Mitt Romney doesn’t “tell the truth” about his healthcare
record, former Sen. Rick Santorum charged Sunday.
Santorum has aggressively attacked Romney over the
healthcare law he signed as Massachusetts governor, which was the model for
President Obama’s healthcare law. He sought to link Romney to several of
Obama’s healthcare policies during an appearance on “Meet the Press.”
Santorum not only cited the unpopular requirement that
almost everyone purchase insurance, but also tied Romney to Obama’s order
requiring many employers to cover contraception for their employees.
“He went out and misled voters that somehow or another he
was not for mandates at the federal level when in fact he was,” Santorum said.
“He went out and said, ‘Oh no. I didn't require Catholic hospitals to provide
things that were against their conscience,’ when in fact he did. He said, ‘Oh,
I didn't provide free abortions under 'RomneyCare,'’ when in fact he did for
some.”
“So he's repeatedly had big government solutions and then
gone out and told the public, bald face, that he didn't do the things that he
did,” Santorum added.
The former Pennsylvania senator cited recently unearthed
materials — including “Meet the Press” appearances — in which Romney suggested
that the Massachusetts healthcare law, specifically its individual mandate,
would be a good model for national reform.
RELATED: Healthcare will be heavy lift for Romney against Obama
“Gov. Romney actually advocated for the Massachusetts model
that President Obama adopted with mandates,” Santorum said. “And then went out
on the campaign trail and repeatedly — well, he repeatedly didn't tell the
truth.”
Santorum reiterated his argument that Romney won’t be able
to credibly attack Obama over healthcare if he wins the Republican primary. He
also defended his own vote in favor of the Medicare prescription drug benefit,
a largely private-sector program that was not paid for, but which Republicans
see as a model for other parts of the healthcare system.
RELATED: Poll: Americans don't think Obama law will make healthcare better - or worse
