Oh, really? I've made off the cuff remarks, that don't nearly resemble what I truly think and believe.
The following from Freeper Unmarked Packages homepage, reflects a most fiscally conservative Mitt Romney as Governor, and is not at all reminiscent of big government proponent:
"Government Spending and Taxes
Governor Mitt Romney inherited a $3 billion deficit in Massachusetts upon taking office in 2003 and the state was losing thousands of jobs every month. Over the course of his administration, without raising taxes or increasing debt, he balanced the state budget each year with a 85% majority Democrat Legislature and erased the deficit by cutting wasteful spending and government jobs and enacting economic reforms to spur growth. The state had a $1 billion budget surplus in 2005 and new jobs in MA were up 60,000 from the low point by the end of his term. The unemployment rate in Massachusetts was averaging more than a full percentage point lower when he left office in 2007. (Mitt TV Clip)
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) • (Romney signs $22.402b fiscal year 2005 'no new tax' budget, June 25, 2004) • (Governor Romney signs into law $23.8 billion budget for fiscal year '06, June 30, 2005) • (Governor Romney signs $25.2 billion fiscal year 2007 state budget, July 8, 2006)
Spending in the Governor's office dropped from $5.6 million in 2002 to $4.6 million in 2006. (Romney Transfers Funds From Governor's Office to Pay Military Benefit, November 3, 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)
Gov. Romney was instrumental in passing a bill abolishing a retroactive capital gains tax in the state that would have forced nearly 50,000 taxpayers to pay an additional $200 million in state taxes and fees. The law also will result in refunds of between $225 million and $275 million over four years to an estimated 157,000 taxpayers. (Romney Signs Bill Abolishing Retroactive Tax, December 8, 2005) Video: On Fighting for Lower Taxes
Gov. Romney sought to cut the state income tax from 5.3% to 5% in the annual budget he submitted in each of his last three years in office. (Amid Record Revenues, Romney and Healey Renew Call for Tax Cut, May 2, 2006) • (Romney Calls for Tax Cut as Revenues Come Flooding In, October 3, 2005)
Gov. Romney’s administration permanently extended a 3% investment tax credit, passed sales tax holidays, and gave tax breaks to medical manufacturing companies. (Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs Economic Stimulus, Supplemental Budget Bills," Press Release, November 26, 2003)
Gov. Romney’s administration gave real estate tax breaks to senior citizens, and expanded tax benefits for disabled veterans. (Romney Signs Bill to Give Seniors Tax Relief, November 20, 2005) (Romney Expands Tax Benefits for Disabled Veterans, August 14, 2006)
Mitt Romney never took a paycheck for his time as Governor of Massachusetts. (Romney passes up $135K governor salary, Boston Business Journal, December 31, 2002)
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 signed Americans For Tax Reform's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" affirming as part of the pledge that he will "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates" and "oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits.” Romney signed on January 4, 2007 making him the first potential 2008 presidential candidate to sign the pledge. (Governor Mitt Romney Signs "Taxpayer Protection Pledge", Jan 4, 2007)"
