Whose job is it to fix the economy

Page history last edited by mike 2 yrs ago

Ms. Bartiromo: Governor Romney, here in Detroit, Michigan, alone, one in every 29 homes went into foreclosure in the first six months of the year.

Whose job is it to fix this problem? The government or private enterprise?

Mr. Romney: It's everybody's job. It's inexcusable that Michigan is undergoing a one-state recession, that the rest of the country is growing and seeing low levels of unemployment, but Michigan is seeing ongoing, high levels of unemployment, almost twice the national rate.

Mr. Romney: Industry is shrinking here, jobs are going away. This is just unacceptable. And, therefore, everyone's going to have to come together to solve the problem.

And that means, from the president's standpoint, the president's going to have to stand up and say -- you know what? -- to the auto industry: The door's always open.

We're ongoing to work with you and make sure that you have a listening ear and someone who will participate with labor and with management.

Number two, we're going to make sure that we invest in technology and research. A lot of that relate into energy, fuels, automotive research like material sites to help boost Michigan once again.

We're going to have to fix the schools, as Newt Gingrich pointed out. 22% of Detroit kids don't -- excuse me, 22% graduate from high school. That's unacceptable.

We're also going to have to do a better job keeping our taxes down. Jennifer Granholm has made a big mistake by raising taxes. I was, frankly, a little nervous to -- about being here tonight. I figured she was going to pot a tax on the debate before we got finished.

(LAUGHTER)

Mr. Romney: So...

(APPLAUSE)

And we're going to have to go to work, as well, to make sure that there's a level playing field around the world, as we compete, to make sure that American goods are pushing into other markets, but goods coming overseas aren't getting an advantage, as they do now, with embedded taxes.

There's a lot we can do to strengthen Michigan. And in some respects, what Michigan is seeing, the entire nation is going to see, unless we take action now to get Michigan stronger.