Romney’s Choice For Transition Chief Triggers Analysis, Questions
Since GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney chose former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt to be his transition chief, news outlets have re-examined Leavitt's policy positions when he was the Health and Human Services secretary in George W. Bush's presidential administration, his support for elements of the 2010 federal health law and his work as a health care consultant advising states on the measure's implementation.
The New York Times' The Caucus: Conservatives Attack Romney's Choice To Lead Transition
Mitt Romney's choice of Michael O. Leavitt as his transition chief has spurred loud opposition from some conservatives over Mr. Leavitt's support of a crucial part of President Obama's health care plan. Mr. Leavitt, a former governor of Utah who was secretary of health and human services in George W. Bush's cabinet, is now a health care consultant who advises states on how to implement Mr. Obama's health law (Shear, 6/4).
Modern Healthcare: Romney Taps Leavitt For Transition Post
Mitt Romney appointed former HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt to head the transition team that would lay the groundwork for his presidency if he wins Nov. 6, according to his campaign. ... [Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda] Henneberg did not respond to questions about whether Leavitt's appointment was in any way related to Romney's promises to roll back much of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Romney has repeatedly said he would issue waivers to all states on his first day in office, as part of a push to repeal the law (Daly, 6/4).
CQ HealthBeat: Leavitt In Transition: Manager First, Health Wonk Second
As head of the transition team if Mitt Romney is elected president this fall, former Utah Gov. Michael O. Leavitt could be in a strong position to further the health policy agenda he pursued as Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush, particularly in promoting health information technology and marketplace changes to make health care more efficient. Leavitt’s first responsibility as head of the transition team would be to recommend top appointees throughout a Romney administration. However, he made clear in his last days as HHS secretary how anxious he was to continue pushing his market-based ideas for improving the quality and efficiency of health care (Reichard, 6/4).
Politico Pro: Leavitt Role, Stance Stirs Conservative Distrust
Leavitt, a former Utah governor who led HHS during President George W. Bush's second term, has been less than militant about repealing all of President Barack Obama's health care law. Now a health care consultant, his firm advises states on how to implement portions of the ACA, which is sacrilege in right-wing circles. "This sends a very troubling signal to the grass roots. We're concerned by the choice of someone who has personally profited from Obamacare," Dean Clancy, vice president of health care policy for FreedomWorks, said Monday (Cheney, 6/5).
Denver Post: Mitt Romney Supporters Talk About Uncertainty Under President Obama
The new buzz word from Mitt Romney's presidential campaign apparently is "uncertainy," a word that was used by each Coloradan on a conference call today to talk about President Obama's "hostility" to business. U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, said the president’s health-care plan is creating "uncertainty" (Bartels, 6/4).
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports on how a cache of emails has emerged that demonstrates how involved Romney was in the efforts to pass a state health reform law when he was governor of Massachusetts -
The Wall Street Journal: How Romney Pushed State Health Bill
But a small cache of emails survived, including some that have never publicly surfaced surrounding Mr. Romney's efforts to pass his now-controversial health-care law. The emails show the Republican governor was closely engaged in negotiating details of the bill, working with top Democratic state leaders and drafting early copies of opinion articles backing it (Maremont, 6/4).