Tonight, “Say Anything” Mitt Romney touted his record as governor of Massachusetts. But one quick look at his record tells you the real story: under Romney, Massachusetts ranked 47th out of 50th in job creation, saw incomes and wages fall and experienced a decline in manufacturing at twice the national average. That’s not a record Romney should be proud of.
 
AS GOVERNOR, ROMNEY RANKED 47TH OUT OF 50 IN JOB CREATION, WHILE WAGES AND INCOME IN MASSACHUSETTS FELL
 
In Romney’s Four Years As Governor Massachusetts Ranked 47th Out Of 50 In Jobs Growth.  “The Republican contender was the governor of Massachusetts from January 2003 to January 2007. And during that time, according to the U.S. Labor Department, the state ranked 47th in the entire country in jobs growth. Fourth from last.  The only ones that did worse? Ohio, Michigan and Louisiana. In other words, two rustbelt states and another that lost its biggest city to a hurricane. The Massachusetts jobs growth over that period, a pitiful 0.9%, badly lagged other high-skill, high-wage, knowledge economy states like New York (2.7%), California (4.7%) and North Carolina (7.6%). The national average: More than 5%.” [Marketwatch, 2/23/10]
 
Massachusetts Wages and Income Fell By 2% During Romney Years.  “Between 2002 and 2006, the median real (inflation adjusted) weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in Massachusetts is estimated to have fallen by $10 or nearly 2 percent. The real income of the average (median) family in Massachusetts in 2005 was 1 percent below its value at the time of the 2000 Census while median household income was 3 percent below its 2000 value. Median household income fell even more sharply in the nation. Family incomes in both the United States and Massachusetts have become more unevenly distributed since 2000.” [Boston Globe, 7/28/07]
 
Between 2003 And 2005 The Median Hourly Wage For Massachusetts Workers Fell 5%--The Largest Decline In The Country During That Period. “Perhaps even worse, wages in Massachusetts, after adjusting for inflation, have dropped across the labor force over the last few years. In particular, the median hourly wage that is, the wage earned by the typical Massachusetts worker fell close to 5 percent between 2003 and 2005, the largest decline in the country during that period and the largest two-year decline in Massachusetts in at least twenty-five years.” [Massachusetts Budget And Policy Center, 9/3/06]
 
Under Romney, The Median Household Income In Massachusetts Decreased $1,963 In Real Terms.  In 2002, the median household income in Massachusetts was $55,266.  Adjusted for inflation, this amount was $61,932.33 in 2006 buying power.  In 2006, the median household income in Massachusetts was $59,963, a decrease from the inflation adjusted median household income from 2002 of $1,963.33 [Census.gov American Community Survey, 2002 Median Household Income And 2006 Median Household Income; BLS Inflation Calculator, 2002-2006]
 
MANUFACTURING DECLINED BY TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS UNDER ROMNEY
 
Under Romney Manufacturing Jobs In Massachusetts Declined By Twice The National Average—“The Third Worst Record In The Country.” “Manufacturing payroll employment throughout the nation declined by nearly 1.1 million or 7 percent between 2002 and 2006, but in Massachusetts it declined by more than 14 percent, the third worst record in the country.” [Boston Globe, 7/29/07]

ROMNEY REPEATEDLY AXED FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR SMALL MANUFACTURERS
 
Romney’s Budget Cuts To Manufacturing Partnership Hampered Effort To Save Thousands Of Jobs.  “Romney’s recent move to slice $425 million from state spending will hamper the efforts of a program that has helped hundreds of small manufacturers compete, survive, and save thousands of jobs.  The program, the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, or MassMEP, is jointly funded by state and federal governments and considered by business officials to be a particularly effective economic development effort… Over the past five years, MassMEP has helped small manufacturers create or retain some 3,000 jobs, generate sales of more than $300 million, and undertake nearly $100 million in new investments, according to annual client surveys.”  [Boston Globe, 11/23/06]

• Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership Is A Nonprofit Which Assists Small Manufacturers With Improving Operations. “But high-tech products don't entirely explain the resilience of the state's manufacturing sector, said Jack Healy, director of the nonprofit Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which assists small manufacturers with improving operations. Low-tech products are also being made here competitively thanks to what are known as ‘lean’ or ‘advanced’ manufacturing approaches, he said.” [Boston Business Journal, 5/27/11]

2006: Romney Vetoed More Than $700,000 In Funding For The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Which Was Then Overridden By The Legislature. [Westboro News, 12/14/06]

2006: Romney Vetoed Roughly $557,000 For The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership From A Stimulus Bill [Boston Business Journal, 6/3/06]
 
2005: Romney Vetoed $850,000 For The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Which Was Overridden By The Legislature. [Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 7/15/05]