July 26, 2006

GOVERNOR ROMNEY ANNOUNCES FEDERAL APPROVAL FOR COMMONWEALTH’S HEALTHCARE REFORM PLAN

Governor Mitt Romney today announced that the federal government has approved all aspects of the state’s Medicaid waiver, which will allow implementation of the Commonwealth’s landmark healthcare reform legislation.

The agreement preserves $385 million in federal Medicaid funding during each of the next two years. That money will now be available for premium assistance for low-income people to them purchase private health insurance and reduce the rate of the uninsured in the state.

Based on a 2004 state survey, approximately 500,000 people in the Commonwealth were uninsured. About 100,000 of them are eligible for Medicaid, another 200,000 are expected to be eligible for premium assistance to purchase private health insurance that will contain no annual deductibles, and another 200,000 with incomes over 300 percent of the federal poverty level will be able to purchase lower-cost policies in the private market.

“Our ability to now insure every Massachusetts citizen is a historic achievement for both the Commonwealth and the nation,” said Romney. “A critical component of our plan is that all residents will have the opportunity to purchase affordable health insurance.”

Approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) came less than three months after the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) submitted its 200-page plan.

“The federal government’s approval of the Massachusetts’ plan is a critical step for our implementation efforts of this sweeping reform,” said EOHHS Secretary Timothy Murphy. “We look forward to working with all stakeholders to make this plan a success.”

In addition to providing the mechanism to pay for premium assistance for individuals earning less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, this action by the federal government gives MassHealth formal approval to expand the health insurance coverage for children up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. It also sets an identical threshold for the Insurance Partnership, a MassHealth program that helps small businesses pay for their employees’ health insurance.

In addition, the enrollment cap in the MassHealth Essential program for the long-term unemployed has been increased to 60,000 as part of this approval.

“Tomorrow, the Office of Medicaid will clear its waitlist and enroll approximately 10,500 people into MassHealth Essential program. These individuals are currently being served by the free care pool today. By raising the enrollment cap on MassHealth Essential, these individuals will now have access to managed care and will allow dollars in the free care pool to be directed to premium assistance,” said Beth Waldman, the state’s Medicaid Director.

July 26, 2006

ROMNEY TABS PHILLIP RAPOZA AS CHIEF OF APPEALS COURT

Governor Mitt Romney today nominated Judge Phillip Rapoza to serve as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Judge Rapoza has served as an Associate Justice of the Appeals Court since 1998 and will succeed Chief Justice Christopher Armstrong. His elevation to Chief Justice must be approved by the Governor’s Council.

“Over a distinguished legal career, Judge Rapoza has made public service his top priority,” said Romney. “He enjoys a sterling reputation in legal circles, and it is my hope that he will continue his service as chief of the Appeals Court.”

Judge Rapoza has extensive judicial experience within Massachusetts and internationally. From March 2004 to June 2005 he served as the chief administrative judge of the Special Panels for Serious Crimes, a war crimes tribunal established by the United Nations to prosecute human rights violations committed in East Timor during that country’s struggle for independence. He was a central figure in implementing the UN Security Council’s mandate to bring the guilty to justice.

As chief judge of this panel, Rapoza supervised an international court staff that included judges from around the world. He took an unpaid leave of absence from the Appeals Court to serve on the panel. Governor Romney signed into law special legislation extending his leave of absence by six months, permitting him to complete his judicial service in East Timor.

“I am honored to be nominated as Chief Justice of the Appeals Court,” said Judge Rapoza. “I thank Governor Romney for his confidence in me and I welcome this new opportunity to be of service to the Court and the Commonwealth. If confirmed by the Council, I look forward to working with my fellow judges on the Appeals Court to uphold our court’s high standards and excellent reputation.” said Judge Rapoza.

Prior to his appointment to the Appeals Court in 1998, Judge Rapoza served for eight years as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court and the Fall River District Court. Before serving as a trial judge, Rapoza was a lawyer in private practice in New Bedford and Fall River. He began his legal career as a Suffolk County prosecutor and later served as an assistant district attorney in the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Judge Rapoza, who is the grandson of Portuguese immigrants, is the founder of a legal exchange program between the United States and Portugal that has dealt with issues such as criminal law, domestic violence and child abuse. In 2002, President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal cited Judge Rapoza’s work in “promoting closer relations between

the judicial systems of our two countries” and awarded him the rank of Commander in the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal’s highest civilian honor.

Judge Rapoza received his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Yale College and his law degree from Cornell University Law School. He is a lifelong resident of Dartmouth.

July 26, 2006

GOVERNOR ROMNEY APPROVES EXEMPTION FOR TARGET PISTOLS

Governor Mitt Romney today signed legislation approving an exemption for the makers of customized target pistols, who due to a provision within state law have found it increasingly difficult to do business in Massachusetts. The law requires gun makers to test at least five examples of all new products “until destruction” in order to prevent accidental discharges. Since specialty target pistols typically sell in small numbers and at higher costs than regular guns, manufacturers have found it uneconomical to sell them in Massachusetts.

“By making this common-sense change to the law we will enable target pistol manufacturers to do business in our state and allow enthusiasts to practice the sport they love,” said Romney.

“This long overdue correction in state laws now appropriately allows target shooting enthusiasts to develop competitive skills for national and international competitions. I am pleased with the Legislature and Governor’s approval,” said Representative Frank Hynes, the bill’s sponsor.

“These pistols are not so much weapons as they are sporting equipment,” said Marshfield resident Greg Derr, who was on the 1996 Olympic target shooting team. “The Legislature and the Governor are making a smart correction to a law that has put Massachusetts target enthusiasts at a competitive disadvantage.”

“Target shooters are an important part of our membership and I know they will be very pleased with this change,” said James Wallace, Executive Director of the Gun Owner’s Action League.