Mitt Romney supported several health reform plans over the years that included a federal individual mandate, including a 1994 plan and the 2009 Wyden-Bennett plan. He also signed Massachusetts' 2006 health reform law that served as a model for the ACA and included an individual mandate. However, as a 2012 presidential candidate appealing to the far right, Romney promised to repeal the ACA, despite having supported similar proposals in the past.

2. ¨ Supported 1994 Chafee
Alternative Health Care
Plan Which Included
Universal Coverage and
Federal Individual
Mandate
Kaiser Health News on Chafee Bill:
“It bears similarity to
the Democratic bill passed by the
Senate Dec. 24, 2009, the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act”

3. Proposed, Passed and Signed
Massachusetts Health
Insurance Reform Law Which
was Supported by Ted
Kennedy, Included an
Individual Mandate and Has
Been Called Model for the
Affordable Care Act
Scott Brown: “Well it’s been interesting
looking at the Senate and the US Senate is
doing. They’re really mirroring what we
did a couple of years ago through Governor
Romney’s leadership.” [Think Progress,
2/4/10]
“Mr. Romney said the law would be ‘a big part of the legacy
I will have personally for my four years of service as
governor.’ ‘But,“ he added, “I have no way of telling if it’s
going to be a help or a hindrance down the road.’” [
New York Times, 4/13/06]

4. ¨ Defends Massachusetts
Health Reform Law
Which he Signed from
Attack by his Primary
Opponents.
Romney: “I Like Mandates.”
[ABC Debate, New Hampshire
Debate, 1/5/08]

5. ¨ Comes Out in Support of
Wyden-Bennett Health
Reform Plan which
Included Federal
Individual Mandate.
Bennett’s Support for the
Measure cost him the
Republican Nomination
for Senate in Utah and
Sank his Re-election
Hopes.
¨ Romney: “We have a
health care plan. You
look at Wyden-
Bennett.” [Meet The Press,
6/28/09]

6. Repeal Affordable Care Act
(though he has supported
Similar federal legislation since
At least 1994 and signed nearly
identical legislation in MA in
2006). So, to appeal to
the far right, Romney would:
¨ Increase the Deficit By $230 Billion Over
The Next Ten Years
¨ Re-Open The Medicare Prescription
Drug Donut Hole
¨ Kick young people off parent’s policies
¨ Allow Insurance Companies to
discriminate based on pre-existing
conditions and kick people off of their
policies if they get too sick
¨ Prevent 32 Million Americans Who Do
Not Have Health Insurance From
Getting Help Obtaining It