By Jennifer Barrett
Newsweek
Updated: 11:41 a.m. ET June 7, 2006

June 6, 2006 - Earlier this year, Massachusetts became the first state to pass legislation aimed at achieving near universal health-care coverage for its residents. The bill would help about 90 to 95 percent of the state’s estimated 500,000 uninsured residents gain coverage over the next three years by subsidizing the costs for low-income residents with state and federal funds. It’s a plan that has been held up as a nationwide model for health-care reform—and also a triumph for the state’s Republican governor, Mitt Romney.

Romney says that the plan can be achieved without imposing new taxes or borrowing money because financing would come largely from funds now being used for other health-care expenses, such as reimbursing hospitals for care they provide to uninsured residents. Its passage has also renewed speculation that Romney—who worked with the Democratic leadership of the Massachusetts legislature to create the bipartisan legislation—is setting the stage for a presidential run in 2008. The governor has been increasingly vocal on national issues, speaking out for widespread health-care reform and sending a letter to senators on June 2 in support of a gay-marriage ban, which will be considered this week. Romney supporters have already set up an “Americans for Mitt” Web site urging him to run. The governor has said that he won’t seek re-election this fall, but he has not announced yet whether he’ll seek the Republican nomination for president. NEWSWEEK’s Jennifer Barrett spoke with Romney about universal health-care coverage, gay marriage and whether he is planning to run for the nation’s highest office. Excerpts:…Read More