Cahill rips Governor on health care plans

The Boston Herald ^ | March 16, 2010 | Jessica Sack

[LostInBayport]

Treasurer Tim Cahill ripped Gov. Deval Patrick and President Obama this morning for health care initiatives that the independent gubernatorial hopeful alleged will “bankrupt the country in four years.”

“Last week Gov. Patrick criticized me as ‘missing in action’ on the issue of health care in Massachusetts,” Cahill said. “In reality, I’ve been critical of Gov. Patrick’s implementation and management of the Massachusetts universal health care program for a long time.”

Cahill alleged the governor has “spent like we’re in a booming economy at a time when we’re experiencing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.”

“If President Obama and the Democrats repeat the mistakes of the health insurance mandate on a national level, they will bankrupt this country within four years,” Cahill said. “It is time for the President and the Democratic leadership to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan that does not threaten to wipe out the American economy.”

Cahill’s call for a new plan resembled the statement made during US Sen. Scott Brown’s insurgent campaign.

But even as he called for knocking down barriers that exist statewide and nationally to allow for-profit plans to compete with non-profit insurers, Cahill was short on specifics. He did say expensive mandates that require all health insurance plans cover certain benefits in the Bay State should be “on the table.”

Cahill said he wants to “level the playing field” among medical service providers, like community hospitals and big city hospitals that receive disparate reimbursement from insurers. Yet Cahill did not offer his own health care plan as he called for Congress to go back to the drawing board on its health care overhaul, and did not spell out what he’d do as governor to solve the current health care crisis.

Standing in his state house office, Cahill insisted he was speaking as treasurer, not a candidate for governor. Cahill said he “firmly” believes that health care is a right.

“But as congress and President Obama prepare to ram though a government-run health care plan, they should heed the warnings about the way in which Gov. Patrick has managed the same model in Massachusetts,” Cahill, a former Democrat said.

[LostInBayport]

The Massachusetts governor's race will come down to flaming liberal Deval Patrick, Republican Charlie Baker and independent Tim Cahill.

I heard Baker on Howie Carr's show today and was not particularly inspired because he was vague on many issues and not as enthusiastic as I hoped about trimming the state payroll.

This article about Cahill sounded pretty good at first, but the last couple of paragraphs, particularly about more mandates and health care being a "right", are worrisome. I guess I'm concerned that his social liberalism will overpower his fiscal discipline.

Not looking to start a battle, just want to gauge what other FReepers are thinking about this race.

[C210N]

Cahill ripping Obam.... oops, I mean Deville... I mean Duval, is a lefty moving to the right. Only problem is that Duval, Cahill, and Baker are (for their respective parties) all leftists. Then, add Tisei and Mihos to the mix with problems of their own.

For me, I'd like to see Baker win with some other LG...

[GQuagmire]

Not much choice this time around. Baker does not do it for me at all. If Cahill fades fast near the end (as most independent candidates do), I’ll hold my nose and vote for Baker to keep Deval out. If its a three way race I might not even vote for Gov. this time.

[LostInBayport]

For me, I'd like to see Baker win with some other LG...

I was really surprised to find out Tisei got a 100% rating from CLT (Citizens for Limited Taxation). Not that an LG has any say...I doubt that Baker picked Tisei (rhymes with gay) for his anti-tax votes. It seems like more of a politically correct pick on Baker's part.

[GailA]

Here’s some Code: ”For only the second time in American history, I have given out the Capitol Hill Switchboard number, and I’m urging everybody to call and ramp it up, ratchet up the pressure.” • Call the Capitol Switchboard: 877-762-8762 or 202-224-3121 • Code Red: Click Here for List of Targeted Congressmen

[LostInBayport]

If Cahill fades fast near the end (as most independent candidates do), I’ll hold my nose and vote for Baker to keep Deval out.

That's what I began to realize today, after Howie's show and this article on Cahill. We got spoiled with the energy in the Brown race, and now we're back to slim pickins again.

[Danae]

I wish the fed was looking to see how this all worked out in Mass... but NOOOOO... they wouldn’t want to point out their real intent, which is to destroy America. I have come to realize that they ARE doing it deliberately.

Never thought to see the day... (shakes head)