Governor Mitt Romney and the letter "C"

Governor Mitt Romney California Quotes

  • "Let me come back to something more parochial, which is how our state fits into all of that and how you who are entrepreneurs and investors, financiers, faculty members and others who are associated with the process of innovation fit into, if you will, "our state." I am convinced that this is an extraordinarily attractive place to grow and develop ideas and technology. That this state has many of the features which are unique in our nation and perhaps in our world - the clusters of technology and capability that have assembled here -- means that enterprises that begin here begin with a natural advantage. We have also thought to keep the attractiveness of the, if you will, 'the Petri dish" here for technology innovation very robust and vital. There are some who would suggest we could solve our problems best by, for instance, raising our tax rates and business payroll taxes and so forth. I am afraid of going down the path California is going down. I am afraid that going to an 11% income tax will scare away innovation and scare away jobs. California is a beautiful place. We don't have their weather to compete with, so we have to compete on other bases. For us it's a place where that tax burden is not overwhelming with a 5.3% tax rate - they're going up to an 11% tax rate, with over 9% today. We have to make sure this is a place as attractive for people to come and grow their enterprise - our regulatory structure."

Governor Mitt Romney Character Quotes

  • "I believe people who are in a position of visibility and leadership affect the character of young people and individuals who look to them as leaders. And in some respects just as important as their policies and positions is there character and their substance. What for me makes people like Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt and John Adams and George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan such extraordinary leaders is that they had integrity through and through. What they were on the inside and what they said on the outside was harmonious. There a lot of people like that. I think that if people try to live a very different personal life not consistent with the role they've assumed as a governor or senator or president, we lose something as a nation." –Source: The Atlantic (September 2005)

Governor Mitt Romney Charter Schools Quotes

  • "Charter schools embrace innovative educational practices that encourage competition and hold teachers and administrators accountable for the academic achievement of their students. Choice within the Massachusetts public school system should be available to all parents, particularly those with children in our low-performing districts." –Source: press release (May 2005)
  • "Let there be no doubt, I will veto any charter school moratorium that reaches my desk," said Romney, appearing at Roxbury Preparatory Charter School with parents of children affected by the proposed moratorium.

Governor Mitt Romney Children Quotes

  • "The total education of our children is the measure of a generation's success or failure," said Romney. "We need to make sure our education system takes our kids from kindergarten all the way to being qualified for a good paying job." 02-26-2003 Press Release

Governor Mitt Romney China Quotes

  • "I'm not happy exporting jobs but we must move ahead in technology and patents. I don't like losing any jobs but we'll see new opportunities created selling products there. We'll have a net net increase in economic activity, just as we did with free trade," Romney said. "It's tempting to want to protect our markets and stay closed. But at some point it all comes crashing down and you're hopelessly left behind. Then you are Russia."
  • "China and India have huge populations. There's no reason why they can't emerge as an economic and military superpower in 100 years," the Governor said. "We need to be at the leading edge of technology.
  • "There's a common misperception that we do all the innovation and send off the grunt work to people offshore, that somehow American technology does all the high-end work and we send out routine drafting elsewhere," Romney said. "We have the perception we're the best and the brightest but we didn't score as well as others in some studies.
  • "We know this market but when our market is no longer the target market in the world, when India and China surpass us, the idea that we'll be innovating and they'll be copying is not an accurate perception," the Governor added.

Governor Mitt Romney City Planning Quotes

  • "If we are to attract new businesses and jobs to Massachusetts, we must be innovative in creating clearer, faster and more predictable paths for economic development. These grants will help us to reach those goals," said Romney. "By targeting development to areas where there is already infrastructure in place, not only can we revitalize our older communities, but we can also curb sprawl as well." (Taken from a 02-10-2005 Press Release)
  • "Right now, our ocean waters are vulnerable to unplanned development. We want to avoid a Wild West shootout, where projects are permitted on a 'first come, first served' basis," said Romney. "The only way to protect our beautiful ocean environment is with comprehensive ocean zoning reform." (Taken from a 03-18-2005 Press Release)
  • "To generate new jobs, spark economic growth and remain competitive, we need to be smart about how we invest taxpayer dollars in growth and development in Massachusetts," said Romney. "These grants and loans will go a long way towards ensuring a robust economy and prosperous quality of life in the Commonwealth for many years to come." (Taken from a 03-16-2006 Press Release)

Governor Mitt Romney civility Quotes

Governor Mitt Romney civilization Quotes

  • "For anyone who follows the news, the past few weeks has seen an increase in terrorist attacks against peace and civilization. From the bombing of the United Nations hotel in Baghdad to the continuing assaults against our troops in Iraq, we are coming to fully appreciate the sacrifice our men and women in uniform make on a daily basis," said Romney.

Governor Mitt Romney Civil Liberties Quotes

MATTHEWS: Well, there's the tough stuff, because, as you know, you've got to make decisions regarding civil liberties and national security which often come in conflict. How do we really do a great job of surveillance if we have people who are very concerned in this country about the Fourth Amendment and other guarantees of our freedom?

ROMNEY: Well, of course, we have to respect our Constitutional guarantees of freedom, recognize that the most important civil right we have is the right to life. And we need to make sure that our citizens are protected and don't lose their lives by virtue of not having done an effective job to survey those who would attack us.

Fortunately, in Great Britain, they have a very tough Patriot Act equivalent which allows them to do the kind of surveillance that identifies this plot before five or 10 aircraft end up killing all on board.

That's the most important thing that we have to do is to protect our citizens, and we can do it within a constitutional framework that we've come to know and love. But intelligence work and counterterrorism has once again been proven as the only effective way to protect the homeland.

Governor Mitt Romney Civil Rights Quotes

  • "Some kids, particularly certain minority populations, are falling behind. Horace Mann said that education was the great equalizer. But in too many of our schools today, that is not being achieved. I believe that the failure of education in urban schools is the civil rights issue of our generation." –Source: 2006 State of the State Address (January 2006)

Governor Mitt Romney Coal Gasification Quotes

Governor Mitt Romney Commerce Quotes

  • China and Asia are on the move economically and technologically. They are a family oriented, educated, hard-working, and mercantile people. We must be ready and able to compete. This means ensuring our children are educated to compete in this new market, our trade laws are fair and balanced, and our economy and tax laws welcome new investment. If America acts boldly and swiftly, the emergence of Asia will be an opportunity. Trade and commerce with these huge new economies can further strengthen our economy and propel our growth. If America fails to act, we will be eclipsed.

Companssionate Conservatism

  • The vision of a kinder, gentler nation is a vision that inspires everyone, regardless of political persuasion. But the practical realities of imposing order on society invariably threaten the realization of that vision. Unless you have a leader like Mitt Romney.

Governor Mitt Romney computer science Quotes

  • "So being here this evening with Dr. Vest, Mr. d'Arbeloff, the Deshpandes and other scientists and leaders in the field of innovation and technology is something which I find to be beyond my capability. I want to underscore how important what you are doing is, not just for yourselves, but to our state, to our nation, and I believe to our total global economy and global population". Taken from the Speech at the Deshpande Center Idea Stream Symposium.

Governor Mitt Romney Constitutional Convention Quotes

  • Today, you are witnessing democracy in action. On issues of fundamental importance affecting all of the people, it is ultimately up to the people to decide. That is what this Constitutional Convention is all about. It serves as an important reminder that no one person and no branch of government is above the voice of the people. This is as it should be. Amending the constitution is a serious matter and any changes to the document itself should be finely and narrowly drawn. I recognize that the Senate President and the Senate Minority Leader are trying to find a compromise that will satisfy people on both sides of this issue, but their proposed amendment goes too far. The Constitution should not be used to legislate new social policy. A constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman is not a new proposal but rather a codification of longstanding policy and tradition. Civil union language is best left to the legislative process. My hope is the Constitutional Convention will approve an amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. If we do that, we will have taken an important step toward restoring the people's voice in their own government. - Source: 02-11-2004 Press Release

Governor Mitt Romney and Contraception Quotes

By Mitt Romney
July 26, 2005

YESTERDAY I vetoed a bill that the Legislature forwarded to my desk. Though described by its sponsors as a measure relating to contraception, there is more to it than that. The bill does not involve only the prevention of conception: The drug it authorizes would also terminate life after conception.

Signing such a measure into law would violate the promise I made to the citizens of Massachusetts when I ran for governor. I pledged that I would not change our abortion laws either to restrict abortion or to facilitate it. What's more, this particular bill does not require parental consent even for young teenagers. It disregards not only the seriousness of abortion but the importance of parental involvement and so would weaken a protection I am committed to uphold.

I have spoken with medical professionals to determine whether the drug contemplated under the bill would simply prevent conception or whether it would also terminate a living embryo after conception. Once it became clear that the latter was the case, my decision was straightforward. I will honor the commitment I made during my campaign: While I do not favor abortion, I will not change the state's abortion laws.

I understand that my views on laws governing abortion set me in the minority in our Commonwealth. I am prolife. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate.

Because Massachusetts is decidedly prochoice, I have respected the state's democratically held view. I have not attempted to impose my own views on the prochoice majority.

For all the conflicting views on this issue, it speaks well of our country that we recognize abortion as a problem. The law may call it a right, but no one ever called it a good, and, in the quiet of conscience people of both political parties know that more than a million abortions a year cannot be squared with the good heart of America.

You can't be a prolife governor in a prochoice state without understanding that there are heartfelt and thoughtful arguments on both sides of the question. Many women considering abortions face terrible pressures, hurts, and fears; we should come to their aid with all the resourcefulness and empathy we can offer. At the same time, the starting point should be the innocence and vulnerability of the child waiting to be born.

In some respects, these convictions have evolved and deepened during my time as governor. In considering the issue of embryo cloning and embryo farming, I saw where the harsh logic of abortion can lead -- to the view of innocent new life as nothing more than research material or a commodity to be exploited.

I have also observed the bitterness and fierce anger that still linger 32 years after Roe v. Wade. The majority in the US Supreme Court's Casey opinion assured us this would pass away as Americans learned to live with abortion on demand. But this has proved a false hope.

There is much in the abortion controversy that America's founders would not recognize. Above all, those who wrote our Constitution would wonder why the federal courts had peremptorily removed the matter from the authority of the elected branches of government. The federal system left to us by the Constitution allows people of different states to make their own choices on matters of controversy, thus avoiding the bitter battles engendered by ''one size fits all" judicial pronouncements. A federalist approach would allow such disputes to be settled by the citizens and elected representatives of each state, and appropriately defer to democratic governance.

Except on matters of the starkest clarity like the issue of banning partial-birth abortions, there is not now a decisive national consensus on abortion. Some parts of the country have prolife majorities, others have prochoice majorities. People of good faith on both sides of the issue should be able to make and advance their case in democratic forums -- with civility, mutual respect, and confidence that democratic majorities will prevail. We will never have peace on the abortion issue, much less a consensus of conscience, until democracy is allowed to work its way.

Governor Mitt Romney Cooperation Quotes

"The members of the Legislature and the Administration have successfully closed the $650 million budget gap and set a precedent of cooperation that will help us produce a fair and balanced budget for the next fiscal year," said Romney.

Governor Mitt Romney Crime Quotes

  • "Drunk drivers endanger the lives of innocent people, and that needs to stop. We need a per se law because it will save lives and reduce the incidence of people driving drunk," said Romney. Source: 05-06-2003 Press Release
  • "As the only state in the nation without a per se law, Massachusetts is poised to lose millions of dollars in federal highway funding," said Romney. "At a time of fiscal crisis, we can't afford to sacrifice any federal dollars that we could be putting to good use here in Massachusetts." Source: 05-06-2003 Press Release
  • "For far too long, the subjects of domestic abuse and sexual assault remained behind closed doors and out of the public eye," said Romney. "Lieutenant Governor Healey and I are 100 percent committed to dealing forcefully and swiftly with criminals who choose to engage in these horrific acts against society." Source: 05-07-2003 Press Release
  • "Families in Massachusetts have the right to know where sex offenders live and work so they can protect their children," said Romney. "Posting the information on the Internet will allow people to easily access the most up-to-date information in their own homes." Source: 06-06-2003 Press Release
  • "Today, Massachusetts has a tough, new drunk driving law on the books," Romney said. "Sadly, for many years, we were the only state without a per se statute. Now, we can proudly take our place with the rest of the nation." Source: 07-[03-2003 Press Release
  • "Public safety is the single most important job of government," said Romney. "Once the photos of sex offenders are on the Internet individuals will have vital information necessary to protect their families at their finger tips. Families have the right to know if sexual predators are living or working in their neighborhoods." Source: 11-24-2003 Press Release
  • "All of us have a responsibility to protect children from harm. Under this legislation, if anyone were to turn a blind eye to sexual abuse of children, they will be punished," said Romney. Source: 01-08-2004 Press Release
  • "Stun guns have proven time and time again when used by law enforcement officers in other states that they are an effective tool in stopping suspects," said Romney. "It is high time for our men and women in blue to utilize this modern crime fighting technology." Source: 07-15-2004 Press Release
  • "Today marks a significant move towards reforming our correctional system," said * * Romney. "For too long, our system of corrections has operated in the shadows of government, with very little oversight and accountability. It's time to shine a light on how we can better improve the management of our prisons." Source: 09-15-2004 Press Release
  • He added, "Make no mistake: criminals will be punished. They will do their time. But we will make sure their sentences are carried out with the decency and respect they never showed their victims. This is what you would expect from a professionally-run Department of Correction." Source: 09-15-2004 Press Release
  • "We are sending a clear message to the people of the Commonwealth: We are committed to protecting communities from dangerous sexual predators," said Romney. "While these high-risk offenders are under state supervision, we will have the capability to closely monitor their every move." Source: 09-20-2004 Press Release
  • "Nothing troubles me more than watching a child's future shatter in a blast of violence," said Romney. "Our call for action will give law enforcement officials additional resources to protect the lives of our children and their families." Source: 10-[01-2004 Press Release
  • "Our criminal justice and public safety professionals now have a real tool to protect those who join with us to take a stand against crime and violence in our communities," Romney said during the ceremony at St. Peter's School, which specializes in youth programs that have shown great success in keeping students out of gangs and connecting them to their community. "Witnesses who have the courage to come forward and testify should not have to live in fear for cooperating with prosecutors to keep their communities safe." Source: Press Release
  • "In the past, efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Massachusetts have failed. They have failed because of concerns that it would be too broadly applied or that evidentiary standards weren't high enough or proper safeguards weren't in place. We have answered all those concerns with this bill," said Romney. Source: 04-28-2005 Press Release
  • "Two years ago, Melanie Powell went out for a walk with her friends and never came back. Her life was taken by a repeat drunk driver. We can't bring Melanie back, but we can do everything in our power to prevent this kind of tragedy from occurring again," said Romney. Source: 05-27-2005 Press Release
  • "The reality of forensic analysis may not be as flashy as it is on television, but there is no question it is becoming more and more important to crime solving," said Romney. "Investing in a state of the art facility is essential to our efforts to fight crime in Massachusetts." Source: 08-24-2005 Press Release
  • "Whether it's 4 A.M. on Christmas Eve or 4 P.M. on a Saturday in August when they'd rather be taking their families to the beach, our State Police force is on duty every hour of every day, dedicated to keeping the public safe," said Romney. "These initiatives reflect the importance of their jobs and the value of their service to the Commonwealth." Source: 08-25-2005 Press Release
  • "We're going into overdrive this Labor Day to keep the roads safe here in Massachusetts," said Romney. "The bottom line is: 'You Booze. You Cruise. You Lose.'" Source: 08-31-2005 Press Release
  • "Letting drunks get behind the wheel of a two ton automobile is no different from handing them a loaded gun and setting them loose on the streets," said Romney. "While the legislation that came to my desk last week contains several good provisions, it does not go far enough. I believe we can do better." Source: 10-26-2005 Press Release
  • "Massachusetts law enforcement shouldn't be working blindfolded," said Romney. "By joining the compact, our law enforcement personnel will have the information they need to keep our communities safe from criminals who move to the Commonwealth." Source: 10-27-2005 Press Release
  • "Today we honor those who have lost their lives in senseless drunk driving tragedies and act to save the lives we could otherwise lose next year," said Romney. "We have Melanie's law today because the citizens of the Commonwealth cared enough to make it happen." Source: 10-28-2005 Press Release
  • "Gang violence destroys the fabric of our communities and offers nothing but a dead end street to young people drawn in by false hope," said Romney. "This program will encourage communities to develop and pursue promising new strategies that stop the mayhem and bloodshed that gangs inflict." Source: 12-22-2005] Press Release
  • "Our criminal justice and public safety professionals now have a real tool to protect those who join with us to take a stand against crime and violence in our communities," Romney said during the ceremony at St. Peter's School, which specializes in youth programs that have shown great success in keeping students out of gangs and connecting them to their community. "Witnesses who have the courage to come forward and testify should not have to live in fear for cooperating with prosecutors to keep their communities safe." Source: 03-30-2006 Press Release
  • "Victims of rape or sexual assault have the right to know if their attacker is carrying HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease," said Romney. "After such a devastating attack, they at least deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing whether or not they are at an increased health risk." Source: 01-05-2006 Press Release

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