- State spending increased at well over rate of inflation under Romney’s watch, estimated at 24% – more than $5 billion – over Romney’s final three years.
- Under Romney, Massachusetts dramatically under-performed the rest of the nation in terms of job growth.
- Romney has been criticized by experts for failing to deliver on issues of business development and economic growth after selling himself as the “CEO governor”.
- 2006 report issued by quasi-public Massachusetts Technology Collaborative warned the state was losing its grip as leader in “innovation economy” and that tech job was alarmingly slow.
- Romney left his successor to fill a budget deficit exceeding $1 billion.
- Romney raised state fees and taxes more than $700 million per year, according to independent experts.
- Romney raised fees by roughly $500 million in his first year alone, a figure that was highest in the nation.
- Romney quadrupled gun licensing fees and raised fees on first responders, real estate transactions, the blind, golfers and many others.
- Massachusetts’ state and local tax burden rose more than 7% during Romney’s administration.
- Romney refused to endorse the Bush tax cuts in 2003, telling the state’s all-Democrat congressional delegation he wouldn’t be a cheerleader for the plan.
- Romney implemented three rounds of tax changes (which he referred to as “closing loopholes”) which increased business taxes by an estimated $400 million per year.
- Massachusetts’ corporate tax climate now ranks 47th in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation.
- Romney proposed – then backed away from – a new internet tourism tax that would levy higher taxes on users of sites like Orbitz and Travelocity.
- Romney enrolled Massachusetts in multi-state compact aiming to end moratorium on internet sales taxes.
- Romney took no position on estate tax issue in 2002 and signed 50% increase in state cremation fee, which observers called “hidden tax on the dead.”
Where does Mitt Romney stand on Economic Issues?
January 22, 2012
