---In the four balanced budgets he signed into law, Governor Romney used the line-item veto or program reduction power to cut spending by nearly $1 Billion.
--- Over the course of four budgets, Governor Romney made over 300 line-item reductions, 350 line-item eliminations and struck language 150 times. (Romney signs no new tax budget in time for new fiscal year, June 30, 2003)
---Spending in the Governor's office dropped from $5.6 million in 2002 to $4.6 million in 2006.
--- Careful examination of the complete story of Mitt Romney’s record in managing the state budget of Massachusetts leads an honest reviewer to the conclusion that his term as Governor was a remarkable success story of fiscal conservatism in government. (Romney often casts himself as budget hero, Boston Globe, October 24, 2005)
---When Gov. Romney left office in 2007, there were 600 fewer government workers employed by the state of Massachusetts than at the beginning of his term.
--- Governor Mitt Romney pledges, if elected President, to cap non-defense, discretionary federal spending at inflation minus 1 percent. That would save $300 billion in ten years. Romney pledges to veto any federal budget that exceeds the cap.
--- Mitt Romney pledges to personally lead a top-to-bottom review of federal government programs, agencies, procurement and spending to eliminate waste, inefficiency and duplication.
Heck, the stats show that Bill Clinton reduced big government dramatically compared to Bush. Does this mean that we should bring him back? As to Romney, he has gone on record in favor of compulsory health care at the point of a gun, for the Brady Bill, and for an assault weapons ban. Those are not the views of a small government candidate, no matter who you spin it.