Ad Watch: Romney Veto Ad Can’t Override His Tax-Raising Record
Mitt Romney’s high-priced, high profile campaign to smooth talk Republican primary voters into ignoring his real record continues today with yet another television ad. His latest, entitled “I Like Vetoes”, is a weak attempt to deflect attention from his tax-raising record as governor of Massachusetts by highlighting his use of the line item veto. While Romney brags about liking vetoes, declaring that he can’t wait to get his hands on Washington, Romney fails to mention that his reckless and irresponsible vetoes slashed millions of dollars for key programs that are critical for Bay State women, seniors, children, schools and first responders.
The following is a Fact Check prepared by DNC Research on smooth talking Mitt Romney’s new ad, “I Like Vetoes”:
Fact Check – Romney Ad: “I Like Vetoes”
| Romney Rhetoric | Romney Reality |
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ROMNEY: If I'm elected President, I'm going to cap non-defense discretionary spending at inflation minus one percent. That would save $300 billion in 10 years. |
Romney Raised $500 Million in Fees, Imposed More Fee Hikes Than any Other State in the Nation. Congress Daily reported, "A survey of states grappling with spending crises has found that Massachusetts imposed more fee hikes than any other state in the nation this year -- at least $500 million, the Boston Globe reported. GOP Gov. Mitt Romney and the Legislature, faced with a multibillion dollar shortfall, made it more expensive to get a marriage license or a divorce, file a court case, buy a house, renew a driver's license, or tap into a host of other state services. The study by the National Conference of State Legislatures found that Massachusetts was one of 30 states that enacted fee increases this year." [Congress Daily, 8/28/03] Romney Forced Hike in Local Commercial Property Taxes. Romney "signed a measure that allowed local officials to raise the commercial property tax rate, which cost business owners $100 million, according to Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the state's largest business group." [Quincy Patriot Ledger, 12/16/05; Boston Globe, 10/24/05] Property Taxes Rose to Highest Level in 25 Years. Romney’s cuts to local aid forced Massachusetts property taxes to their highest level in 25 years. [Quincy Patriot Ledger, 12/16/05; Boston Globe, 10/24/05] State & Local Tax Burden Increased 5.1 Percent During Romney Administration. According to The Tax Foundation, a conservative tax research organization, Bay Staters saw their taxes burden increase by 5.1 percent in real terms on Romney’s watch. [Massachusetts State-Local Tax Burden Compared to National Average (1970-2006), The Tax Foundation] |
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ROMNEY: And if Congress sends me a budget that exceeds that cap, I will veto that budget. And I know how to veto. I like vetoes. I've vetoed hundreds of spending appropriations as Governor. |
Romney’s Heartless Vetoes Gutted Key Women’s, Senior’s And Children’s Health Programs. • Romney Vetoed $45 Million To Offset Nursing Home Rate Hikes for Senior Care Plan. Romney vetoed “$45.0 million in the Senior Care Plan line item; this veto eliminated specific provisions related to nursing home rate increases,” from the final FY 06 budget. [Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 7/7/05] • Romney Vetoed $107,500 in Funding for Breast Cancer Prevention Program. Romney vetoed $107,500 in funding for early breast cancer detection from the final FY 06 budget. [Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 7/7/05] Romney’s Reckless Vetoes Slashed School Funds • Romney Vetoed Funding for Head Start & Parent Child Home Program. Romney vetoed “appropriations for Head Start program grants and for the Parent Child Home Program. The $9.6 million included in the Conference Committee’s budget for Head Start is lowered to $9.1 million in this budget. The $2.0 million line item for the Parent Child Home Program is down to $1.0 million.” [Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 7/7/05] • Romney Vetoed $11.3 Million in School Funding in FY2005 and FY2006. In June 2004 the legislature overrode Romney’s veto of, “$6.9 million of one-time assistance to school districts that have been disproportionately affected by high enrollment growth, significant school aid cuts, or other extraordinary factors.” [Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, 6/30/04] In 2005, Romney vetoed $4.4 million in funds “used to help school districts meet their local contribution toward the foundation budget and assist with other local education needs,” from the final FY 06 budget. [Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 7/7/05] Romney’s Vetoes Slashed First Responder Funds. • Romney Vetoed $22.810 Million for Five County Sheriffs Departments. On July 8, 2006, the Romney administration vetoed $22,810,172 for funding for five county sheriffs departments from the FY 07 budget. [Attachment A, Romney FY 07 Veto Message, 7/8/06] • Romney Vetoed $2 Million for Fire Station Construction, Pushed Cost To Local Taxpayers. Romney vetoed $2 million in state funds for a proposed Worcester fire station. He said the construction of the fire station should be paid for with local funds. [Telegram & Gazette, 6/28/06] • Romney Vetoed Fire Safety Grants and Funding for Sheriffs Departments. On July 8, 2006, the Romney administration vetoed $250,000 in Fire Safety Equipment Grants: eliminating the program from the FY 07 budget. [Attachment A, Romney FY 07 Veto Message, 7/8/06] |
