Former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum slammed former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney Thursday, criticizing him for his defense of Massachusetts’ health care law.
“I greatly respect both Governor Romney and admire many of his personal and professional accomplishments, but his work to institute the precursor to national socialized medicine is not one of them,” Mr. Santorum said in a statement.
In a speech meant to address concerns related to his support of the Massachusetts health care system, Mr. Romney defended the program, noting the need for state rights in crafting health care laws.
“We have taken a turn for the worse with ObamaCare, with its high taxes and vastly expanded federal control over our lives. I believe the better course is to empower the states to determine their own health care futures,” the former Massachusetts governor wrote in an op-ed previewing his speech.
“The president and the Congress took a wrong turn. ObamaCare will lead to more spending, greater federal involvement in health care and negative effects on U.S. economic activity,” Mr. Romney added.
Mr. Santorum’s criticism likely proves any notion held by the Romney campaign of overcoming concerns related to the former governor’s past support is likely misguided. A number of key Republicans have expressed concerns in regards to Mr. Romney’s support for the Massachusetts law, which the Obama administration says served as a model for President Obama’s health care law.
