September 20, 2007 12:22PM 

# The Mitt-Hillary “Connection,” Part IV 

By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) 

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Mitt Romney devoted an entire [article](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119025374664933444.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries) \[$\] in today’s *Wall Street Journal* to explaining how the law he signed as governor of Massachusetts is very different from [Hillary Clinton’s new health plan](http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/americanhealthchoicesplan.pdf).

He’s right, you know. Clinton proposes an individual mandate and an employer mandate. Romney? His Massachusetts law imposed … well, [individual and employer mandates](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8431). Clinton proposes subsidies for those who can’t afford insurance. Romney? Yeah, he had those too. Clinton proposes expanding an existing government purchasing cooperative. Aha! Romney … um, [created](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6407) a new government purchasing cooperative. Clinton wants to impose [hidden taxes](https://www.cato.org/2006/05/12/they-dont-call-it-taxachusetts-for-nothing/) on the young and those who lead healthy lifestyles to subsidize older people and those who lead unhealthy lifestyles. Romney? Yeah, he did that too. Clinton disingenously wraps her plan in free-market rhetoric. Romney … [umm](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119025374664933444.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries) …

[The](https://www.cato.org/2007/04/13/romney-embarrassed-about-his-health-plan/) [governor](https://www.cato.org/2007/05/04/romney-loves-government-run-health-care/) [doth](https://www.cato.org/2007/06/04/what-romneycare-and-hillarycare-have-in-common/) [protest](https://www.cato.org/2007/06/05/more-on-the-mitt-hillary-connection/) [too](https://www.cato.org/2007/06/06/the-gop-debates-health-care/) [much](https://www.cato.org/2007/07/10/the-mitt-hillary-connection-part-iii/), [methinks](https://www.cato.org/2007/08/10/the-left-understands-romneycare/).

**In related news …** the Romney campaign plans to roll out [a new TV ad](http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/romney-calls-on-gop-to-shape-up-2007-09-19.html) that warns:

> When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses. It’s time for Republicans to start acting like Republicans.

Here’s a scary thought. What if Republicans are acting like Republicans?

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care) 

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