Healthcare bill fuels Romney's momentum

How eager is Governor Mitt Romney, possible presidential aspirant, to trumpet the state's sweeping new healthcare bill?

Extremely, judging by his plans for next Wednesday.

Romney, who is riding a wave of mostly positive national media attention for his role in the pioneering healthcare effort, has tentatively planned a tickets-only signing ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Faneuil Hall.

Romney, House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, and Senate President Robert E. Travaglini are slated to speak. US Senator Edward M. Kennedy was also asked to give remarks, but he will be out of the country.

Romney communications director Eric Fehrnstrom said in an e-mail yesterday that hundreds of people will be invited.

''We are planning a bipartisan signing ceremony for Wednesday at Faneuil Hall, which is large enough to accommodate all the many people who share credit for this remarkable achievement," he said.

The governor has indicated that he will veto portions of it or seek changes to portions of the legislation, namely a proposed assessment on businesses that don't provide healthcare coverage to workers.

But Romney is trumpeting the bill as historic and he is expected to cite it on the campaign trail as one of his biggest achievements as governor.

Romney would not be the first Massachusetts governor cum presidential aspirant to seize on a major bill signing for good publicity.

In 1988, Michael Dukakis signed a comprehensive healthcare bill before a big crowd outside the State House in a festive ceremony with music and balloons.

-- SCOTT HELMAN