Governor Mitt Romney Announces New Hampshire Leadership Team

Thursday, Mar 01, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced the members of the New Hampshire Leadership Team. Bruce Keough will serve as State Chair and will be joined by Co-Chairs Gordon MacDonald and Donna Sytek. Governor Romney also announced the County Chairs for each New Hampshire county.

"I am honored to announce these distinguished men and women as members of my New Hampshire Leadership Team. Each of these Republicans shares my vision of a stronger and more prosperous America," said Governor Romney. "Together, we will continue to expand the impressive team we already have on the ground in New Hampshire."

Ahead of Governor Romney's visit to New Hampshire today, State Chair Bruce Keough said, "From watching Governor Romney at work in Massachusetts, it is clear he shares New Hampshire's values. His belief and record in fighting for small government and low taxes will resonate with the people of this state. I am proud to be a part of this team and helping to represent Governor Romney in New Hampshire."

Background on Governor Romney's New Hampshire Leadership Team:

Bruce Keough – State Chair: A successful businessman, former State Senator, and candidate for Governor in the 2002 Republican primary, Keough was the New Hampshire Vice Chairman of President Bush's 2004 Presidential re-election campaign.

Gordon MacDonald – State Co-Chair: A Manchester attorney, MacDonald spent eight years on the staff of former U.S. Senator Gordon J. Humphrey (R-NH) in Washington, D.C., serving as Humphrey's Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. He has directed several statewide political campaigns in New Hampshire, and served as legal counsel to the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.

Donna Sytek – State Co-Chair: A former Speaker of the New Hampshire House and Chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, Sytek served as a State Representative from Salem for 23 years. She has been a delegate to four Republican National Conventions and was Chairman of the National Republican Legislators Association.

New Hampshire Leadership Team County Chairs:

Belknap County

Sheriff Dan Collis

Carroll County

Beverly Bruce

Tom Dewhurst

State Representative Betsey Patten

Cheshire County

County Attorney Peter Heed

Fred Parker

Coos County

Berlin City Councilor Tim Donovan

County Commissioner Bing Judd

Colebrook Selectman Benoit Lamontagne

Grafton County

John Boyle

Hillsborough County

Claira Monier

County Commissioner Toni Pappas

Merrimack County

Liz Feren

Franklin City Councilor Ken Merrifield

Rockingham County

Judy Galluzzo

Sheriff Dan Linehan

County Attorney Jim Reams

Christopher Wolfe

Strafford County

Barbara Russell

Paul Smith

Elaine Tinetti

Sullivan County

Ernie Bridge

State Representative Beverly Rodeschin

Policy Briefing: Restraining Government Spending

Thursday, Mar 01, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

Governor Romney's Initiatives To Restrain Government Spending:

Today, In New Hampshire, Governor Mitt Romney Outlined Several Initiatives Which Will Guide His Efforts To Restrain Government Spending In Washington. Governor Romney believes that the American people are over-taxed and government is over-fed. With a record of strong fiscal discipline, Governor Romney will take action to stop overspending.

- Governor Romney Will Lead An Effort To Review And Reevaluate All Federal Spending Programs. His administration will undertake an exhaustive review of each individual federal program with the goal to eliminate and consolidate programs that are no longer useful or are bureaucratic and unwieldy. Federal spending programs do not have a right to immortality, and should not enjoy automatic increases year after year.

- Governor Romney Will Veto Appropriations Bills That Exceed Spending Targets. He will veto annual appropriations (with the exception of defense) that grow spending at a rate greater than inflation minus one percent (CPI-1%). This should be considered the minimum amount of spending reductions. If, for example, inflation is running at 3%, then the growth of discretionary spending should grow no more than 2%, or Governor Romney will veto the appropriations. Additional one-time spending for natural disasters and other catastrophic situations will be considered an exception.

- Governor Romney Believes The President Needs The Line-Item Veto Power. As Governor, he had line-item authority, and often used it to trim or eliminate individual appropriations. Giving the President this power would allow us to make tremendous strides in eliminating earmarks and cutting inefficient programs.

FAST FACTS: Governor Romney's Record Of Fiscal Discipline:

Governor Romney Has A Strong Record Of Fiscal Discipline. Without raising taxes or increasing debt, Governor Romney closed a $3 billion budget deficit his first year in office with a heavily Democrat legislature. Each year, Governor Romney filed a balanced budget without raising taxes. By eliminating waste, streamlining government, and enacting comprehensive economic reforms to help spur growth, Governor Romney helped the state achieve a surplus totaling nearly $1 billion in 2005.

- In The Four Budgets He Signed Into Law, Governor Romney Used The Line-Item Veto Or Program Reduction Power In An Attempt To Cut Spending By Nearly $1 Billion. (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs No New Tax Budget In Time For New Fiscal Year," Press Release, 6/30/2003; Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Governor Mitt Romney Signs $22.402B Fiscal Year 2005 'No New Tax' Budget," Press Release, 6/25/2004; Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Governor Mitt Romney Signs Into Law $23.8 Billion Budget For Fiscal Year '06," Press Release, 6/30/2005; Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Governor Mitt Romney Signs $25.2 Billion Fiscal Year 2007 State Budget," Press Release, 7/8/2006)

- By 2006, Spending In The Governor's Office Had Dropped From $5.6 Million In 2002 To $4.6 Million. "Spending in the Governor's Office has dropped from $5.6 million in FY02 to $4.6 million in FY06. Spending is anticipated to drop again in the current fiscal year." (Office Of The Governor, "Romney Transfers Funds From Governor's Office To Pay Military Benefit," Press Release, 11/3/06)