For Romney, a complicated relationship with the law that unofficially carries his name

Mass General Brigham’s partnership with the YMCA of Greater Boston and the City of Boston is expanding access to fresh, healthy food for families. The Greater Boston Collaborative Food Access Hub serves an average of 20,000 residents monthly, distributing more than 1.7 million pounds of food. It recovers food that would have otherwise gone to waste, supporting both community health and environmental sustainability.

Faneuil Hall is a key place in Mitt Romney’s political history.

It’s where in 1994 he faced off against U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, who pummeled him in a debate on his way to trouncing him at the ballot box later that year.

Romney and Kennedy were together again on the same stage in 2006 for the signing of the health care access law. "This, for me, feels a bit like the Titanic returning to visit the iceberg," Romney joked.

The same quip could be deployed for his return to that stage again on Monday, as he joined Gov. Maura Healey and three fellow ex-governors to celebrate 20 years of the bipartisan law, known as “Chapter 58,” but also informally called “Romneycare.” 

Romney, who noted that since its signing more than a million residents have been able to “receive preventive, wellness, and life-saving care from our world-renowned healthcare professionals,” had planned to use it as a springboard to run for president. Hours after the 2006 ceremony, which featured a celebratory band, Romney met with Iowa officials at a hotel blocks away, according to the biography, “Romney: A Reckoning.”

But the law became a source of agita for Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, as the law ended up inspiring Obamacare at the federal level. Republicans looked askance at the source of inspiration.

In 2006, he could not have anticipated conservatives later blanching at the law – its provisions were promoted by the Heritage Foundation, before it became MAGA anti-Democratic dogma. But he had an inkling of potential heartburn. When Romney used 14 different pens to sign the law, he also wielded the veto pen. He killed a fee on businesses that don’t offer insurance, to the annoyance of legislative leaders like House Speaker Sal DiMasi.

“I told Sal, ‘Let’s walk up and override the vetoes right now,’” Ron Mariano, a House negotiator who now serves as the speaker, recalled in a recent interview. “Let Romney march around with the band.” (With their Democratic majorities, lawmakers eventually overturned Romney’s vetoes.)

But on Monday, it was all gentle pokes, no overrides. Gov. Deval Patrick, who worked to implement the law after Romney left for the fields of Iowa, joked, “We did so much it should be called Patrickcare.” The remark earned a good-natured thumbs-up from a smiling Romney. If he remembered when Patrick hit the campaign trail for Obama to tout Romneycare as a way to ratchet up the awkwardness between Romney and Obamacare haters, Romney didn’t mention it.

When it was his turn, Romney offered up some of his takeaways from 2006. “Political rivals respected each other, buried political weapons and worked together to find solutions,” he said.

There was also an alignment of interests. Romney wanted something to run for president on, and Kennedy wanted to get as close as possible to his dream of universal health care.

And former Senate President Robert Travaglini noted in his remarks, “There were so many pieces, so many plays, so many vested interests that were concerned.” Health care executives, insurance providers, doctors and nurses knew “if they didn't want to involve themselves in the conversation and the collaboration, then decisions would be made on their behalf and in their absence,” he added.

Romney went on to twice run losing campaigns for president, before becoming one of Utah’s two senators and a prominent critic of the Trump administration. “Now, having spent six years in Washington, I have a greater appreciation for what we did here,” he told the crowd on Monday.

The best-laid plans sometimes go awry. Romney didn’t win the White House, but Chapter 58 seemed to have worked out well for others, especially the million-plus Massachusetts residents who received treatment and care thanks to the law.

Faneuil Hall was packed on Monday with former State House staffers and politicos. Many of them returned to watch the former governors and lawmakers take the stage. Who are some of the unsung staffers from that era? Send me your nominations: [email protected].

20 years ago, MA mandated residents to buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Unaffordable healthcare inflation followed along with new mandates, rising premiums, fewer choices & increased provider payments without real transparency or efficiency standards. Taxpayer costs soared; working family income growth suffered. Small businesses & their workforces have consistently faced annual double digit premium increases. Healthcare cost reforms are long overdue.

9:00 | The Spain-US Business Summit features the launch of two new global economic initiatives focusing on Massachusetts’ life sciences and innovation sectors: a transatlantic venture capital fund anchored by the government of Spain and available to support the creation, growth and international expansion of biotechnology companies between Spain and the United States; and an effort by the city of Boston, M&T Bank, M&T Charitable Foundation, and the Boston Foundation to accelerate the growth of international companies, innovators and capital into Boston’s innovation ecosystem. Mayor Michelle Wu is set to speak and participate in a fireside chat. Gov. Maura Healey, Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley and Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism Director Jeevan Ramapriya also attend. | Winthrop Center, 115 Federal St., Third floor, Boston

9:30 | The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts holds its inaugural Vanguard Award ceremony to celebrate those whose work boosts the council’s network and efforts to uplift Black communities across the state. Honorees include former Congressman Chet Atkins, Rep. Russell Holmes, OneUnited Bank founder Teri Williams, Sidney Baptista CEO and founder of PYNRS as well as Natasha Holmes, CEO and founder of And Still We Rise. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll is scheduled to speak. | State Room, 33rd floor, 60 State St., Boston

10:00 | Gov. Maura Healey speaks at AI startup Lovable’s Boston headquarters and ribbon-cutting ceremony. 1 Lincoln St., 25th floor, Boston

10:30 | Legislators, family support staff, advocates and families gather in front of 64 children’s shoes for an event marking Child Abuse Prevention Month. This visual represents the average 64 children who are confirmed as abused or neglected every day in Massachusetts, according to advocates. Sen. Jo Comerford and Rep. Jay Livingstone are set to be honored for their work supporting children and families. After the event, the shoes will be donated to programs supported by the Children’s Trust. | Grand Staircase, State House, Boston

11:45 | Gov. Maura Healey and Education Secretary Stephen Zrike hold a press conference to “discuss additional proposals to reform social media platforms to protect young people,” per Healey’s office. | Room 157, State House, Boston

1:00 | The Local Government Advisory Commission meets; Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs the meeting. Agenda calls for discussion of revenue trends and the budget picture with Secretary Matt Gorzkowicz, discussion of the in-progress surtax supplemental budget process, an update on the Chapter 90 and transportation bond bill, and more. | Room 157, State House, Boston | Zoom

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OPEN SEAT SPENDING: When they ran for open congressional seats, Lori Trahan and Jake Auchincloss spent about $2.5 million each. In the race for Seth Moulton’s open seat, candidates appear ready to easily blow past that number. – Boston Globe

FACT-CHECKING A SUPER PAC: Politifact reviewed an Ed Markey super PAC’s ad taking aim at Seth Moulton “distorts Moulton’s support for the [ICE] agency by plucking out a one-phrase mention in a 417-word resolution and omits that Moulton has repeatedly criticized the agency.” – Politifact

Join legislators and thought leaders for a timely forum on the AI revolution in Massachusetts. Explore the challenges and opportunities of AI policy on Thursday, May 7, at the MCLE (Boston). RSVP!

QUINCY POLITICS: A newly independent Quincy City Council has led to bitter exchanges in public and on social media. Allies of Mayor Tom Koch were ousted by voters in the last election. – Boston Globe

VOC TECH LOTTERY: Massachusetts vocational and technical schools have switched to a lottery system, leading to some grumbling by parents who say merit no longer factors into admissions. – GBH News

HOLYOKE ZONING: Members of the Holyoke City Council and the city’s planning board are considering a zoning overhaul aimed at simplifying development, and local officials say it won’t raise taxes or change what happens to industrial land. – MassLive

PLYMOUTH ICE RESTRICTIONS: During a marathon town meeting, restrictions on police cooperation with federal immigration agents were codified through a bylaw. Town meeting members also voted on employee retirement benefits and spending on upcoming holiday celebrations. – Plymouth Independent

FOOD DELIVERY DRIVERS: The city of Boston is requiring companies like DoorDash and UberEats to provide insurance to third-party deliverers, and share more information on the drivers, including routes taken and locations of deliveries. It’s part of an effort to get a handle on the food delivery drivers who zoom around the city. – WBUR

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