Romney defends healthcare plan, challenges Perry on uninsured
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Given the opportunity to pose a question to his chief rival, Rick Perry went for the obvious topic: healthcare reform.
Mitt Romney said he was “proud of the fact that we took on a major problem” in Massachusetts. And he conspicuously quoted his newest supporter, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in making the case that his overhaul was not the same as “Obamacare.”
“He said the problem with Obamacare is he spends an extra trillion and raises taxes,” Romney said. “Raising taxes is one of the big problems, something we didn’t do in Massachusetts.”
Romney said his plan covered the 8% of Massachusetts residents without insurance without affecting those who had it. And Bay Staters still support the reform “3 to 1.”
Turning from defense to offense, Romney put his gubernatorial record up against Perry’s.
“We have less than 1% of our kids that are uninsured. You have a million kids uninsured in Texas,” Romney said. “I care about people.”
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