JOBS> Increase of 51,362 or a growth of 1.3% ranking the state 47th of 50
Taxes> combined state and local rate went from 9.8% to 10.5% +.7%
Touching on what I believe is the top two talking points of the 2012 Presidential race of the GOP, the numbers are the numbers. As CEO of Massachusetts, Romney’s lack of job creation of 1.3% would be unacceptable on the national level. The glaring failure in these numbers is his ranking among states. Comparing Romney to his 49 other peers is a fair and balanced way look at his record, 47 out of 50!
Taxes under CEO Romney increased overall through increasing fees on services and creating new fees. During his term he created 33 new fees while increasing 57. Court fees, marriage licensing , professional regulations, fire arms and fees on businesses, such as a fee to erect a sign. Romney increased the gasoline fee and signed legislation to allow for increases in commercial property taxes.
CEO Romney, reduced spending by $1.6 billion to include $700 million to cities and towns, shifting the burden to local revenue sources. This increased property taxes in the state by 5%.
The truth is in the numbers and Romney’s words need to be overlooked. The top 2 talking points of the GOP, jobs and taxes, Romney does not get a passing grade. While Romney’s record at Bain might have some value, his record as Governor is far more important. Fees another word for taxes! Looking at the fees he raised, I can’t imagine the National Rifle Association being to thrilled with him. On a side note to the NRA, Romney banned assault weapons.
“Romney campaigned for governor on the promises of more jobs, decreased debt and smaller government,” senior Obama strategist David Axelrod writes in a research memo to “interested parties.” “When he left office, however, state debt had increased, the size of government had grown and over his four years, Massachusetts’ record of job creation was among the worst in the nation.”
Axelrod will host a rare press conference later Thursday in Boston to drive the case home with officials who served in Massachusetts’ state government during Romney’s tenure. Testimonials on Romney’s record from several state officials are also featured in a new campaign web video.
“There are times when I watch Mitt Romney saying the exact same things now as he said here in Massachusetts in 2002 in a robotic way that is completely hollow,” says state Rep. Carl Sciortino of the 34th Middlesex District. “It didn’t work here, so I’m not quite sure why he thinks it might work nationally.”
The video notes that, despite his much touted business experience, Romney presided over a lackluster state economy. Between 2003 and 2007, Massachusetts slid to 47th out of 50 states in job creation, the manufacturing sector saw a net job loss and workers’ wages fell. Taxes and fees on state services climbed, while state debt grew by $2.6 billion.
“He raised our taxes by raising our fees,” says state Rep. Jay Kaufman of the 15th Middlesex District.
“But a rose by any other name is still a rose. That’s a tax. Let’s call it what it is,” added Rob Dolan, mayor of Melrose, Ma.
Mitt Romney ran for governor of Massachusetts promising more jobs, decreased debt, and smaller government.
Here’s what Massachusetts got instead:
Jobs: 47th out of 50 states in job creation
Stagnant job growth: During Governor Romney’s term, Massachusetts fell from 36th to 47th out of 50 states in job creation, while the overall U.S. economy grew. Of the jobs that were created in Massachusetts, state government jobs grew at six times the rate of private sector jobs.
Taxes and fees: Increased by $750 million per year
Higher taxes: Governor Romney raised taxes and fees on the middle class while cutting taxes for millionaires like himself and 278 of the wealthiest individuals in Massachusetts.
Long-term debt: Increased more than $2.6 billion
Highest debt in the nation: Under Mitt Romney, Massachusetts’ debt burden grew to the highest per person in the nation.
Increased government spending: State spending increased every year while Romney was in office, and he left behind a $1 billion deficit for the next governor.
Source: TPM
Romney was governor for 4 years, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt, and a failed economy, fewer jobs, and higher fees=taxes.
Unemployment numbers? It was already below 6%, it is a lot harder to bring it below 5%, which some say is full employment. And how is Obama doing? Still above 8% after the biggest jobs stimulus program ever.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
But, he promised 250,000 new jobs... I thought for you guys a "campaign promise" that doesn't work out is supposed to be a "lie"???
Fact: He took MASS from 36th in the nation in jobs down to 47th... Spin that one Skippy... (As I'm sure you think you can...)
How's Obama doing?... He took the 750,000-jobs/month loss that he was handed from Bush, and so far has overseen the creation of 4.3 MILLION PRIVATE-SECTOR jobs... (More than Bush created in 8 years...) Looks to me like he's doing pretty well.
Well, you guys never give credit to the president for "creating" private-sector jobs...(Of course, it's always the president's "fault" if private sector jobs are lost.) So, I was trying, perhaps inartfully, to say that 4.3 million jobs were created under his policies...
How's that jobs record for Romney workin' out for ya? 36th down to 47th...when he promised 250,000 new jobs?
The private sector jobs were created despite Obama increasing regulations and declaring a personal jihad on coal and other poltically incorrect energy companies that actually provide jobs and power for America than the green energy which has proven to be costly and underachieving.
And once again to get through your head, Massachussets unemployment rate was 5%, that is a good rate, 5% is the unemployment rate in Germany, the lion of the European economic community.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
Democracy4Sale wrote: Fact: He took MASS from 36th in the nation in jobs down to 47th...
Where do you get that Mass was 36th? I don't see that in the articles you posted.
Here is what I posted before regarding job growth in Mass...
Massachusetts’ state ranking for job growth went from 50th the year before he took office, to 28th in his final year. It was 47th for the whole of his four-year tenure, but it was improving, not declining, when he left.
And compared to current US unemployment of over 8%, unemployment in Mass under Romney was very low, around 5% (I think 4.7% when he left). Low unemployment means you'll have less job growth (which is a good thing). But that's why people pick and choose statistics.
