Healey Hosts Romneycare Event—But One Guest Raises Eyebrows

Governor Maura Healey led a rare gathering of former Massachusetts governors to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Romneycare. Signed by Republican Mitt Romney in 2006, the landmark policy was the first in the nation to require mandatory health insurance.

A Historic Romneycare Milestone

Healey was joined for the celebration at Boston's Faneuil Hall by former Democratic governors Deval Patrick and a 93-year-old Mike Dukakis, who arrived in a wheelchair, along with former Republican governors Romney and Bill Weld.

Interestingly enough, four of the five governors in attendance – Dukakis, Romney, Weld, and Patrick – have run for president. Healey has not, at least not yet. Only two of them, Dukakis and Romney, were nominated by their party.

Romney lost to Barack Obama in 2012 and failed to enter the 2016 Republican nomination race, which Donald Trump won, a decision Romney seemed to regret. 

Perhaps the most interesting guest to receive an invite to the Romneycare anniversary shindig was former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. DiMasi was Speaker when Romneycare became law.

DiMasi’s Controversial Past

You may recall that DiMasi, who served as Speaker from 2004 to 2009, resigned from the House after he was indicted on federal corruption charges, including mail fraud, aiding and abetting, wire fraud, and extortion.

In 2011, the Boston Democrat was convicted of seven of the nine counts against him and served five years in federal prison. On November 22, 2016, Judge Mark L. Wolf released DiMasi, who was suffering from cancer.

Following his release from jail, DiMasi applied to be a Beacon Hill lobbyist, but his application was denied. DiMasi registered as a lobbyist for the City of Boston in 2019.

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Media Reaction and Missing Context

Media stories referred to DiMasi's appearance at the Romneycare celebration; there were few, if any, references to the corruption that led to his departure from the Massachusetts Legislature.

I guess all is forgiven.