to endorse the rollback was a political blunder, especially since the voters approved it and Reilly endorsed it. I also agree about Kelley, although perhaps some will argue he actually has even more to talk about now. But Healey, I think, can play well off Willard’s vetos: SOMEONE has to keep those crazy Democrats in check. Thank goodness the artificial limb budget was rolled back (Vetoed: “A section restoring dental, vision, chiropractic, and prosthetic benefits to MassHealth as they existed in 2002.”) The ten year old kid with the artificial leg that is too short will just have to wait. Maybe all the R&D going in to prosthetics as a result of the thousands of Americans getting their limbs blown off in Iraq will bring the costs down.