Romney once shared credit on healthcare law

By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

Mitt Romney was quick to take credit for Massachusetts' landmark healthcare law at the GOP debate Sunday night. "First of all, I'm not going to give the Democratic legislature credit for the plan that I helped build," he declared.

But before he was a presidential candidate, the former Massachusetts governor was going out of his way to give credit to Democrats in the Legislature.

In a statement he released to coincide with his signing of the bill in April 2006, Romney heralded the work of House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and Senate President Robert E. Travaglini, both Boston Democrats. He also signed the bill at historic Faneuil Hall with a tableau that include among others, US Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

"This would not have been possible without the courageous work of Senate President Travaglini, Speaker DiMasi, providers, insurers, consumer groups, and all the other industry stakeholders who recognized an opportunity to do something historic,” Romney said in his statement.

He added that the law, "proves that government can work when people of both parties reach across the aisle for the common good."

Romney has been treading lightly on the healthcare law in other ways as well. While some independent analysts say the Massachusetts reform is similar to the universal healthcare plan offered by Democrats including Hillary Clinton, Romney has sought to accentuate differences and blamed legislative Democrats for forcing him into provisions he disliked.