Political positions of Mitt Romney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. This article has been tagged since March 2007. |
Many of Mitt Romney's past and present political positions are visible through his actions, proposals, and statements made during his Massachusetts political campaigns and as governor of Massachusetts, 2003-2007. During the later years of his term, he revised some of his previously espoused positions.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Abortion
- See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney#Abortion
During his run for president, Romney has declared that he thinks abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is threatened.[2] He also criticized the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.[2] Romney's spokesperson has also indicated that were he the governor of South Dakota, he would sign into law the controversial abortion ban, but include exceptions for cases of incest or rape, which the South Dakota law excludes.[3]
Romney's views on abortion, however, have changed notably over time. In a 1994 debate with Senator Edward Kennedy, Romney said that abortion should be legal, declaring that "regardless of one's beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal." "Many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion", Romney said. "It is since that time my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that." [2]
When he was considering a run for office in Utah, Romney told a newspaper in Salt Lake City that he did not want to be classified as a "pro-choice" politician.[2]
During the 2002 governor's race, Romney's platform stated, "As Governor, Mitt Romney would protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts. No law would change. The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government's."[4] Romney promised to "preserve and protect a woman's right to choose" and declared "I will not change any provisions in Massachusetts' pro-choice laws".[5][6]
Romney has stated his views on abortion were drastically altered on November 9, 2004 after discussing stem cell research with Douglas Melton, a stem cell researcher at Harvard University. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute was planning research that would have involved therapeutic cloning.[3] According to Romney, Melton declared that the research "is not a moral issue because we kill the embryos at 14 days." "I looked over at Beth Myers, my chief of staff, and we both had exactly the same reaction, which is it just hit us hard", recalled Romney. "And as they walked out, I said, ‘Beth, we have cheapened the sanctity of life by virtue of the Roe v. Wade mentality.’"[4] Melton disputes Romney's account of the meeting, declaring "Governor Romney has mischaracterized my position; we didn't discuss killing or anything related to it ... I explained my work to him, told him about my deeply held respect for life, and explained that my work focuses on improving the lives of those suffering from debilitating diseases."[7]
Romney's current stance, as described on his campaign Web site, effectively calls for a repeal of Roe vs. Wade, saying that "the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."[8]
[edit] Campaign finance
Although Romney once supported strong campaign-finance regulation, in 2007 he began strongly criticizing campaign-finance regulations.[9] In his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney proposed taxing private political contributions in order to finance publicly funded campaigns.[9] In his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney advocated spending limits on congressional campaigns and suggested abolishing political action committees.[9]
[edit] Environment
- See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney#Environment
Romney supports regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through voluntary measures. He issued a 72-point Climate Protection Plan. His staffers spent more than $500,000 negotiating the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI--pronounced "Reggie"), which Romney praised in November 2005, saying "I'm convinced it is good business." As plan details were being worked out, Romney pushed for a cap on fees charged to businesses who exceed emission limits citing concerns of increased consumer energy costs. He stated: "New England has the highest energy rates in the country, and RGGI would cost us more." This ongoing disagreement eventually led Romney, in December, 2005, to pull out of RGGI and Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri quickly followed suit.
In 2003, Romney appointed environmental advocate Douglas I. Foy (former president of the Conservation Law Foundation) to head the state development office. Foy resigned in February of 2006 after Romney announced he would not seek re-election.
Romney opposes the controversial Cape Wind offshore wind farm proposal because of its visual detriment to Nantucket, saying that Nantucket "is a critical location for the state, and placing wind turbines there would be detrimental."
[edit] Gay rights
Although Romney is opposed to both same-sex marriage and civil unions, he believes that domestic partnership benefits should be available for same-sex couples.[10] In 2002 he said, "All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation." Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship."[11] In 2006, Romney announced his support of the Marriage Protection Amendment[12][13], but in 2002, Romney opposed a Massachusetts constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships because the amendment, which was supported by the Democratic leadership, would have prohibited domestic partnership benefits for gays and lesbians: "I see Tom Finneran and the Democratic leadership as having opposed the application of domestic partnership benefits to gay and lesbian couples and I will support and endorse efforts to provide those domestic partnership benefits to gay and lesbian couples."[14]
In 1994, Romney sent a letter to the Log Cabin Republicans saying that he would be a stronger advocate for gay rights than Senator Edward M. Kennedy, his then-opponent, in a Senate race. His letter included the phrase "We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern."[15]
Conservative activists such as Paul Weyrich have gone on the record as being disturbed at Romney's supposed inconsistency. Weyrich said "Unless he comes out with an abject repudiation of this, I think it makes him out to be a hypocrite. And if he totally repudiates this, you have to ask, on what grounds?"[15]
[edit] Gun control
- See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney#Other issues
Romney in past campaigns has described himself as a proponent of gun control. For Romney' s 1994 US Senate campaign, he supported the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on particular assault weapons. In a 2002 debate during Romney's campaign for governor of Massachusetts, Romney said: "We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them. I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety." As governor, Romney signed a 2004 measure instituting a permanent Massachusetts ban on assault weapons, to take the place of a federal assault weapons ban, which was then about to expire. The bill made Massachusetts the first state to enact its own such ban, and Romney supported the law with the comment: "These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people." [16] Just before declaring his candidacy for the 2008 Republican nomination for president, Romney joined the National Rifle Association.[17][18][19]
[edit] Health care
Health insurance: As governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed legislation that required that nearly all Massachusetts residents obtain health insurance coverage by establishing means-tested state subsidies for people without adequate employer insurance, by directing funds designated to compensate for the health costs of the uninsured, and also specified penalties for those who fail to obtain coverage.[20][21][22] Legislation, effective on July 1, 2007, requires health insurance for all state residents, provided a plan is available to the individual that is deemed affordable according to state standards. Employers with eleven or more employees are mandated to offer approved insurance plans for employees.
Romney had vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a $295 per person fee on businesses with 11 employees or more that do not provide health insurance.[23][24] Romney also vetoed provisions providing dental and eyeglass benefits to poor residents on the Medicaid program, and providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal immigrants not eligible for federal Medicaid.[25][26] However, the state legislature overrode all of the vetoes.[27]
It remains to be seen if the resulting law can be fully implemented because of conflicts with the Federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that limits state regulation of employer health insurance.
[edit] Immigration
In his last month as Governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed an order which would allow thirty state police officers to be trained in determining if someone is an illegal alien and to allow those police officers the power to arrest illegal aliens. The incoming Governor of Masssachusetts, Democrat Deval Patrick, rescinded the order.[5] Governor Romney: "We need to make America more attractive for legal immigrants -- for citizens -- and less attractive for illegal immigrants. I want to see more immigration in our country, but more legal immigration and less illegal immigration." (AP, June 23, 2006)[6] Romney declined to take a stance on the Senate immigration bill of 2006. While he claims not to support amnesty, he also was quoted as saying "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country", he said. (AP, March 29, 2006). He would like to see illegal immigrants register with the government, pay taxes and apply for citizenship.[7]
[edit] Iraq war
In Romney's speech announcing that he would run for president he said, "so long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population."[28] He argued that instability in Iraq could lead to civil war and that "Iraq's Sunni region could become a base for al-Qaeda; that its Shia region could be seized by Iran; that Kurd tension could destabilize Turkey; and even that the broader Middle East could be drawn into conflict."[28] He says that this "could mean a future with far more military involvement and far more loss of American life."[28]
[edit] Stem cell research
Mitt Romney supports research using human embryos created during fertility treatments.[29] He opposes research using cloned embryos created by implanting human DNA into donated eggs.[29]
When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney strongly advocated stem-cell research in general terms, and he promised to lobby George W. Bush to embrace such research.[29] During his presidential campaign, however, Romney renounced his 2002 position and said that he now agrees with Bush's decision to ban federal funding for research on excess embryos.[29]
[edit] References
- ^ See Governorship of Mitt Romney for further detail.
- ^ a b c Romney, Mitt. "Why I vetoed contraception bill", Boston Globe, 2005-07-25. Retrieved on November 21, 2006.
- ^ "A Challenge to 'Roe'?", Washington Post, 2006-03-03, p. A16. Retrieved on November 21, 2006.
- ^ Romney, Mitt. "Mitt Romney on the issues", Romney for Governor Committee (via Web.Archive.org), 2002.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Romney on Abortion - 2002 Guvernorial Debate, 2002
- ^ Helman, Scott. "Romney's journey to the right", Boston Globe, December 17, 2006.
- ^ Romney, Mitt. "Issue Watch", Mitt Romney.
- ^ a b c Bolton, Alexander. "Romney's about face on campaign funding", The Hill, 2007-2-8. Retrieved on March 15, 2007.
- ^ McElhenny, John. “Shannon O'Brien supports gay marriage” Daily Collegian October 16, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
- ^ "Mitt Romney on the Issues" Romney for Governor 2002. Retrieved December 11, 2006.
- ^ Romney, Mitt. "Letter to the US Senate", mass.gov, June 2, 2006. Retrieved on December 8, 2006.
- ^ "Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachuetts", US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, June 22, 2004. Retrieved on December 8, 2006.
- ^ [Don't dismiss Romney, gay Republicans say http://www.baywindows.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=08486DDC28E740D987980DB8F9378245] Bay Windows Laura Kiritsy, October 24, 2002
- ^ a b "Romney’s Gay Rights Stance Draws Ire", New York Times, 2006-12-09. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ ROMNEY SIGNS OFF ON PERMANENT ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN; Legislation also makes improvements to gun licensing system Governor Mitt Romney July 1, 2004
- ^ Scott Helman. Romney, appealing to core GOP voters, toughens pro-gun rhetoric The Boston Globe. January 14, 2007
- ^ Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Writer. Romney retreats on gun control: Ex-governor woos Republican votes The Boston Globe, January 14, 2007
- ^ David Abel Romney joined NRA in August: Was advocate of gun control The Boston Globe. February 19, 2007
- ^ Crook, Clive. "The Massachusetts Experiment", The Atlantic, 2006-06-27. Retrieved on November 21, 2006.
- ^ An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Acts of 2006 (Session Laws), Chapter 58. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
- ^ Dembner, Alice. Outline for new insurance plan proposed Boston Globe. January 19, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
- ^ Greenberger, Scott S.. "House approves healthcare overhaul", The Boston Globe, November 4, 2005. Retrieved on December 7, 2006.
- ^ "(Broken link)", Reuters. Retrieved on December 7, 2006.
- ^ "(Broken link)", The North Adams Transcript. Retrieved on December 7, 2006.
- ^ Powell, Jennifer Heldt. "Mitt’s vetoes on health care make pols sick", The Boston Herald, April 13, 2006. Retrieved on December 7, 2006.
- ^ LeBlanc, Steve. "House overrides Romney's health care vetoes", Associated Press, April 25, 2006. Retrieved on December 7, 2006.
- ^ a b c http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Presidential_Announcement_Remarks , February 13, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Helman, Scott. "Romney's stem cell view may upset the right", Boston Globe, 2007-02-11. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
