by Donna Jablonski, Apr 26, 2006

The Massachusetts House yesterday voted to take back the giveaway to employers Gov. Mitt Romney (R) had wheedled into the state’s new health care law. Romney had vetoed a $295-a-year assessment per employee on employers that do not provide health coverage to workers. The House dumped Romney’s veto in a 136–20 vote, the Associated Press reports, and the Senate is expected to vote to override it as well. 

As we reported previously, the Massachusetts law—patterned on a plan from ultraconservative former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich—is the most far-reaching scheme to shift the burden of health care costs to workers. Under the legislation, individuals who don’t qualify for the state Medicaid program or for insurance through their jobs would be forced to buy low-cost private plans. Romney’s move to exempt employers that don’t cover their workers was insult added to injury. 

The House also voted to override Romney’s veto of a provision providing dental coverage for Medicaid recipients.

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