Romney's Health Care 'Penalty' Label Puts Him Under Republican Fire

While Republican candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have shared little in common during the jab-fest leading to November's elections, the new health care law passed last week has brought up something they may actually both agree upon, to the dismay of Republican supporters.
Though Republicans have criticized the Affordable Care Act, claiming that a tax will be imposed on those who do not purchase health insurance, Romney has acknowledged- along with Obama- that the health care charge would not be a tax, but rather, a penalty, said Romney's campaign spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom.
Reuters reported:
- Fehrnstrom's comments to MSNBC, which were accompanied by a new push by the Romney campaign to focus on jobs, indicated that Romney's team does not want to linger on the health care ruling - a victory for Obama in court - and instead is keen to highlight Obama's weakness, the economy.
- "The governor has consistently described the mandate as a penalty," Fehrnstrom said.
- His remarks worried some Republicans who fear the Romney campaign is undercutting one of the party's key arguments against Obama's health care plan.
Many Republicans have raised concerns that Romney isn't pressuring Obama enough about the tax; News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch has commented how Romney "needs more fight." Murdoch also tweeted that Romney will have a tough time beating Obama “unless he drops old friends from [his] team and hires some real pros. Doubtful.”
However, the Romney campaign did cite the health care law's penalty as "unconstitutional," according to Fox News, and did not agree with how President Obama also seemed to skirt the issue of the tax.
- The Romney campaign, though, also suggested President Obama was trying to have it both ways, by embracing the Supreme Court decision while continuing to call the fine a "penalty" in public.
- Mitt Romney's campaign challenged Obama to make a decision -- either call it an unconstitutional penalty or a "constitutional tax," but not both.
CBS News reported that according to a CNN poll conducted from June 28-July 1, Republicans' approval rating of the Supreme Court dropped by almost 21 percent to 31 percent overall following the health care ruling.
With the passing of the law, there are also certain parts which states can "opt out" of. Among those states opting out are South Carolina, Wisconsin and Florida:
- "Floridians are interested in jobs and economic growth, a quality education for their children, and keeping the cost of living low," [Florida Governor] Scott said in a statement. "Neither of these major provisions in ObamaCare will achieve those goals, and since Florida is legally allowed to opt out, that's the right decision for our citizens."
The Supreme Court also ruled last week that those exempt from Obama's Affordable Care Act include those who object due to religious reasons, those in jail, undocumented immigrants, members of Native American tribes, anyone who would pay more than 8 percent of their income to get coverage or who do not earn enough to file taxes.
Read more Neon Tommy coverage of health care here.
Reach Executive Producer Paige Brettingen here.



Comments
New health care law provides very affordable health insurance... I think this one plays vital role in president elections.
Health Care Education Requirements
I think Democrats, Republicans and of course ultra left progressives are under the impression that the Constitutional TEA PARTY is declining? This could be any further from the truth, since hundreds each day are joining this split from the GOP and causing frantic demonstrations of nerves in both parties. People who have had no interest in voting before are materializing out of society, because they are now well aware that the Democrats essentially will ignore election laws, as they have done for years. Using any oral device they can, including ‘Voter Suppression, Political Correctness’ and revealing their true nature of being hard core, anti-American. The truth is that without any official oversight, non citizens will vote in a violation of the law and this is what Democrats want? They don’t heed who votes as long as it is for Obama, whether by fraudulent absentee ballot or voting in any precinct. More states than ever before are revising their laws, so any person who votes must have a picture ID, although even this isn’t foolproof.
With the outcome of the Supreme Courts decisive answer, America is under an even more danger of a illegal alien invasion? The fact the Obama administration have ignored many elements of the Constitution, should warn all of us of the evident avenue towards Socialism. A large majority of President Obama voters desire his massive escalation of corpulent government, offering welfare, food stamps and public giveaways. These are dregs that have probably never worked in their lives and live of the taxpayers. 40 percent of Americans have never paid anything in federal or state taxes. It is the same with over 20 million illegal aliens who stay in dark corners of our society who pay nothing. Many illegal alien families are collecting large sums of money from child tax credits, when even the child is not resident here? That is $4.2 billion dollars that should be provided to the lawful impoverished people.
I don’t blame the illegal aliens, but a lying decade of governments that have intentionally overlooked our laws; otherwise illegal entry would be a felony. Not just the Democrats but the Republicans as well, that’s why we need desperately to remove old incumbents entrenched in Washington and replace them with fresh TEA PARTY Senators and House Representatives. America is become a hive of corruption, that emanates from Congress. That isn’t to say that all the politicians are unwilling to fight for the rights of all Americans. But what is going on, when 8 percent of birthright citizens, naturalized and permanent residence are jobless? While throughout the country illegal migrants and immigrants are employed. This is a disgrace to us as nation that supposedly believes in the “rule of Law.” This happens when the federal government is truly the instigators of this immigration mess and should be held accountable? Not border states as Arizona, being threatened by a federal agency uncontrollable. Arizona doing the right thing for its people was a scapegoat for generations of incompetence.
The new ObamaCare law is yet another magnet, which will attract millions more illegal aliens over our threshold. My guess in some clandestine way illegal immigrants will be able to take advantage of this health care law and further drain state treasuries? Americans are already at a disadvantage, when it comes to healthcare as the majority is forced to pay through federal mandate for illegal alien emergency care? Not the farmers who employ them, not the thousands of businesses that pay under the table; again it’s the taxpayer. The open border zealots want a global government and their philosophy is just that; wide open borders. Why does being in this sovereign nation, without documentation and violating the law, give illegal aliens the privilege of stealing the lawful populace money. Why must we, the taxpayer be forced to pay for the children of illegal aliens education, a family’s health care?
I don’t know what Mitt Romney has in mind on Immigration, but the TEA PARTY says No? Americans have been taken for granted, as have the courageous Border Patrol agents who protect the fence; it’s hard to believe that there a big signs in the deserts along the border, in our own country warning us of entering. That signifies it’s dangerous to enter these regions, because of the drug cartels and armed foreign nationals. It’s a proven fact that property owners along the border regions are fearful for their lives and must carry a firearm all the time.
THE TEA PARTY WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. THEY BROKE THE LAW, SO THEY WILL BE DEPORTED. THERE WILL BE NO MORE COVERT AMNESTIES, CHAIN MIGRATION AND STATES WITH SANCTUARY POLICIES WILL BE PROSECUTED. WITH NO COMMITMENT TO THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA’S AND CERTAINLY NOT THE DEMOCRATS, THE TEA PARTY WILL FIGHT FOR EVERYBODY RIGHTS HANDED DOWN TO THEM IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
To really make life unsympathetic for illegal alien criminals, our gutless Republicans should assume E-Verify as a mandatory apparatus without fail. Rep. Lamar Smiths bill ‘The Legal Workforce Act’ (H.R. 2885) informs a business owner whether an individual has a right to work. Currently it is a voluntary policy, but citizens can change this by rattling the cages of the Republican Party. It has become a remarkable electronic program, which detects unauthorized non citizens already hired, but then flagged and can only be resolved by stepping into Social Security offices. No illegal alien would dream of doing that, even if they are in possession of stolen ID documents? Of course the mainstream Liberal press is adamant in denouncing the E-Verify business checking Database?
Just as vital in importance is the BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Bill (H.R.140) amendment law. This disqualifies illegal alien mothers from gaining immediate acceptance of their unborn baby smuggled through ports of entry, either across the ocean or through our limited border fence defenses. Undoubtedly a misinterpreted law that was originally consigned to slaves during the Civil War in the emancipation decree, not an identified ruling by SCOTUS, but unfortunately a huge tax burden that must be resolved. These Foothold children are costing $100 of billions of dollars in welfare, cash payments, education and health care treatment to the states and pouring through the cracks in our laws at a rate of 400.000 a year. The only obstruction is the special interests groups in the halls of Congress, which pour large donations into both parties. Pro-illegal alien forces in the Democrat and Republican Party and stopping these bills from becoming the law of the land.
No! You Republicans and Democrats the TEA PARTY is swelling, not shrinking as you will see in November. All people of every race, religion or political party affiliate should join a local chapter. Obviously people who scorned our immigration laws are not welcome. We can relieve this nation of politicians, governors, mayors and all others, who don’t comply with the Constitution. The Rupert Murdoch personages are isolated from the real world in their mansions, same as the celebrities who know nothing about buying a loaf of bread. They should keep out of the business of the country and go and do something for the legal jobless in this land?
This is the time when every American who believes in the ‘Rule of Law’ and steps forward to let their Senator or Congress person knows how you will vote. Tell the politician’s aide and that you want them to pass E-Verify and the Birthright Citizenship bills. Citizen voters should phone Congress at the central Washington, D.C., Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Insist YOUR CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN TO fulfill their obligation to the oath of office and stop pandering to the businesses that use discount workers or the Democrats who are overlooking illegal aliens voting. You have the power of the VOTE to demand they sponsor these to policies or we are doomed to a future, without any restrictions on President Obama to initiate another spending spree. The country has a near $16 trillion deficit that must be stopped and now.
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