Where Romneycare Went Wrong

In praising Romney's work on the Massachusetts Connector system, one can't ignore problems in how that system evolved. But is Romney to blame?

I want to be clear about something: In praising Mitt Romney's work to create the Massachusetts Connector system, I am not disregarding the problems in the way that system has evolved. In the comment on my prior blog, a reader links to an excellent summary of those problems by Joshua D. Archambault , a recent Kennedy school graduate now at Heritage.

The problems are large and real, but they are problems of implementation and staffing. The post-Romney administrators of the system snuffed out competition, piled up mandates, and excluded lower-cost alternatives from the exchange.

If you want to blame Romney for something, you can blame him for setting up the system as a one-term governor, then immediately exiting to run for president - rather than fighting for re-election and a second term to oversee the proper launch of the system: by for example acting to ensure adequate representation of business and especially small business.

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