America's tax code is a labyrinth that imposes an enormous and unnecessary burden on our citizens and employers. Keeping taxes low and simplifying the code will grow the economy and enhance our competitiveness.
"I said no to a tax hike; raising taxes hurts working people and scares away jobs. I also said no to more borrowing; borrowing just shifts our problems to the backs of our kids . . . Instead, I went after waste, inefficiency, duplication, and patronage."
(Boston Globe, October 24, 2005)
"It is fundamentally unfair to tax people retroactively. If we are to keep faith with the taxpayers of Massachusetts, we need to correct the constitutional error that occurred here."
" America's tax code is a labyrinth that imposes an enormous and unnecessary burden on our citizens and employers. Keeping taxes low and simplifying the code will grow the economy and enhance our competitiveness."
“Any year the government puts money back in taxpayers’ pockets is a great year. Of course, next year will be even better if we can convince the Legislature to start rolling the tax rate back to 5 percent.”
“High energy prices have put a strain on older homeowners and young families alike. This deduction was designed to help people make it through the home heating season, and I’d like to see 100 percent of those who are eligible receive this tax break.”
“It may be Tax Freedom Day, but there’s no reason for celebration in Massachusetts. Next year, I’d like to see Tax Freedom Day in Massachusetts arrive a little bit earlier and the way to make that happen is by reducing the income tax rate to 5 percent.”
“We enacted property tax relief for our senior citizens and instead of levying a retroactive capital gains tax hike, we acted to refund $250 million to Massachusetts taxpayers.”
“I don’t like taxes. I think we need less government, not more government.”
Governor Mitt Romney, Interview with Mort Kondracke (March 2006)
2005
“You don’t create economic prosperity by raising taxes.”
Governor Mitt Romney, National Review (June 2005)
“Our seniors should be able to live their remaining years in the comforting surroundings of their homes and communities. We can help them by providing property tax relief and other tax breaks.”
“It is fundamentally unfair to tax people retroactively. If we are to keep faith with the taxpayers of Massachusetts, we need to correct the constitutional error that occurred here.”
“We’re sending taxes in Massachusetts on a little summer vacation. Everyone should head out to their favorite stores to take advantage of the tax-free holiday.”
"Taxes in Massachusetts have the weekend off. This upcoming sales tax holiday, consumers can enjoy savings at a range of shops from major retailers to their favorite mom-and-pop stores."
During a visit at the shopping plaza in Landmark Center
“No matter how you look at it, this is extremely positive news for the people of Massachusetts. Revenues were up across the board in every single category. There are more people working, our business sector is healthy and creating jobs and consumers are spending money.”
“We have tried to come up with a solution that addresses the concerns of legislators worried about the impact of the refunds on the state treasury. By spreading out the payment of refunds over three years, rather than all at once, we can soften the revenue impact. Ultimately, it’s going to cost the state some money. But if we don’t act, thousands of taxpayers who played by the rules will be punished for a mistake they did not make.”
“With the rise in property values, it makes it difficult for seniors to stay in their homes. Seniors should be able to stay as long as they want in the homes where they’ve raised families and created a lifetime of fond memories.”
“By making this important correction we will keep faith with the taxpayers and prevent thousands of families from enduring any financial hardship from an unfair retroactive tax. I commend the Legislature for approving a solution that fixes this problem once and for all.”
"And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children. This government is yours. Thank you for letting me serve you. I love this job."
"If you want someone who voted for tax hikes 98 times, send in John Kerry. If you think trial lawyers need more money, our economy needs more law suits, and malpractice costs should go even higher, then send in John Edwards with him."
“They say there are only two sure things in life – death and taxes. We can’t do anything about the first, but we can make life a little easier when it comes to taxes. I encourage people all across our Commonwealth to head out to stores and malls this weekend to enjoy the benefits of tax free shopping.”
"Let me come back to something more parochial, which is how our state fits into all of that and how you who are entrepreneurs and investors, financiers, faculty members and others who are associated with the process of innovation fit into, if you will, "our state." I am convinced that this is an extraordinarily attractive place to grow and develop ideas and technology. That this state has many of the features which are unique in our nation and perhaps in our world - the clusters of technology and capability that have assembled here -- means that enterprises that begin here begin with a natural advantage. We have also thought to keep the attractiveness of the, if you will, 'the Petri dish" here for technology innovation very robust and vital. There are some who would suggest we could solve our problems best by, for instance, raising our tax rates and business payroll taxes and so forth. I am afraid of going down the path California is going down. I am afraid that going to an 11% income tax will scare away innovation and scare away jobs. California is a beautiful place. We don't have their weather to compete with, so we have to compete on other bases. For us it's a place where that tax burden is not overwhelming with a 5.3% tax rate - they're going up to an 11% tax rate, with over 9% today. We have to make sure this is a place as attractive for people to come and grow their enterprise - our regulatory structure."
Governor Mitt Romney, Deshpande Center IdeaStream Symposium, May 13, 2003
“Let’s put the numbers to a test. Pass my reforms and I’ll deliver the savings. Even if one thought the savings would be smaller, that’s no reason to abandon the reforms. If a reform saves money, let’s take it. This is not a choice between deep cuts or higher taxes. There is another way. My plan calls for reform. It’s hard to say goodbye to the old way of doing things, but people are demanding change.”
“As the reality of last year’s tax increase sinks in, it is imperative to remember how important it is to hold the line on raising taxes again this year.”
“Given our fiscal crisis, we have a unique opportunity this year to make permanent changes to state government that make sense, save money and make us more efficient. Let’s not squander that opportunity, but instead work together to achieve reform once and for all.”
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They provide jobs for our half of our workforce and stimulate our economy. Raising taxes will force them to cut jobs and will drive them out of Massachusetts to a more business-friendly state.”
“Higher taxes are simply not an option for my administration, for working families or for the hundreds of small businesses who are struggling. It is time for reform.”
“Analogic’s continuing expansion is extraordinary in light of our challenging economic climate. If we’re going to attract and retain more companies, we need to get serious about reforming state government and taking steps to foster a pro-growth environment. Those steps include holding the line on taxes.”
“I find it unbelievable to hear people in the State House talking about tax increases as an option to closing the budget gap. Raising taxes at a time of rising unemployment will hurt working families, drive companies out of Massachusetts and push our economy into an even deeper rut.”
“Higher taxes are simply not an option for my administration, for working families or for the hundreds of businesses who are struggling. It is time for reform.”
“Massachusetts has tremendous potential – a highly skilled and educated workforce, top-notch institutes of higher learning and excellent health care facilities. But, we need to work harder to convince employers that Massachusetts is a good place to do business – and that starts with a stable tax structure.”
“The Investment Tax Credit is one of the vital tools we have to attract employers and stimulate job growth in Massachusetts. I applaud the House and Senate leaders for their efforts to maintain the Bay State’s pro-business environment.”
“We have successfully closed the largest deficit in our state’s history without raising taxes. Not many states can make that claim, but here in Massachusetts we can be proud of what we have accomplished on behalf of our citizens. I am grateful to the Legislature for their efforts.”
“With this budget, we’ve launched the state on the road to reform. We didn’t get everything we wanted, but we got a lot. And as Arnold Schwarzenegger might say, ‘I’ll be back.’”
“This year’s budget represents just the first step,” Romney said. “We still have financial challenges ahead of us, but with ingenuity and hard work, we can solve them.”
“We will continue to push for our plans to merge the Turnpike Authority, adopt court reform and institute workforce changes that will give us the tools to manage effectively. Our energy is limitless.”
“I support the changes to the Quinn Bill. The exceptions I have proposed are fair to our police officers who have either served their country or are more than halfway through their course of study.”
“The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that's not what the job of management is. The job of management is to find ways to permanently and structurally change the costs of our structure such that we can have a balanced budget without always raising taxes every time people think there's a need."
Governor Mitt Romney, Boston Herald, March 22, 2002
"America’s tax code is a labyrinth that imposes an enormous and unnecessary burden on our citizens and employers. Keeping taxes low and simplifying the code will grow the economy and enhance our ccompetitiveness."
Governor Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC
“Mitt Romney Record on Taxes
When Mitt Romney entered the Governor’s office, Massachusetts had a $3 billion deficit. By focusing on the fiscal crisis, he decided to cut programs and streamline government rather than increasing taxes. The $3 billion deficit was erased and the cuts ultimately created a $1 billion surplus.
“We have successfully closed the largest deficit in our state’s history without raising taxes. Not many states can make that claim, but here in Massachusetts we can be proud of what we have accomplished on behalf of our citizens. I am grateful to the Legislature for their efforts.”
Press Release, 6/30/2003
“The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that's not what the job of management is. The job of management is to find ways to permanently and structurally change the costs of our structure such that we can have a balanced budget without always raising taxes every time people think there's a need."
Boston Herald, 3/22,2002
“I find it unbelievable to hear people in the State House talking about tax increases as an option to closing the budget gap. Raising taxes at a time of rising unemployment will hurt working families, drive companies out of Massachusetts and push our economy into an even deeper rut.”
Press Release, 4/28/2003
Mitt Romney wanted to cut the state income tax rate from 5.3 percent to 5 percent, which translates into an average of $100 per taxpayer. In 2000, voters approved a gradual lowering of the income tax rate, which was 5.85 percent at the time, to 5 percent. But in the depths of the state’s fiscal crisis in 2002, the Legislature froze the rate at the current 5.3 percent.
“Now, it’s time to take the next step. There is no longer any reason not to give the people what they voted for – a 5 percent income tax rate.”
Press Release, 10/3/2005
Mitt Romney signed legislation that prevents thousands of Massachusetts taxpayers from having to pay retroactive taxes on financial transactions that occurred more than three years ago. Under the new law, no additional taxes are due and affected taxpayers may disregard any retroactive bills they received.
“It is fundamentally unfair to tax people retroactively. If we are to keep faith with the taxpayers of Massachusetts, we need to correct the constitutional error that occurred here.”
Press Release 6/10/2005
“It is simply wrong to change the rules after the fact on taxpayers who sold assets in reliance on the tax code in effect at the time.”
Governor Romney's Initiatives To Ensure America's Continued Economic Growth:
Below are excerpts of Governor Romney's remarks as prepared for delivery.
MAKING THE 2001 AND 2003 TAX CUTS PERMANENT: "Which course is better for America? A European model of high taxes and regulations? Or, low taxes and free trade - the Ronald Reagan model? That's the choice the next President will make. Some are already fighting to implement a massive tax increase. Instead, we should make the tax cuts permanent."
- REFORMING THE TAX CODE: "However, making the tax cuts permanent is only the first step. We also need reform of the tax code that moves towards a tax system that encourages growth, fairness, and simplicity."
TAX FREE SAVINGS: Governor Romney Proposes Allowing People To Save Tax Free. "It is time to make saving easy in America. I believe people should be allowed to earn interest, dividends and capital gains up to a certain amount a year, tax free and without restrictions on how or when their savings and investments are spent. As an example, let's say we chose $5,000 for joint filers as the annual tax free figure for dividends, interest and capital gains. This would help middle class families to be able to save and to invest - and spend their savings the American way: any way they want."
FISCAL DISCIPLINE: Unless Given The Line-Item Veto, Governor Romney Would Veto Any Appropriations Bills If They Exceed Spending Targets. "I have a fairly simple idea for keeping spending in check. Give Congress a spending target and then insist that it is met. If Congress does not meet the spending targets, then its appropriations bills should be vetoed. I regularly exercised my veto power while governor. The alternative is for the Congress to vest the President with a power held in some form by 43 governors, including this Governor - the line-item veto."
REGULATORY RELIEF: Governor Romney Would Reinstitute A Regulatory Relief Board To Cut Back Regulations That Choke Off Growth. "Our regulatory burden is also overbearing. I'd re-institute a regulatory relief board to cut back the regulation weeds that choke off growth. One that deserves pruning is Sarbanes Oxley - it's driving away IPO's, depressing jobs, and requiring billions of unnecessary cost. Executives who violate the law should go to jail, but the entire economy shouldn't have pay an inordinate price for the sins of the few bad actors."
NATIONAL TORT REFORM: Governor Romney Believes America Needs National Tort Reform, Not Reform State-By-State. "Another burden on our economic future is our out-of-control tort system. Last year, U.S. corporations spent more money on tort claims than they did on R&D. If innovation is the key to our long term leadership, then some tort lawyers are cashing out our country's future. I spoke with one member of the plaintiff's bar the other day. He said that the tort lawyers are ok with state reform, but not national reform. You know what state level tort reform means - it means that as long as there is one lawsuit-friendly state, they can sue almost any major, deep-pocketed company in America. No thanks, America needs national tort reform."
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Governor Romney Would Evaluate Reforms To CAFE Standards To Develop A Better Way To Get Higher Fleet Mileage Without Market Distortions. "What does this mean for Detroit? Well, it means that the automotive fleet will have to become more fuel efficient. CAFE improved mileage initially, but the consumer has gotten around it over the last couple of decades. CAFE has some real problems. It distorts the market. It penalizes the domestic automakers. It can ignore technical realities. So before I would change the CAFE standards, I want to sit down with every major knowledgeable party and evaluate each of the alternatives. A good number have been proposed; let's decide which is the best course by looking at the data and analysis, rather than by playing to the TV cameras Let's not forget that a far more fuel efficient fleet must be part of our energy future. The issue is which is the least distorting way to achieve it."