Mitt Romney has publicly adopted political positions about various issues over the course of his life, both in seeking state and federal elective office, and in serving as 70th Governor of Massachusetts.
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In an op-ed piece in The Boston Globe on July 26, 2005, Romney stated: "I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."[1]
During his 2007–2008 run for president, Romney declared that he thinks abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is threatened.[1] He also criticized the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.[1] Romney's spokesperson has indicated that had Romney been the governor of South Dakota, he would have signed into law the controversial law banning abortion, but he would include exceptions for cases of incest or rape, which the South Dakota law excludes.[2] Romney was photographed attending a Planned Parenthood fundraiser in 1994, and his wife made a $150 contribution to the organization.[3] When Romney ran against Senator Ted Kennedy in 1994, his advisor Charles Manning told the Boston Herald that there were only "tiny nuances" of difference between Kennedy's and Romney's views on abortion.[4] In a 1994 debate with Senator 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."[5][6] Romney said in a debate with Kennedy, in response to the question "If abortion is morally wrong, aren't you responsible for discouraging it?":
One of the great things about our nation . . . is that we're each entitled to have strong personal beliefs, and we encourage other people to do the same. But as a nation, we recognize the right of all people to believe as they want and not to impose our beliefs on other people. I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years, that we should sustain and support it, and I sustain and support that law, and the right of a woman to make that choice, and my personal beliefs, like the personal beliefs of other people, should not be brought into a political campaign."[7]
When Kennedy then accused him of being "multiple-choice," Romney replied:
"On the accusation of being 'multiple-choice', I have to respond. I have my own beliefs, and those beliefs are very dear to me. One of them is that I do not impose my beliefs on other people. Many, many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion. 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, or being multiple-choice, thank you very much."[7]
The person Romney was referring to was a teenage girl engaged to marry a member of Romney's extended family. Romney's sister Jane has said that the girl's death changed the family's perspective on the legality of abortion.[6]
Thus, Romney maintains that he has always followed his Church teachings and has been personally pro-life.
When he was considering a run for office in Utah, Romney reportedly told a newspaper in Salt Lake City that he did not want to be classified as a "pro-choice" politician.[5]
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."[8] 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."[9][10] In that campaign for governor, Romney received the endorsement of Massachusetts Republican Pro-Choice Coalition.[6]
Romney has said 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.[11] 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.'"[12] 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."[13] In a press conference video in May 2005 however, Romney when asked about Massachusetts abortion laws said "I have indicated that as governor, I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice, and so far I've been able to successfully do that," indicating that the governor continued to hold a pro-choice position post-November 2004.[14] On January 29, 2007, in a visit to South Carolina, Romney stated, "Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-choice, I never called myself that as a label but I was effectively pro-choice and that followed a personal experience in my extended family that led to that conclusion." Romney continued saying every decision he made as governor, "in a very liberal state has been on the side of favoring life, I am firmly pro-life."[15]
Romney's current stance, as described on his campaign Web site, effectively calls for a repeal of Roe v. Wade, saying that "the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."[16] Romney reasserted this stance at the second Republican Presidential debate in South Carolina, stating that "Roe v. Wade has gone to such an extent that we've cheapened the value of human life." He followed by saying "the people should make [the abortion] decision, not the court."[17]
With regard to abortions done by intact dilation and extraction (called "partial birth abortion" by its opponents), Romney took no action to ban it while he was Governor of Massachusetts.[18] In statements since leaving office, he has expressed his opposition to the procedure.[19][20][21] Romney opposes criminal penalties against women who undergo abortion and believes that society's "hearts and minds" must be changed for policy implementation to be successful.[19][22][23]
ABC News reported that Romney supports the pro-life plank of the GOP platform, which means he would support establishing legal personhood for all unborn children in all 50 states.[24] He has not, however, stated his position on "personhood legislation", which would declare legal personhood to begin at fertilization and would ban some forms of contraception, such as the birth-control pill.[25]
Romney declined to sign a pro-life pledge for 2012 presidential candidates sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony List by which signers pledge to push legislation to end all taxpayer funding of abortion and to sign a law to "protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain from abortion." The pledge also commits signers to nominate judges and appoint executive branch officials who are pro-life. Romney's spokeswoman said the pledge could have "unforeseen consequences" and that Romney could not "in good conscience sign it."[26]
Romney supports sentencing under the three strikes law.[27][28][29] Romney supports mandatory increases in sentencing for repeat drunk drivers and has supported a federal effort to curtail the drug trade in Colombia.[19]
As Governor of Massachusetts, Romney announced plans to file a death penalty bill in early 2005. The bill, filed April 28, 2005, sought to reinstate the death penalty in cases that include terrorism, the assassination of law enforcement officials and multiple killings. Romney's legislation required the presence of scientific evidence such as DNA to sentence someone to death and a tougher standard of "no doubt" of guilt for juries to sentence defendants. This differs from the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in traditional criminal cases. The legislation called for a pool of certified capital case lawyers to ensure proper representation for the accused and allowed jurors who do not personally support the death penalty to serve in the guilt phase of the trial.[30] The bill was defeated in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by a vote of 100-53.[31]
Romney was against reviving the Fairness Doctrine, which regulates broadcasters to present controversial topics in what the Federal Communications Commission deemed a balanced, fair manner. Romney said, "I'd veto it if it ever got to my desk. And I would fight against it vehemently. The effort to try to impose the Fairness Doctrine on radio stations is, if you will, censorship Democrat style. It basically says we're not going to let you keep talking about the things you want to talk about and the market wants to hear."[32]
As president, Governor Romney said he would propose a "One-Strike, You're Ours" law for child sex offenders convicted of using the Internet to prey on children. This would cause newer, tougher federal penalties for first-time sexual offenders who used the Internet to assault children, which would include considerable mandatory jail time and lifetime tracking by GPS. It would impose the same sentence that states such as Florida and California have put in place with "Jessica's Law." Governor Romney would also require stricter enforcement of federal obscenity laws, which he says "have not been adequately enforced." He has also said he would punish and fine retailers for selling sexually explicit and excessively violent video games to minors.[33]
During his 2007 Iowa Republican Straw Poll speech, Romney stated "I want to make sure that every computer that goes into a home in the future [has the ability] for the citizen[s], the parent[s], to be able to block all that pornography from their kid's internet screen."[34]
Romney cites both Martin Luther King, Jr. and his father George Romney as role models. The senior Romney made headlines by walking out on 1964 Republican National Convention nominee Barry Goldwater because of his opposition to federal civil rights legislation, despite opposition from some in the party.[35]
Governor Romney supports the Employment Nondiscrimination Act at state level. Romney has expressed support for decreasing barriers to entry into the workforce for women and minorities.[36] He has expressed support for Muslims who face discrimination due to their religion.[19]
Romney supports increasing standards for education and quality based incentives for teachers. He proposes identifying failing schools, more efficient schools and accountability, school choice, and English immersion. Romney has supported private and government efforts to increase merit scholarships for high school students. He has supported reforming under-performing schools with charter schools. Romney has supported means-tested vouchers for public and private schools as Governor. He has opposed efforts to teach creationism in schools. He believes that there should be more of an emphasis on family values in the educational system. Romney has supported efforts to fund nanotechnology and materials science education.[19]
Romney currently supports the federal government's involvement in education and supports No Child Left Behind. He said that he supports testing in schools and that testing "allows us to get better schools."[17] Romney also approved efforts in Massachusetts to require parents in poorly performing schools to attend parental education classes and awarding four-year scholarships to the best students. He also said he "favors paying bonuses to teachers who successfully teach ."[37] In his 1994 run for the Senate, Romney supported abolishing the Department of Education but has since renounced that. In the second presidential debate in South Carolina, he said,
I've taken a position where, once upon a time, I said I wanted to eliminate the Department of Education. That was my position when I ran for Senate in 1994. That's very popular with the base. As I've been a governor and seen the impact that the federal government can have holding down the interest of the teachers' unions and instead putting the interests of the kids and the parents and the teachers first, I see that the Department of Education can actually make a difference.[17]
In 1994, Romney, as a candidate for U.S. Senate, pledged to vote to establish a means-tested school voucher program to allow students to attend the public or private school of their choice.[38]
Romney has stated that superintendents and principals should be able to fire teachers without regard for seniority.[39] He also has stated that he is in favor of standardized testing as a high school graduation requirement and alternative education options for parents and students. He has declared his support for charter schools, school vouchers and home schooling.[40] Romney has said that good education is needed to compete in the global economy.[41]
Romney has said that sex education has no place in kindergarten.[42] According to Romney, "the amount of sex education which is appropriate in kindergarten is absolutely zero."[43]
Romney has dismissed the drive for class-size reduction as a ploy by the teachers unions.[44]
Romney believes that a proper role for government in encouraging economic growth is ensuring that students receive the best education possible. After fostering a highly-educated workforce and lowering taxes, he asserts that the "best thing the country can do is unleash the power of entrepreneurs and get out of the way."[45]
Romney has declared his support for abstinence education in public schools. In his run for the Senate in 1994, he said one of the programs that should be taught in schools was "the importance of getting married before having children."[46]
In the May 2007 South Carolina debate, Romney said he has always "fought for abstinence education."[17]
In 1994, Romney said that he has been consistently against public schools endorsing one religion or faith that may alienate other students. He said that "local school districts should have complete control over the programs, but that they could not endorse specific religious beliefs or prayer in schools"[46]
In 2006, he said, "We ought to allow ceremonies, graduation ceremonies and public events that we have the ability to recognize the Creator."[47]
Mitt Romney has said that strong families are one of his three pillars, along with military and economy, for a strong America.[48]
Romney's 2008 campaign website featured his quote, "America cannot continue to lead the family of nations around the world if we suffer the collapse of the family here at home."[49]
Romney has said "I support the right of individuals to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution,"[50] though in past campaigns he has described himself as a proponent of gun control, and he fully supports a ban on assault weapons.[51]
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 semi-automatic rifles.[51] 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."[52] As governor, Romney signed a 2004 measure instituting a permanent Massachusetts ban on military style assault weapons, to take the place of a Federal ban, which was then about to expire. The bill made Massachusetts the first state to enact its own such ban on specific semi-automatic weapons and some shotguns with specific accessories, 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."[53] As Governor, Romney extended the term of firearm licenses from four to six years, reinstated a 90-day grace period for citizens renewing their gun licenses, and signed a law providing free replacement licenses.
When he supported the Brady Bill in 1994, Romney said, "That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA. I don't line up with the NRA."[52] Just before declaring his candidacy for the 2008 Republican nomination for president, Romney joined the National Rifle Association (NRA).[51][51][54] In 2005, Romney declared the 31st anniversary of the Gun Owners' Action League "Right to Bear Arms Day".[55]
Romney made several statements in his 2008 campaign regarding his proficiency with and support for firearms:
"I've hunted a number of times, of various types of small rodents."[56]
"Shooting rabbits single shot 22 is pretty hard."[57]
"I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I'm a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right to bear arms. In our state . . . there are a series of laws restricting gun ownership in various ways. Over the past four years, I've worked very closely with the Gun Owners' Action League here, which is an affiliate of the NRA, and we've made some changes which I think they feel have been positive steps. And so you are going to see that, I think, hopefully, in other states as well, as they make progress, perhaps further than Massachusetts has."[52]
"So I'm a hunter and believe in Second Amendment rights, but I also believe that assault weapons are not needed in the public population."[58]
Romney later clarified that he did not 'own' a gun and said that one of his sons keeps two guns at the family vacation home in Utah.[54]
The Associated Press reported in April 2007 that Romney never sought a hunting license in any of the four states where he has resided. Romney replied by saying that he mainly hunts small game in Utah, which does not require a license.[59]
Romney has stated his opposition to both same-sex marriage and civil unions, though he supports some domestic partnership benefits and (at the state level) supports anti-discrimination laws to protect gays and lesbians in the workplace.
Prior to Romney's 2008 presidential campaign, he had a varied history regarding legal rights and responsibilities accorded to same-sex couples. During his 1994 senate campaign and 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign, Romney said he would have a better policy providing for domestic partnerships than his Democratic opponents.[60] In 1994, Romney sent a letter to the Log Cabin Republicans saying that he would be a stronger advocate for gay rights in the Senate than his opponent at the time, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. His letter included the phrase "We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern."[61] In 2002, Romney spoke regarding domestic partnership benefits, saying, "All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation." Romney said that domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship.[62][63]
As a candidate for governor in 2002, Romney said: "Call me old fashioned, but I don't support gay marriage nor do I support civil union." During that 2002 campaign, he also supported hate crimes legislation and opposed other discrimination against gays, while supporting some partner benefits for gays.
Also 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 leader Tom Finneran, would have prohibited domestic partnership benefits for gays and lesbians.[64]
Romney said,
"Basically I see the provision of basic civil rights and domestic partnership benefits [as] a campaign against Tom Finneran. 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."[64]
In 2006, Romney announced his support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have federally defined marriage in the U.S. Constitution as the union of one man and one woman.[65][66]
Romney said during his 2008 presidential campaign,
[M]y view on marriage has been entirely consistent over my political career. And that is that I oppose same-sex marriage. I also oppose civil unions . . . ever since [same-sex marriage] became a prominent [feature] in my state, with the decision of the Supreme Judicial Court, I have taken every action that I could conceive of within the bounds of the law to defend traditional marriage and to stop same-sex marriage . . . I've been to Washington to testify in favor of traditional marriage. I've written a letter to every U.S. senator on the topic . . . I believe that traditional marriage is right for the nurturing and development of children, but that I do not want to discriminate against gay people in employment or housing or other parts of their life.[67]
In July 2011, Romney refused to sign a pledge opposing gay marriage, a pledge that was being circulated by "The Family Leader", a conservative Christian group in Iowa.[68] On August 4, 2011, a month later, Romney publicly denounced same-sex marriage by signing the 2012 Presidential Pledge sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage.[69]
Romney supported Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 1994, and continued to do so in 2007.[70][71] Romney has said that he thinks that the Don't ask, don't tell policy is working and he would not change it, especially in the middle of a war, and that "we have much bigger issues as a nation that we ought to be talking about than that policy right now."[72]
Romney is a strong opponent of illegal drugs and does not favor legalizing medical cannabis. Romney answered a question on the subject from a man afflicted with muscular dystrophy who asked him about it on October 7, 2007.[73]
Romney has criticized what he calls the "cesspool" of pornography; however, in July 2007, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, the president of the American Family Foundation, and Daniel Weiss, media analyst for James Dobson's Focus on the Family said Romney had not prevented Marriott Hotels from making pornography available in its hotel rooms when he served on the hotel chain's board from 1992 to 2001. In an Associated Press interview, Romney said he was unaware of how much revenue the hotels generated from pornography, although he had served on the board's financial audit committee.[74]
Romney ran ads in key early primary states of New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina saying that children should not be exposed to destructive influences. Romney said, "I am not pursuing an effort to try and stop adults from being able to acquire or see things that I find objectionable; that's their right. But I do vehemently oppose practices or business procedures that will allow kids to be exposed to obscenity."[75]
Romney has said that research using human embryos created during fertility treatments is ethical but opposes using federal funds to support it.[76] He opposes research using cloned embryos created by implanting human DNA into donated eggs.[76] 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.[76] During his presidential campaign, 2008, 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.[76]
In October 2011, Romney told the Las Vegas Sun that he had not yet taken a serious look at the issue of legalizing online poker, but that he would do so and state a position "[b]efore the caucuses come along".[77]
In January 2008, a comprehensive analysis by the National Taxpayers Union found that Romney's presidential campaign proposals would increase the federal budget by $19.5 billion.[78]
Mitt Romney published a far-reaching economic plan.[79]
In January 2009, Romney said:
I think there is need for economic stimulus. Americans have lost about $11 trillion in net worth. That translates into about $400 billion a year less spending that they'll be doing, and that's net of additional government programs like Medicaid and unemployment insurance. And government can help make that up in a very difficult time. And that's one of the reasons why I think a stimulus program is needed.[80]
Romney said, however, that he did not support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
In 2011, Romney said that
Barack Obama has failed America. When he took office, the economy was in recession. He made it worse. And he made it last longer. Three years later, over 16 million Americans are out of work or have just quit looking. Millions more are underemployed. Three years later, unemployment is still above 8%, a figure he said his stimulus would keep from happening. Three years later, foreclosures are still at record levels. Three years later the prices of homes continue to fall. Three years later, our national debt has grown nearly as large as our entire economy. Families are buried under higher prices for food and higher prices for gasoline. It breaks my heart to see what's happening in this country. These failing hopes make up President Obama's own misery index. It's never been higher.[81]
In 2011, Romney said that
"As to what to do for the housing industry specifically, and are there things you can do to encourage housing? One is, don't try and stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom. Allow investors to buy homes, put renters in them, fix the homes up, and let it turn around and come back up. The Obama administration has slow walked the foreclosure processes that have long existed, and as a result we still have a foreclosure overhang. Number two, the credit (that) was given to first time homebuyers was insufficient and inadequate to turn around the housing market. I think it was an ineffective idea. It was a little bit like the cash-for-clunkers program, throwing government money at something which was not market oriented, did not staunch the decline in home values anymore than it encouraged the auto industry to take off. I think the idea of helping people refinance homes to stay in them is one that's worth further consideration. But I'm not signing on until I find out who's going to pay and who's going to get bailed out, and that's not something which we know all the answers to."[82]
Mitt Romney supported rescuing the auto-industry with government backed loan guarantees and warranty guarantees rather than have direct government bailouts, preferring the corporations go through a managed restructuring process.[83]
"Instead of supporting spending cuts that lead to real deficit reduction and true reform of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, the President dug deep into his liberal playbook for 'solutions' highlighted by higher taxes."[84]
Romney opposed the Budget Control Act of 2011 during the United States debt ceiling crisis. Romney (like several other Republican candidates) signed the "cut, cap and balance" pledge, under which an increase in the federal debt ceiling would be contingent on major cuts in spending, caps on spending, and a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.[85] He opposed the debt ceiling deal struck by President Obama and congressional leaders,[86] leading journalist Jonathan Cohn to ponder whether Romney, "a seasoned businessman who was a model of moderation as governor of Massachusetts, sincerely believes the country would be better off defaulting on its debts."[87]
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) lashed out at former Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Thursday as he took his presidential campaign to his native Michigan. "They're out there working very hard for their friend, Barack Obama," he added. "I think the union folks basically bought and paid for his last campaign, so he's taking care of them and they're taking care of him."[88]
In 2007 Romney began strongly criticizing the McCain-Feingold Law, saying "We step into dangerous territory when politicians start eviscerating our fundamental freedoms in the name of amorphous principles, like campaign finance reform."[89] In his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney proposed taxing private political contributions in order to finance publicly funded campaigns.[89] In his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney advocated spending limits on congressional campaigns and suggested abolishing political action committees.[89] Romney has not given up on campaign finance, but says that McCain-Feingold does not work. He said; "The original intent of McCain-Feingold was to reduce the role of money and special interests in our political system. But on this too it has been a failure. Political spending has been driven into secret corners and more power and influence has been handed to hidden special interests. What is really needed is greater transparency, and disclosure, of campaign contributions – not more restrictions on political speech."
In light of the growing economy of China and other parts of Asia, Romney has campaigned in support of free trade with these countries and has said that America must act quickly to ensure trade and commerce, which will further strengthen and grow its own economy. He also states that if America fails to act quickly, their economy will be eclipsed by these growing nations.[90]
Romney has pushed to renegotiate trade deals with China to help eliminate the Trade Deficit.[19]
Governor Romney has said that he favors "moderate, predictable changes" in the minimum wage linked to other indicators of growth in the economy. "I don't like the big jumps from time to time."[91]
In 2010, Romney said that
"A decent and humane society must have a strong safety net for the unemployed. I served for 15 years as a lay pastor in my church and saw the heartbreak of joblessness up close; a shattering loss of faith in oneself is but only one of many forms the suffering can take. Nonetheless, the vital necessity of providing for those without work should not be used as an excuse to ignore the very real problems of our unemployment system. In this, as in so many other arenas of government policy, unemployment insurance has many unintended effects.
The indisputable fact is that unemployment benefits, despite a web of regulations, actually serve to discourage some individuals from taking jobs, especially when the benefits extend across years.
The system is also not designed for a flexible economy like ours in which some employees move from job to job for short periods, and are therefore ineligible for unemployment compensation when they are faced with a protracted spell without work."[92]
Romney instead offered two possible replacement systems, one involving individual unemployment savings accounts that employees would withdraw from when they lose their jobs, the other keyed on instituting financial incentives for businesses and other employers to hire and train those who had been unemployed for a long time.[92]
In 2007, Romney signed the anti-tax pledge put forth by Americans for Tax Reform, pledging no new taxes or increases of existing taxes; in 2002, Romney refused to sign an anti-tax pledge because he considered them "government by gimmickry."[93][94]
As Governor of Massachusetts, Romney said that he was not open to an increase in federal gas taxes and supported the second round of Bush tax cuts.[95] In 2007, Romney said that he had supported the Bush tax cuts overall.[96]
By the end of Romney's term as governor, declining aid from the state to localities caused property taxes to rise by five percent to their highest level in 25 years.[97] The state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased from 9.9 percent in 2003 to 10.3 percent of per capita income in 2005, before falling back to 9.9 percent at the end of Romney's governorship in 2007, according to analysis by the Tax Foundation.[98] To help get the state out of debt, Romney doubled fees for court filings, professional regulations and firearm licenses, raising $400 million in the first year of the program.[99] Romney also increased the state gasoline fee by 2 cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional revenue; the fee is in addition to the 21-cent-per-gallon state gas tax.[98] Romney approved $128 million in tax changes such as sales tax from purchases on the Internet[100] and raised another $181 million in additional business taxes in the next two years; businesses called these changes tax increases, but Romney defended them as the elimination of "loopholes."[98][101]
In Romney's 2007 Iowans for Taxpayer Relief and Iowa Republican Straw Poll speeches, he advocated eliminating the capital gains tax.[34][102] Romney has since stated that he favors eliminating any taxes related to capital gains or other investments on all individuals or families who make less than $200,000 per year. Romney has also advocated eliminating the estate tax.[46]
Romney has supported tax relief for all Americans and has advocated eliminating the capital gains tax for all those who earn less than $200,000 per year.[34] Romney has also supported eliminating the estate tax, known by opponents as the Death Tax,[46] signed a pledge to oppose "any and all efforts" to increase income taxes,[103] and promises to control spending by Congress. Romney has supported a balanced budget amendment to deal with the burgeoning federal deficit. He has stated that deficit spending results in devaluation of the dollar and a decline in the economic stability of the United States. He has proposed reining in growth in entitlement programs. He has also proposed eliminating pork-barrell spending on unnecessary programs.[19]
Romney opposed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, the compromise tax package between President Obama and the Republicans Congressional leadership that centered around a two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts.[92] He said, "But because the extension is only temporary, a large portion of the investment and job growth that characteristically accompanies low taxes will be lost. [And] It will also add to the deficit."[92]
Romney wants to become independent of foreign sources of oil, and believes that the way to do that is a combination of developing alternative sources of energy such as biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear, and coal gasification, and finding more domestic sources of oil such as in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf.[104]
"We're using too much oil," Romney said. "We have an answer. We can use alternative sources of energy -- biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear power -- and we can drill for more oil here. We can be more energy independent and we can be far more efficient in the use of that energy."[105]
Romney has not formally published his proposals regarding energy policy, but his 2008 presidential campaign website included a 2-minute video of his response to a question about his energy policy position.[106]
He would consider cap-and-trade only if part of a larger global plan. He has not offered specific targets on energy efficiency. He does not support mileage goals as a stand-alone measure, but has indicated he would consider them only if they were part of a comprehensive energy plan. He supports nuclear power as part of an energy mix.[107]
Romney has supported a $20 billion package for energy research & new car technology. He opposes a unilateral US global warming policy and believes that worldwide solutions are optimal. He has stated that large oil companies should reinvest profits in clean technology for oil refineries. He supports the popular measure of drilling in ANWR as short term measure to help the US achieve energy independence. As Governor, Romney supported clean environment initiatives.[19][108]
Romney has said that "If the choice is between dirty power plants or protecting the health of the people of Massachusetts . . . I will always come down on the side of public health."[109] Insisting that a coal power plant meet tough emissions standards even at the cost of losing jobs, Romney announced "I will not protect jobs that kill people. And that plant kills people."[110]
To curb global warming, Romney as Governor of Massachusetts supported 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 began pushing 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.
In his March 2010 book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Romney wrote, "I believe that climate change is occurring. [...] I also believe that human activity is a contributing factor. I am uncertain how much of the warming, however, is attributable to man and how much is attributable to factors out of our control."[111]
In June 2011, Romney stated in New Hampshire he did, "I don't speak for the scientific community, of course, but I believe the world's getting warmer. I can't prove that, but I believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that. I don't know how much our contribution is to that, because I know that there have been periods of greater heat and warmth in the past but I believe we contribute to that. And so I think it's important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and the global warming that you're seeing."[112][113] (In response, Rush Limbaugh announced over the air, "Bye bye nomination."[113]) In the same month, Romney said that "[the U.S. should] reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors."[111]
In August 2011, Romney said, "I think the earth is getting warmer . . . I think humans contribute to that. I don't know by how much. It could be a little. It could be a lot."[111][112]
Speaking at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh in October 2011, Romney said, "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us."[111]
Questioned in that month about these series of written and spoken words, a Romney spokesperson that "Governor Romney has been consistent in his statements on global warming."[111]
Romney has further elucidated that U.S. action on climate change must be seen in a global context: "By the way, they do not call it America warming, they call it global warming. [U.S. action] loses jobs for Americans and ultimately it won't be successful, because industries that are energy intensive will just get up and go somewhere else."[111]
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 2006 after Romney announced he would not seek re-election.
Romney opposes the Cape Wind offshore Cape Cod wind farm proposal[114] 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." Romney also supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.[115]
Romney supports the Environmental Protection Agency's mission, but he does not think it should regulate carbon emissions. Romney does not believe carbon is "a pollutant in the sense of harming our bodies."[116]
In 2011, Romney said that Congress and the Federal Reserve should not consider plans to bail out Italy in the event of a full-fledged European sovereign debt crisis.[117]
During his 1994 run for the United States Senate, Romney indicated he would support a bill which included a federal health insurance mandate, asserting that he was "willing to vote for things that [he was] not wild with".[118]
In 2006, Governor Romney proposed and signed into law a private, market-based reform that ensures every Massachusetts citizen will have health insurance, without a government takeover and without raising taxes.[119][120][121] 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 eleven employees or more that do not provide health insurance.[122][123] Romney also vetoed provisions providing dental and eyeglass benefits to low income residents on the Medicaid program, and providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal immigrants not eligible for federal Medicaid.[124][125] However, the state legislature overrode all of the vetoes.[126]
On August 22, 2007, Mitt Romney announced the formation of a committee of health care advisors that will help him define his health care plan. The advisory council is led by co-chairmen Tom Price, Georgia congressman, and Tim Murphy, currently president of Beacon Health Strategies and formally Romney's secretary of health and humane services in Massachusetts.[127] The four other members are Georgia Congressman Phil Gingrey, domestic policy expert John Cogan, Columbia Business School Dean Glenn Hubbard, and Romney aide Cindy Gillespie.[128]
On August 24, 2007, Romney unveiled his national health care plan. His plan allowed the states to choose individual health care plans for their fellow Americans.[129]
He opposes efforts to provide non-emergency health coverage for Illegal Immigrants, and supports the Hyde Amendment to ban government funding for elective abortion.[19]
As of 2009, Romney supports increased health insurance portability, coverage of pre-existing medical conditions, a cap on malpractice lawsuits, the implementation of a streamlined electronic medical records system, an emphasis on preventative care, loosening restrictions on importation of prescription drugs, and tax benefits aimed at making health insurance more affordable for the uninsured and targeted to promote universal access. Romney opposes a federal government run, single-payer system, but supports state efforts to reduce the uninsured population.[130]
Romney opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known by "Obamacare" and similar names.[131] Immediately following the March 2010 passage of it and it being signed by President Barack Obama, Romney attacked the landmark legislation as "an unconscionable abuse of power".[131][132] He said, "The act should be repealed. That campaign begins today."[131] The new federal law was in many ways similar to the Massachusetts health care reform passed during Romney's term.[132] While acknowledging that his plan was not perfect and still was a work in progress, Romney did not back away from it; he focused on its having had bipartisan support in the state legislature, while the Obama plan received no Republican support at all in Congress.[132]
In 2011, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a Republican alternative budget proposed by Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), with no Democrats voting for it. One controversial aspect of the proposal concerned Medicare; it would replace government-provided health care with partial subsidies for the cost of private medical insurance. Romney said that, as President, he would sign such a plan if it reached his desk, but that he would be putting forward his own plan before debating Obama.[133]
Romney believes the government should invest more in technologies that will help the United States, such as power generation, fuel cells, nanotechnology, and materials science.
"In technology, we as a country already invest an enormous amount--for instance, in defense technology, space technology, health--but we also need to invest in some of the emerging technologies that are important at a basic science level such as fuel cell technology, power generation, materials science, automotive technology. We have to recognize that where we invest as a nation, both from a government standpoint but also from a private standpoint, those are the areas we've been most successful."[134]
During his 2007 Iowa Republican Straw Poll speech, Romney advocated that all home computers provide a means for parents to block objectionable Internet content from being shown to children.
". . . I want to clean up the dirty water in which a lot of our kids are swimming, and by that I'm not just talking about pollution, I'm talking about moral pollution. I'm talking about what they see on TV and on the Internet. I'm concerned about the drug culture, I'm concerned about the pornography, the violence, the sex, the perversions that they see day in and day out. I want to make sure that every computer that goes into a home in the future, has a button there, or a place for the citizen, the parent, to be able to block all of that pornography from their kids Internet screen."[34]
In his 2010 book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Romney states that one of government's useful roles is in fostering innovation.[135]
In his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney called for the "virtual elimination" of the federal Department of Agriculture[136] and for reductions in farm subsidies.[137] In 2007, when questioned about these views, a Romney for President Iowa campaign spokesman responded: "Governor Romney believes that investing in agriculture is key to our economy and families,"[138]
Romney has called for repeal of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in 2010.[139] The Act implemented Wall Street reform with goals that included "improving accountability and transparency in the financial system" and protecting consumers. Romney criticized the Act as being "overwhelming" in length, but he said that one provision, distinguishing between home mortgages and high-risk securities in terms of the capital requirements, "does make sense."[139]
Romney's 2010 book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, expresses Romney's belief in American exceptionalism.[140]
On the other hand, The Economist found that, aside from rhetoric, Romney's stated foreign policy positions offer in many instances broad continuity with those of the Obama administration.[141]
Romney believes that instead of borrowing money from China and providing humanitarian aid, the United States should get China to provide humanitarian aid.[142]
Romney criticized at the time Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for saying that in his first year as president, he would meet with the leaders of several nations hostile to the government of the United States, including Syria, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran. Stating an opposing viewpoint Romney said, "Having the president meet with the authoritarian tyrants of the world is remarkably poor judgment."[91]
Romney declared in the 2008 presidential debates that he did not know if it was necessary for the US Congress to issue a declaration of war before engaging in actual acts of war. Romney stated that if he were president he would consult with his lawyers before he came to a conclusive interpretation of the War Powers Clause in the US Constitution.[143]
An internal Romney campaign document released in 2007 by the media suggested that Romney criticized France and attempted to convey the message "Hillary = France."[144] Governor Romney has said he "loves" France, where he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years. When a New Hampshire voter asked Romney why he kept "bashing" France on the campaign trail, Romney announced, "My kids are on vacation there right now. I love France. I speak French, lived in France. I have nothing but respect for the French people."[145] Romney has said that the next president must re-engage France, and called French president Nicolas Sarkozy a potential "blood brother."[146]
In his February 7, 2008 appearance at the Conservative Political Action Committee, during which he withdrew from the Presidential race, Romney mentioned France in less flattering terms. "[U]nless America changes course," he said, "we will become the France of the 21st century — still a great nation, but no longer the leader of the world, no longer the superpower."[147]
Romney favors increased legal immigration to the United States—today, roughly 1 million people per year—[148] and opposes illegal immigration, saying "I want to see more immigration in our country, but more legal immigration and less illegal immigration."[149] In a speech to the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Romney said, "I want to make sure we continue an open door in immigration."[150] He supports the deportation of illegal immigrants, prioritizes a secure border as well as employer verification, and opposes granting amnesty to illegal aliens. Romney supports giving "a biometrically-enabled and tamperproof card to non-citizens and . . . a national database for non-citizens" to reduce illegal immigration.[151]
Romney is against amnesty for illegal aliens, but also said, "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country." He would like to see illegal immigrants register with the government, pay taxes, and apply for citizenship,[152] but that they should not be given any priority or special treatment over immigrants who have applied for citizenship legally. While Governor, he opposed granting in-state tuition and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.[19] In his last month as Governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed an executive order that would have allowed state police officers to make arrests for immigration violations.[153] The order was never implemented because governor-elect Deval Patrick, who had already expressed strong opposition to the order before it was signed, revoked it a month later when he was sworn in.[154]
In a 29 March 2006 interview, Romney said that "We need to begin a process of registering those people, some being returned, and some beginning the process of applying for citizenship and establishing legal status".[155]
The executive order pertaining to state police was consistent with Section 287(g) of federal immigration law. Section 287(g) is a program of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 that deputizes state and local law enforcement personnel to enforce immigration matters.[156][157]
Romney opposed the 2007 Senate immigration bill. After it failed, Romney declared in a press release that "America will always welcome legal immigration, but as a nation we also insist on the rule of law."[158] He has criticized what he called the sanctuary city policies of cities "like Newark, San Francisco and New York City . . ." He has called for cutting off federal funds to such cities.[159]
Romney's lawn care company allegedly had illegal aliens working at his private residence but Romney fired the company soon after the fact was revealed to him in 2007. Romney has stated that his dealings were with a company manager who is a legal resident of the United States.[160][161]
Fellow Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain criticized Romney, saying "Maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it [Romney's views on immigration] changes because it's changed in less than a year from his position before."[162][163]
During the debate in South Carolina held May 15, 2007 Romney stated that in his view "We ought to double" the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He then went on to say, in reference to combatants captured in Iraq, "I want them in Guantanamo where they don't get the access to lawyers they get when they're on our soil. I don't want them in our prisons. I want them there."[164]
In Romney's speech at the 2007 Iowa Republican Straw Poll, he praised the US military for not allowing prisoners to have judicial review of their cases.[165]
Romney opposes the use of torture;[34] however, he supports the limited use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" to stop an imminent wide-scale terrorist attack.[166] During the second Presidential debate, Romney supported the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" in handling suspects at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, saying, ". . . enhanced interrogation techniques have to be used -- not torture but enhanced interrogation techniques, yes."[17] When asked directly whether waterboarding was torture, Romney stated, "[A]s a presidential candidate, I don't think it's wise for us to describe specifically which measures we would and would not use. [...] And I get that advice from Cofer Black, who is a person who was responsible for counterterrorism in the CIA for some 35 years. I get that advice by talking to former generals in our military."[167] According to Blackwater expert Jeremy Scahill, Romney advisor Cofer Black has been, "a key figure in the extraordinary rendition program, the government-sanctioned kidnap-and-torture program, where prisoners like Maher Arar are sent to third-country hellholes to be tortured."[168]
That made reference to his June 21, 2007, statement that as president he would establish a Special Partnership Force to battle terrorism.
"I believe America must establish a Special Partnership Force, with a core leadership drawn from Army Special Forces personnel training in working with civilian governments and Intelligence personnel. This force would work hand-in-glove with local host governments. Together, in partnership, they would seek to target and separate terrorists from the local population, and to disrupt and defeat them. They would have the authority to call in all elements of civil assistance and humanitarian aid. And, where they felt it was necessary, they could call in Delta and SEAL resources. Their goal is to build national institutions of stability and freedom, and to promote the rule of law and human rights."[169]
In the New Hampshire Republican debate, Romney was asked if he agreed "that the use of tactical nuclear weapons, potentially, would be possible if that were the only way to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb?" Governor Romney responded that "You don't take options off the table, but what you do is stand back and say, 'What's going on here?' You see what's happening in Sudan and Afghanistan, in Iraq and Iran. All over the world, we're seeing the same thing happening, and that is people are testing the United States of America. And we have to make sure they understand that we're not arrogant; we have resolve. And we have the strength to protect our interests and to protect people who love liberty."[72]
Prior to the opening of the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly where Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was scheduled to speak, he released a letter to the Secretary-General stating that the invitation should be revoked and he should instead be greeted with an indictment under the Genocide Convention for threats against Israel, and that failure to act should lead the United States to reconsider its level of support and funding for the United Nations.[170] A spokesman of the Secretary-General explained that General Assembly matters are not under his control.[171]
Romney supported the invasion of Iraq[172] and the "troop surge". He however has criticized mismanagement of Iraq post invasion. He has stated that both diplomatic and military efforts should be used to achieve success in the region.[19][173] Upon hearing the testimony of David Petraeus, Romney reemphasized his agreement with current policy in Iraq and has called for a "Surge of Support" for the military. Romney has expressed support for an eventual reduction in military presence in Iraq but has strongly opposed a timetable for withdrawal.
In his speech announcing that he would run for president, Romney 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."[174] 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."[174] He says that this "could mean a future with far more military involvement and far more loss of American life."[174] Romney said that he was willing to break with the Bush administration's policy on Iraq as other Republicans have now done, presumably if the troop surge did not prove successful, though he said it is still too early to gauge its success.
In the June 5 Republican presidential debate, Romney said that the war could have been avoided if Saddam Hussein had allowed IAEA inspectors into the country. However, Media Matters pointed out that Hussein did in fact allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq, and they found "no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapons programme in Iraq."[175]
CNN analyst Paul Begala said Romney's misstatement would disqualify him if it had occurred in a general election debate, and it was akin to saying "the Mexicans bombed Pearl Harbor."[175] Romney's full statement was:
"Well, the question is kind of a non sequitur, if you will. And what I mean by that -- or a null set -- and that is that if you're saying, let's turn back the clock and Saddam Hussein had opened up his country to IAEA inspectors and they'd come in and they'd found that there were no weapons of mass destruction -- had Saddam Hussein therefore not violated United Nations resolutions -- we wouldn't be in the conflict we're in. But he didn't do those things, and we knew what we knew at the point we made the decision to get in."[175]
However, in Romney's defense, he explained that he was referring to the several instances where Saddam Hussein refused to allow IAEA Inspectors into certain palaces, thus increasing the suspicion which led to war.
Romney supported the War in Afghanistan. When asked if he agreed with the Bush doctrine regarding Afghanistan, Romney responded:
"The president is not arrogant. The president is not subject to a bunker mentality. The president has acted out of his desire to keep America safe. And we owe him a debt of gratitude for keeping this country safe over the last six years. He did the right thing in responding and reacting to the fact that we got attacked. And people now recognize: You attack America and there is a response. But we're going to have to move our strategy from simply being a response to military threat with military action, to an effort that says we're going to use our military and nonmilitary resources, combined with other nations who are our friends, to help move the world of Islam toward modernity and moderation. The new mission for NATO is to help provide the rule of law, education that's not through madrassas, so the Muslims are able to reject the extreme and the terrorists."
Romney released the following statement concerning Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, in August 2011:
It has taken President Obama far too long to speak out forcefully against Assad and his vicious crackdown in Syria. In the early stages of this crisis, the Obama Administration referred to Assad as a "reformer," which had the effect of emboldening Assad and discouraging the dissidents. America must show leadership on the world stage and work to move these developing nations toward modernity. This means using the bullhorn of the presidency and not remaining silent for too long while voices of freedom and dissent are under attack.[176]
On July 7, 2007, Romney said, "In places like Pakistan, America needs to work not just on a military front." He said he would send in his proposed "Special Partnership Force", a team of Central Intelligence Agency agents and Army special forces that would work with the local population to aid in military support, gun supplies, and "to help make sure that they have the rule of law, water projects, bridges built."[177]
In 2007, Romney criticized then-candidate Barack Obama for stating that, as President, he would launch military strikes against "high-value terrorist targets" in Pakistan, even without the Pakistani government's approval.[178] In 2011, after such a strike resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, Romney said that, if he had been President, he would have done "exactly the same thing."[179]
Concerning the involvement of the American military in the 2011 Libyan civil war, Romney initially said in March that Obama had waited too long before becoming involved, and he also criticized Obama for ruling out the use of United States ground forces.[180] The next month, he said that he supported the "specific, limited mission" of enforcing a no-fly zone, but that Obama's support for the ouster of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi constituted "mission creep and mission muddle."[180] In October, after Gaddafi's death, Romney said, "I think people across the world recognize that the world is a better place without Muammar Gaddafi."[180]
Romney wishes to increase the size of the military by at least 100,000 troops.[181] Romney has expressed concern over the growing suppression of democracy in Russia. He has supported dialogue and efforts to establish cooperation with the Muslim world to fight the war on terror. Romney has proposed a non-confrontational peaceful effort to welcome democracy into the Middle East.[19]
Romney has called for an expansion of the Navy that is estimated to cost $40 billion, but has given no firm details on how he would pay for this.[182]
Romney has opposed ratification of New START, a bilateral nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation,[183] in part because he wishes to deploy defensive missiles on submarines[184]
Romney has written that the "utopian aspiration" of the abolition of nuclear weapons, first put forward by Ronald Reagan, has undermined America's position in the world.[185]
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