Club for Growth

Today, the Club for Growth issued a report on Governor Mitt Romney's record as Governor. Here is just a small excerpt of the kind of leadership Governor Romney provided in Massachusetts while serving as Governor:

To read the entire report click here: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/08/mitt_romneys_record_on_economi.php

Club For Growth: "As Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney's record on economic
issues was generally good. He demonstrated a willingness to take on his
Legislature and deserves credit for the many pro-growth measures he advocated
and the modest reforms he was able to achieve." (The Club For Growth,
"Mitt Romney's Record On Economic Issues," Press Release, 8/21/07)

Club For Growth: Governor Romney "Imposed Some Much-Needed Fiscal Discipline On A Very Liberal Massachusetts Legislature." "[O]n balance, he imposed some much-needed fiscal discipline on a very liberal Massachusetts Legislature." (The Club For Growth, "Mitt Romney's Record On Economic Issues," Press Release, 8/21/07)

Governor Romney's Record Of Fiscal Discipline "More Positive Than Negative, Especially When One Considers That Average Spending Increased Only 2.22% Over His Four Years." "On balance, his record comes out more positive than negative, especially when one considers that average spending increased only 2.22% over his four years, well below the population plus inflation benchmark of nearly 3%. Governor Romney receives credit for actual spending in FY 2003, even though he entered office halfway into the fiscal year, because of the tremendous spending cuts he forced down the Legislature's throat in January of 2003. Facing a $650 million deficit he inherited from the previous administration, Romney convinced the unfriendly State Legislature to grant him unilateral power to make budget cuts and unveiled $343 million in cuts to cities, healthcare, and state agencies. This fiscal discipline continued in 2004, in which Romney continued to slash 'nearly every part of state government' to close a $3 billion deficit." (The Club For Growth, "Mitt Romney's Record On Economic Issues," Press Release, 8/21/07)

Club For Growth: "Most of the blame for the deficiencies in the Massachusetts plan lies with the liberal Legislature which, absent the resistance of Governor Romney, almost certainly would have enacted a major tax increase while moving healthcare reform in the worst possible direction." (The Club For Growth, "Mitt Romney's Record On Economic Issues," Press Release, 8/21/07)

Club For Growth: "Governor Romney Deserves Credit For Proposing A Plan That Encourages Individually-Owned Health Insurance…" "But one cannot talk about Romney's record on entitlement reform without considering the universal healthcare plan Governor Romney helped craft in Massachusetts. … Given these limitations, Governor Romney deserves credit for proposing (and to a lesser extent, enacting) a plan that encourages individually-owned health insurance and circumvents some of the inequities carved into the federal tax code." (The Club For Growth, "Mitt Romney's Record On Economic Issues," Press Release, 8/21/07)

Club For Growth: "On balance, Romney's anti-regulation efforts reflect an intuitive appreciation for the free market and its important role in promoting economic growth. While many of his proposals were rejected by the State Legislature, he demonstrated strong support for private enterprise in a state where regulation is a way of life." (The Club For Growth, "Mitt Romney's Record On Economic Issues," Press Release, 8/21/07)