On Gay Marriage
Boston Globe, March 30, 2004
Through all the twists and shifts during the gay marriage debate this year, there was one constant: 22 Republicans in the House of Representatives opposed every measure that would grant gay couples civil unions in the constitution. That all changed yesterday, however, when 15 of the 22-member block broke away at the urging of Governor Mitt Romney and voted in favor of a proposed amendment that would ban gay marriage but create Vermont-style civil union.
Governor Romney, February 21, 2005
“From day one, I've opposed the move for same-sex marriage and its equivalent, civil unions.”
On Running Against Jane Swift
Boston Herald, August 22, 2001
“If she [Acting Governor Jane Swif] wants a second term, then she should be the flag bearer. She's a fine person and I hope that she'll be able to convey the capabilities she has to the people there.”
Boston Globe, Feburary 26, 2002
Backing away from comments he made just a few weeks ago, in which he said he would not take on Swift, Romney said he will use the next few days to “survey the landscape” in Massachusetts.
Asked whether that included launching a GOP primary bid against Swift, the 54-year-old venture capitalist said, “ I have tried not to make definitive statements one way or the other. I try not to close the door to any opportunities.”
On Not Choosing a Running Mate
Associated Press, March 27, 2002
But the soaring polls and celebrity status of the former Winter Olympics chief have fueled speculation that others will jump at the chance to hitch their political aspirations to his. Romney himself is reluctant to stir up dust.
“There are a lot of people who seem to be taking a second look at the lieutenant governor's race as a result of Mitt's entry into the governor's race and we think that's great,” said Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's deputy campaign manager. But Romney himself will remain neutral, Fehrnstrom said.
That neutrality will force potential candidates to do a little soul-searching, said Ian Bayne, head of the Massachusetts Republican Society and a Romney backer. “Someone is going to have to take a chance on themselves if they want to be in the second spot,” he said. “They shouldn't be waiting around for Mitt to pull them in or beg them to run.”
Boston Herald, April 4, 2002
Romney tried to pull the plug on the escalating game of candidate musical chairs, declaring day-old hopeful Kerry Murphy Healey his choice after promising for weeks to stay out of that race. Timed to snare live television news coverage and scripted with supporters as a backdrop, Romney showcased the two latest candidates he forced from the race, Patrick C. Guerriero and Donna Fournier Cuomo.
The announcement confirmed suspicions that former GOP chairwoman Healey had tacit commitments that she would win Romney's support before entering the race.
On Stem Cell Research
Mitt Romney at Brandeis University forum on biomedical research, June 13, 2002
“ I am in favor of stem cell research. I will work and fight for stem cell research . I'd be happy to talk to [President Bush] about this, though I don't know if I could budge him an inch.”
New York Times, February 20,2005
President of the Massachusetts Senate, Robert E. Travaglini, a Democrat, introduced such a bill on Wednesday, saying he wanted ''to send a clear message that we are going to authorize this kind of research.''
Many proponents of the bill have assumed they would have the backing of Mr. Romney, a Republican whose wife, Ann, has multiple sclerosis, a disease that could potentially be helped by the research. Mr. Romney had previously said he supported stem cell research in general, but had not elaborated.
But in an interview on Tuesday, Mr. Romney said that he was strongly against a type of embryonic stem cell research that many scientists consider extremely promising: research that involves creating human embryos specifically for scientific experimentation.
Indeed, his effort may be more calibrated to a national stage. While he is seeking re-election in 2006, Mr. Romney is often said to have national political ambitions, and some political analysts believe he emphasizes his conservative social views, which are out of sync with the majority of his state, to earn points with Republicans at the national level.
On a Woman's Choice
Mitt Romney, at his campaign kickoff for US Senate, Feb. 3, 1994
"I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it."
USA Today, May 23, 2005
"Understand, over time one's perspective changes somewhat. I'm in a different
place than I was probably in 1994, when I ran against Ted Kennedy, in my own views on that.”
On Closing Tax Loopholes
Boston Herald, May 11, 2005
Romney initially proposed eliminating $170 million in corporate tax loopholes but scaled it back after business backlash . “We heard very broadly from the business community that the governor's original tax loophole closing bill would have negatively impacted jobs in Massachusetts . We have to balance the goal of closing loopholes with the equally important goal of making Massachusetts an attractive place to do business,” said Fehrnstrom.
One hundred Fortune 500 companies, which made $645 billion in profits between 2001 and 2003, gave $6.8 million last year to the Gov. Romney-led Republican Governors Association, but paid on average less than 2.6 percent in state taxes.
On Helping Senior Citizens
Gov. Mitt Romney, January, 2005 State of the State Address
“One of the great travesties in our state is the number of seniors that are in nursing homes who could, with a little help, still be in their own homes and still be productive,'' Romney said in the January 2004 address.
Boston Herald: March 7, 2005
Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care, accused Romney of reneging on a promise to provide more care for seniors, citing his 2004 State of the State address
“The governor's proposed 2006 budget allots $134 million for home care funding, which is a 1.4 percent increase, but still falls $7 million short of being able to offer care to all who apply," Norman said.
Without a permanent funding bump for the program - which costs between $7 and $20 a day per senior - the waiting list will only grow, and more seniors will be forced to leave their homes to take part in more costly state-funded nursing home programs, advocates say.
“It's not just bad policy, it's a violation of their civil rights,'' Norman said.
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