Romney's economic record in Massachusetts - higher taxes, huge deficit and lack-luster job growth.

[mzmolly]

ECONOMIC ISSUES

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 underperformed 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.

They 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 onusers of sites like Orbitz and Travelocity.

Romney enrolled Massachusetts in multistate 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.”

Thanks to Buzzfeed and John McCain for this information.

More here > http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/the-book-on-mitt-romney-here-is-john-mccains-ent

[mzmolly]

1. Lots more at the link. I encourage everyone to read through and post

what may be of interest.

[bluestate10]

2. All that shit is out there in plain site.

President Obama should have had researcher that are supposed to dig up shit like this. President Obama should have had the tools to knock Romney's claim that he was a good governor in Massachusetts out of the park. Grossly missed opportunity. Deval Patrick cleaned up a lot of Romney's shit, during one of the toughest economic times nationally in half a century. Patrick paid down debt without raising taxes, and more importantly directed important taxes for the environment toward their rightful use. Most importantly, Patrick made the moribund health care plan that Romney left behind work, Patrick saved the plan from failure. For President Obama and his researchers to let Romney get away with lies about his Massachusetts record is one of the failures that still has me steaming.

[mzmolly]

3. I think they went in with the wrong strategy and are reluctant

to admit that?

[nc4bo]

4. Hmm......oh where have I heard that closing tax loophole shit before? oooooh yeeeaaah....

The Mittster is preaching that bullshit right now.

What a turd polisher.