That new federal law was opposed by the people that didn't vote for it .... like forcing people to engage in business with insurers whether they want to or not
“With regards to the individual mandate, the individual responsibility program that I proposed, I was very pleased that the compromise between the two houses includes the personal responsibility mandate" - Mitt Romney, 2006
In the video released Wednesday night, Mr. Romney appears to share that view, at least as it relates to the Massachusetts plan.
The individual mandate, he said, “is essential for bringing the health care costs down for everyone and getting everyone the health insurance they need.”
Washington Post:
George H.W. Bush put together a plan with an individual mandate, but left it on the shelf because there was no way it’d pass in a Democratic Congress.