Mitt Romney on Budget & Economy Former Republican Governor (MA)

Economic strength comes from people, not from Washington

A: This is, indeed, a time of extraordinary challenges in this country, and the overspending in Washington and the overpromises that we've made are certainly among those challenges. But this is not a time for us to wring our hands and think that the future is bleak. In fact, the future is bright. We need leadership to rein in excessive spending, and to help America grow. The best answer for our economic woes is to make sure we have good jobs for our citizens, good schools for our kids, good health care for everyone, and that we have policies that promote the growth of the nation. We can have a level playing field around the world, get ourselves off of foreign oil, reduce the excessive spending in Washington, and have a bright future for our kids. This is based upon the strength of the American people. If you want to see a strong America, you don't look to Washington; you look to ways to strengthen the American people.

Cut deficit via waste, like 342 different economic programs

A: Well, we don't have to run a deficit to pay for the things that are most important because we can eliminate the things that aren't critical. We have, in the federal government, 342 different economic development programs, often administered by different departments. We don't need 342. We probably need a lot fewer than 100 of those. We have 40 different programs for workforce training. There are probably 5 or 6 that are really working. We can get rid of some of those. And so what anyone in the private sector's learned how to do is to focus their resources on those things that have the biggest impact, that are most important. Surely, protecting our country and our defense of our military is critical [as are healthcare and schools]. And the sacrifice we need from the American people, it's this: it's saying let the programs that don't work go. Don't lobby for them forever.

Fundamentally change how Washington works, to reduce pork

A: Every bill that comes forward that's got pork in it and earmarks that are unnecessary, we've got to veto them and send them back. But it's got to be broader than that. We're going to have to see fundamental changes in the way Washington works. We're just not going to get out-of-the-box thinking with inside-the-Beltway politics.

Giuliani increased spending by 2.8%; I held increase to 2.2%

ROMNEY: Well, we both agree with the need to cut taxes and have fought to do so. [But] Mayor Giuliani fought to keep the commuter tax, which was a very substantial tax, an almost $400 tax on commuters coming into New York.

GIULIANI: The difference is that under Governor Romney, spending went up in Massachusetts per capita by 8%; under me, spending went down by 7%. I brought taxes down by 17%. Under him, taxes went up 11% per capita. I led, he lagged.

ROMNEY: It's a nice line, but it's baloney. Mayor, you got to check your facts. #1, I did not increase taxes in Massachusetts; I lowered taxes. #2, the Club for Growth looked at our respective spending record. They said my spending grew 2.2% a year; yours grew 2.8% a year. But look, we're both guys that are in favor of keeping spending down and keep taxes down. We're not far apart on that.

FactCheck: Closed MA budget gap of $1.2B, not $3B

Disagrees with reported negative study of MA economy

A: I've got very different statistics than you do. First of all, there were no censuses taken during that time period, and so any numbers on population are just estimates by various folks. Second, when I came in to Massachusetts, we were losing jobs every single month. Our budget was out of balance by some $3 billion. We turned that around.

AdWatch: Cap discretionary spending at inflation minus 1%

ROMNEY: If I'm elected president, I'm going to cap non-defense discretionary spending at inflation minus 1%. That would save $300 billion in 10 years. And if Congress sends me a budget that exceeds that cap, I will veto that budget. And I know how to veto. I like vetoes. I've vetoed hundreds of spending appropriations as governor. And frankly, I can't wait to get my hands on Washington!

Washington is broken; needs fundamental change

First challenge as governor was $3B budget gap

[After the inauguration, we did a full] bottom-up analysis, resulting in some somber news. The budget gap for the next year was closer to $3 billion. Further, there was a shortfall in the current year of $600 million. Immediate cuts were necessary to prevent a possible cash crunch. The budget for the next year would test the entire administration team: finding $3 billion would be a real stretch.

The vision had already been set: it was the heart of last year's campaign. I was determined not only to adhere to our themes, but also to fight for every single promise I had made.

Remedies for budget imbalance: cut expenses or raise revenue

So, the answer would have to be new revenues--marketing and sales. The good news was that companies had already signed on as sponsors, most of them at higher support levels than in prior Olympics. But that was also the bad news: the usual suspects had already been rounded up.

Balance state budget by removing waste and folderol

Romney, CEO of the Salt Lake Olympic games, said his experience in Utah taught him waste can be found & rooted out. "We took things out that were waste, that were unnecessary, the folderol that wasn't essential to carrying out the mission of a great Olympics," Romney said. "The same thing, I believe, can happen in government."

Democrats running for governor noted that Romney's Olympics relied heavily on government subsidy, pulling as much as $1.5 billion from taxpayers.

Will cut deficit and help Americans save