Mitt Romney Last Update: 10/14/07 Biography

republican Party Mitt Romney 2008 Candidate for President of the United States of America Campaign Website | Candidate Forum

			Issues

(Select An Issue to Jump Directly) Abortion Affirmative Action Death Penalty Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Energy Plan Free Trade Global Warming Guantanamo Bay Detainment Camp Gun Control Health Care Immigration Iran Iraq Plan Kyoto Protocol Line Item Veto Medical Marijuana Military Funding Minimum Wage Increase National Deficit Net Neutrality No Child Left Behind Act Nuclear Power Outsourcing Same-Sex Marriage School Vouchers Stem Cell Research Tax Reform The Military Commissions Act of 2006 The Patriot Act Top Contributors & Amounts Unemployment Welfare

	Mitt Romney on Abortion
	Stance: Pro-Life Description: "He describes himself as pro-life, argues that Roe v. Wade should be replaced with state abortion regulations, and cites the science he studied amid a legislative debate over embryonic stem cell research as the basis for his position." - MSNBC Citations: 1. Republican Presidential Debate, June 5, 2007 (8/5/07) "Well, people can look at my record. I'm not going to apologize for the fact that I became pro-life. I served as governor. As I was governor, as we were debating cloning and as we were debating also embryo farming, I said Roe v. Wade has gone too far." 2. Mitt Romney says he opposes abortion (7/19/07) Talk about how Mitt Romney has had two epiphany's in regards to abortion. 3. What Romney Believes (7/19/07) Talks about Romney's struggle with abortion issues

	Mitt Romney on Affirmative Action
	Stance: Opposes Description: While governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney used an executive order to end affirmative action in government hiring practices. Citations: 1. Romney says he will alter diversity plan (8/19/07) This article discusses Governor Mitt Romney's actions to end affirmative action in Massachusetts government hiring.

	Mitt Romney on Death Penalty
	Stance: Supports death penalty Description: Romney supports the death penalty for deadly acts of terrorism, killing sprees, murders involving torture and the killing of law enforcement authorities. As governor, he filed a bill to reinstate the death penalty in Massachusetts that required verifiable scientific evidence, such as DNA, in order to impose the death penalty. The bill also proposed measures to ensure proper representation for the indigent and allowed jurors who oppose the death penalty to participate in the guilt phase of a trial. Citations: 1. The Candidates on the Death Penalty (7/23/07) Many candidates stance on the death penalty

	Mitt Romney on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
	Stance: Supports Description: Governor Mitt Romney supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Citations: 1. Issue Watch: Achieving Energy Independence (7/23/07) "We must become independent from foreign sources of oil. This will mean a combination of efforts related to conservation and efficiency measures, developing alternative sources of energy like biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear, and coal gasification, and finding more domestic sources of oil such as in ANWR or the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)."

	Mitt Romney on Energy Plan
	Stance: Become energy Independent Description: Romney believes that the time to become energy independent is now by utilizing wind power, solar power, ethanol, gasified coal, liquefied coals, biofuels, nuclear power, and more drilling. Citations: 1. Mitt Romney Lists His Energy Mix for Energy Independence (8/7/07) Outlines what we need and why we need to become energy independant. 2. Romney Talks Energy Independence in Coralville, IA (8/7/07) Gov. Mitt Romney talks about his plans for US energy independence to a crowd of supporters in Coralville, Iowa on 4.20.07.

	Mitt Romney on Free Trade
	Stance: Supports Description: Romney is pro-free trade. He is against protectionism, which, he said at a campaign speech in February 2007, "would virtually guarantee that America would become a second-tier economy in a couple of decades, with a second-class standard of living." Romney has also expressed support for trade with China. Citations: 1. Republican Candidates on Trade (7/27/07) Romney is pro free trade, anti-protectionism 2. Romney not afraid to be branded a capitalist (7/27/07) Discusses how Romney views economics and free trade. 3. Governor Mitt Romney's Remarks At The Detroit Economic Club (7/27/07) Free trade creates economic growth

	Mitt Romney on Global Warming
	Stance: Believes that humans contribute to global warming and wants to prevent it by researching alternate energy methods Description: Romney would do two things to stop global warming. 1. Work with other nations to reduce worldwide greenhouse emissions. 2. Develop alternate energy sources including biofuels, wind, solar, ethanol, nuclear, and clean coals. Citations: 1. Romney Answers Global Warming Question in NH (8/7/07) Governor Romney answers global warming question in NH

	Mitt Romney on Guantanamo Bay Detainment Camp
	Stance: Double Guantanamo Description: "I don't want them on our soil," Romney said. "I want them on Guantanamo, where they don't get the access to lawyers that they get when they're on our soil. I don't want them in our prisons. I want them there. Some people have said we ought to close Guantanamo. My view is we ought to double Guantanamo." Citations: 1. Guantanamo Bay puzzles candidates (8/29/07) Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee have both said conditions at Guantanamo are acceptable. "The food down there is unbelievable. This is not this gulag; this is a modern prison which treats people with dignity and respect," Romney said this month. 2. Republican Debate Transcript, South Carolina (8/29/07) Now we're going to -- you said the person's going to be in Guantanamo. I'm glad they're at Guantanamo. I don't want them on our soil. I want them on 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. 3. Double Guantanamo (7/26/07) Quotes from Romney's statements about Guantanamo during a Republican debate.

	Mitt Romney on Gun Control
	Stance: Believes in second amendment rights but doesn't think assault weapons are needed in public. Description: "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." "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." - Mitt Romney Citations: 1. Republican Debate Transcript, South Carolina (8/4/07) "Well, let's get the record straight. First of all, there's no question that I support Second Amendment rights, but I also support an assault weapon ban. An in the -- with regards to gay rights, I have always been somebody who opposes discrimination. But I also consistently feel that it's critical to have marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman." 2. Mitt Romney: The Complete Interview (7/19/07) Talks about Romney in the NRA 3. Romney vs. Romney (7/19/07) A satirical interview that points out how Romney has changed his stance on several issues including gun control

	Mitt Romney on Health Care
	Stance: Require everyone to have coverage and provide aid for those who cannot afford it. Description: 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. 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. 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. However, the state legislature overrode all of the vetoes. Citations: 1. The Massachusetts Experiment (7/19/07) Talks about Mitt Romney's new health care law. 2. Mitt's vetoes on health care make pols sick (7/19/07) Many lawmakers are upset in Mass. about Romney's veto of health care system reforms. 3. An Act Providing Access to Health Care (7/19/07) Health care legislation signed by Romney

	Mitt Romney on Immigration
	Stance: Against amnesty for illegal aliens. Wants them to register with the government, pay taxes, and apply for citizenship. Description: 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, but that they should not be given any priority or special treatment over immigrants who have applied for citizenship legally. Romney also said, "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." 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. Romney was against the recent (6/2007) Senate immigration bill. After it failed, Romney released the following statement: "The immigration bill failed because the politicians in Washington are out of touch with the American people. The voice of the people is loud and clear - secure the border, enforce the law and no special deal for permanent residency or citizenship for illegals. America will always welcome legal immigration, but as a nation we also insist on the rule of law." Citations: 1. Republican Presidential Debate, June 5, 2007 (8/6/07) "Let me make it real clear: I'm not anti-immigrant. I love immigrants. I love legal immigrants coming to our country. I'm happy to communicate to them. And I hope they vote for me. And I'm happy to have people all over the country, and I'm going to reach out to them in any language I can to have them vote for me and understand why I'm going to support making this a great land. I'll tell you as well, I very firmly believe that we have to make sure that we enforce our borders, that we have an employment verification system, and that those people who've come here illegally do not get an advantage to become permanent residents. They do not get a special pathway. That's a mistake. That's the problem I have with the bill -- the Kennedy-McCain bill. That's a mistake in my view. Now, let me tell you what I think about the broader issue. We talked tonight about all of the issues as they relate to the problems that we have, and I understand that. But we have extraordinary opportunities. What the Republican Party has to stand for is more than solving problems. In the 19th century, the new frontier for us was the American West. In the 20th century, it was Europe -- selling products to Europe and North America. Now, Asia has come out of poverty. A billion people who are steeped in poverty are coming out of poverty. They're consumers. We can sell products to them: medicines, technology, energy. We are the party of the future, and we have to stop worrying about the problems and thinking we can't deal with those. We have to focus on the future and our opportunity to make America a great place for our kids and grandkids." 2. Republican Presidential Debate, June 5, 2007 (8/6/07) "Let me make it real clear: I'm not anti-immigrant. I love immigrants. I love legal immigrants coming to our country. I'm happy to communicate to them. And I hope they vote for me. And I'm happy to have people all over the country, and I'm going to reach out to them in any language I can to have them vote for me and understand why I'm going to support making this a great land. I'll tell you as well, I very firmly believe that we have to make sure that we enforce our borders, that we have an employment verification system, and that those people who've come here illegally do not get an advantage to become permanent residents. They do not get a special pathway. That's a mistake. That's the problem I have with the bill -- the Kennedy-McCain bill. That's a mistake in my view. Now, let me tell you what I think about the broader issue. We talked tonight about all of the issues as they relate to the problems that we have, and I understand that. But we have extraordinary opportunities. What the Republican Party has to stand for is more than solving problems. In the 19th century, the new frontier for us was the American West. In the 20th century, it was Europe -- selling products to Europe and North America. Now, Asia has come out of poverty. A billion people who are steeped in poverty are coming out of poverty. They're consumers. We can sell products to them: medicines, technology, energy. We are the party of the future, and we have to stop worrying about the problems and thinking we can't deal with those. We have to focus on the future and our opportunity to make America a great place for our kids and grandkids." 3. Republican Presidential Debate, June 5, 2007 (8/5/07) "Well, he's my friend. He campaigned for me two times. I consider him a friend. I'm not going to make this a matter of personal politics. It's an issue that's way too important for that. My view is that we should enforce our immigration laws. And this bill, unfortunately, has at least one provision that's a real problem. It's the Z visa. And what it allows is people who have come here illegally to stay here for the rest of their lives -- not necessarily as citizens; they have to wait 13 years to become citizens. That's not the point. The point is: Every illegal alien, almost every one, under this bill, gets to stay here. That's not fair to the millions and millions of people around the world that would love to come here, join with family members, bring skill and education that we need. It's simply not fair to say those people get put ahead in the line of all the people who've been waiting legally to come to this country." 4. Republican Debate Transcript, South Carolina (8/4/07) "My view, you have to secure the border, number one, have an employment verification system, number two, and number three, say to those that are there illegally, get in line with everybody else; you're not going to have a special doorway, any particular advantage, by having come here illegally, to become a permanent resident." 5. Romney declines to take stand on Senate immigration bill (7/19/07) Talks about how he opposes the bill because he doesnt want to encourage illegal activity. 6. Getting Immigration Right (7/19/07) Mitt talks about the flaws in the current immigration bill. 7. Dealing With Current Illegal Residents (10/25/07) Romney talks about how he won't give amnesty to current illegal immigrants but will make them apply, get a card, and wait in line.

	Mitt Romney on Iran
	Stance: Use sanctions and diplomatic isolation of Iran to stop Iran's nuclear program; does not discount military actions as an option Description: Romney's "five-point plan" on Iran calls for tougher sanctions and diplomatic isolation of Iran. He also says that increased participation in curbing nuclear Iran by other Arab states is needed. In an April 27, 2007 speech at Yeshiva University, Romney emphasized the threat posed by Iran. While he said it was a good idea to engage Iran on Iraqi developments, Romney opposed bilateral talks on Iran's nuclear program, saying "we shouldn't let Iran try to position it as an Iran vs. a U.S. thing." Romney, like many of his fellow candidates, says that "the military option remains on the table." According to his campaign website, Romney has "led efforts and called on numerous private sector and state officials to strategically divest from Iran and cut off the resources Iran uses to fuel terror." Citations: 1. Defeating the Jihadists (8/13/07) Romney outlines his 5-point Iran plan 2. Romney's Remarks at Yeshiva University (8/13/07) "And fifth, we have to keep Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Their ambition to develop nuclear weaponry is clear: they have a virtually inexhaustible supply of clean natural gas for energy, they have refused Russia's offer to supply nuclear fuel for their power. Obviously, their nuclear ambition has nothing to do with clean energy." - Romney 3. Romney calls for isolation of Iran (8/13/07) "Iran is an extraordinary threat to the nation and to the world as it considers nuclear armament; that is a course which is very threatening," he said. "It's essential for us to stop that." - Romney 4. Interview With Mitt Romney (10/8/07) I think it's unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Unacceptable to our interests and to the interest of the civilized world. For that reason I think we should exert every source of our world pressure to keep Iran from pursuing that course. And, of course, the military option must be left on the table. - Romney

	Mitt Romney on Iraq Plan
	Stance: Seek stability in Iraq with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population. Description: 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." 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." He says that this "could mean a future with far more military involvement and far more loss of American life." Citations: 1. Republican Debate Transcript, South Carolina (8/4/07) "I want to make it very clear that I'm not going to raise taxes. As governor of Massachusetts, I made it very clear there, and I did not raise taxes. We faced a huge budget gap, and I went in and said, you know, what? I know some people want to raise taxes, but that's going to hurt working families and scare away jobs. I recognize that raising taxes could also lead to a slowdown in our economy, and so we didn't do it. We balanced our budget, and that's exactly what I'll do with the federal government. They key thing you have to consider, as you look at what's happening in the federal government, is that Washington is broken. We need to have fundamental change in the way business in Washington is carried out. What that means is we're going to have to have leadership that can reorganize the government. We're going to have about 40 percent of the government employees turn over in the next couple of terms. And if we can -- we can reduce the employment there, but more importantly, is to go through all the agencies, all the departments, all the programs and cut out the unnecessary and the wasteful. We're also going to have to do something we talk about on in Iraq. We all talked about benchmarks. Well, how about benchmarks in Washington? Let's lay out what we're going to get done, and instead of just talking about the same old same old, let's streamline and make Washington more efficient." 2. Governor Mitt Romney's Presidential Announcement (7/19/07) Speech Romney gave when he declared he was running for president and talks about Iraq. 3. Ignoring Romney's Iraq falsehood, Wash. Post called Huckabee's Reagan remark the "Gaffe of the Night" (7/19/07) Talks about the error Romney made when talking about the U.N. inspectors in Iraq.

	Mitt Romney on Kyoto Protocol
	Stance: Opposes Description: Romney wants to make sure other developing nations are part of any effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and feels that the Senate and the President was right to oppose the Kyoto Protocol. Citations: 1. Romney answers Kyoto Protocol question (8/14/07) Governor Romney answers Kyoto Protocol question: NO!

	Mitt Romney on Line Item Veto
	Stance: Supports Description: Mitt Romney feels the line item veto is an effective way to cut pork barrel spending and has used line item veto powers often as governor of Massachusetts. Citations: 1. Romney, Giuliani spar over budgets (10/14/07) "Mayor Giuliani took the line-item veto that the president had all the way to the Supreme Court and took it away from the president of the United States," Romney said. "I think that was a mistake." 2. Gov. Romney On The Line-Item Veto (10/14/07) Governor Mitt Romney on the Paul W. Smith show, WJR 760 AM in Detroit, Michigan talking about the line item veto and dissing Giuliani.

	Mitt Romney on Medical Marijuana
	Stance: Not taken a public opinion Description: Romney never publicly taken a positive position on medical marijuana, although he has promised to look into the issue further and eventually take a position. Citations: 1. Mitt Romney on Medical Marijuana (7/23/07) He doesnt know how he feels.

	Mitt Romney on Military Funding
	Stance: Increase funding and size military Description: Romney said he would increase the size of the U.S. military by 100,000 troops and increase funding for them by about $40 billion a year. Citations: 1. Romney Sticks Close To N.E. On Memorial Day (7/19/07) Talks about Romenys stance on military funding by citing a speech he gave on memorial day.

	Mitt Romney on Minimum Wage Increase
	Stance: Supports an increase of minimum wage consistent with inflation Description: Though Governor Romney vetoed a bill to increase the minimum wage in Massachusetts, his reasoning was that the bill increased minimum wage too much. He affirms that he is a proponent of increasing minimum wage as inflation goes up. Citations: 1. Minimum wage hike veto rejected (9/24/07) The Legislature unanimously overrode Governor Mitt Romney's veto of a minimum wage increase last night, rejecting the governor's view that the boost would hurt businesses and the poor.

	Mitt Romney on National Deficit
	Stance: Reform entitlement programs Description: "The Federal government must stop its borrowing and spending binge. The debt is a burden on our economy, our currency, our foreign policy, and our future. This is beyond pork barrel spending. We must address entitlement programs - not just to save money - but to give Americans confidence in their future." - Mitt Romney Citations: 1. 2008 DMR/ IPTV IA Republican Debate (Part 2) (12/20/07) Cut unnecessary programs to save money (and he gives a lot of examples). 2. Stopping Runaway Spending (10/8/07) The Federal government must stop its borrowing and spending binge. The debt is a burden on our economy, our currency, our foreign policy, and our future. This is beyond pork barrel spending. We must address entitlement programs - not just to save money - but to give Americans confidence in their future. 3. Mitt Romney - I like Vetoes (10/25/07) He will save 300 billion dollars a year by vetoing. 4. Romney's Speech: Conservatives Take Heart (10/21/07) "I saw the potential of economic conservatism when I became governor. The state budget was $3 billion short. Liberals wanted to raise taxes, but I cut government instead. I eliminated and combined duplicative and wasteful agencies and programs, and I balanced the budget four years in a row. One commentator said that I didn't just go after the sacred cows, I went after the whole herd. And after four years as governor, I'm proud to report that Massachusetts has 600 fewer state workers than when I took office." 5. Romney, Giuliani spar over budgets (10/11/07) This article summarizes the GOP debate in Dearborn Michigan on Tuesday October 9, 2008. It focuses on the disagreement between Romney and Giuliani about their spending histories.

	Mitt Romney on Net Neutrality
	Stance: Has not publicly taken a position on net neutrality. Description: Has not publicly taken a position on net neutrality. Citations: 1. 08 Candidates Split Over 'Net Neutrality (7/19/07) Talks about candidates stances on net neutrality

	Mitt Romney on No Child Left Behind Act
	Stance: Generally Supports Description: "Governor Romney supports the goals of No Child Left Behind, but he would like to see some changes in terms of giving states that meet or are exceeding the testing requirements some additional flexibilities in how you measure student performance," said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden Citations: 1. GOP candidates divided on No Child Left Behind (7/26/07) A quote from Romney's spokesman on how Romney feels about NCLB.

	Mitt Romney on Nuclear Power
	Stance: Supports nuclear power Description: Governor Mitt Romney supports using nuclear power to achieve energy independence. Citations: 1. Republican Presidential Debate, June 5, 2007 (8/5/07) "And that's why we have to pursue, as a strategic imperative, energy independence for America. And it takes that Apollo project. It also takes biodiesel, biofuel, ethanol... cellulosic ethanol, nuclear power, more drilling in ANWR. We have to be serious also about efficiency."

	Mitt Romney on Outsourcing
	Stance: Outsourcing improves the U.S. economy Description: "I'm not happy exporting jobs but we must move ahead in technology and patents. I don't like losing any jobs but we'll see new opportunities created selling products there. We'll have a net net increase in economic activity, just as we did with free trade," Romney said. "It's tempting to want to protect our markets and stay closed. But at some point it all comes crashing down and you're hopelessly left behind. Then you are Russia." - Mitt Romney Citations: 1. How does outsourcing affect the U.S. economy? (8/14/07) "U.S. businesses must globalize or whither away and die." - Romney

	Mitt Romney on Same-Sex Marriage