Posted on 04/27/2012 12:15:57 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
BOSTON --When Mitt Romney wanted to balance the Massachusetts budget, the blind, mentally retarded and gun owners were asked to help pay.
The Republican managed to slash spending to eliminate a deficit pegged at $3 billion, but he also proposed or presided over a far-ranging series of fee hikes -- a strategy that allowed him to maintain the no-new-taxes stance he now boasts about as he runs for president.
In all, then-Gov. Romney proposed creating 33 new fees and increasing 57 others -- enough, he said, to pull in an extra $59 million for the cash-strapped state.
Horseback riding instructors, prisoners, those seeking training to combat domestic violence and used car shoppers were asked to dig a little deeper.
Romney and Democratic lawmakers ended up approving hundreds of millions in higher fees and fines, making it more expensive to use an ice skating rink, register a boat, take the bar exam, get a duplicate driver's license, file a court case, install underground storage tanks, sell cigarettes or alcohol, comply with air quality rules and transport hazardous waste.
A survey of states by the National Conference of State Legislatures found Massachusetts led the nation during Romney's first year, raising fees and fines by $501 million. New York was second with $367 million. Nine other states raised fees and fines by more than $100 million.
Romney campaign spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said some of the fees that kicked in during Romney's first year had been approved before he became governor. He said the fees approved during Romney's first year totaled $260 million.
That doesn't include an additional $140 million in what Romney described as business tax "loophole closings" approved that year, the vast majority recommended by Romney.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
If Mitt turns into the Elder Bush .... that is still a much much better fate than we have with the current president. We won’t actually witness the destruction our country by default... damn the principles save the republic.
I really don’t care if she is supporting Mitt. I can think for myself and make an independent decision NOT to vote for Obomney and instead write Sarah’s name in.
I didn't sit up in the stands playing YouTube videos of the winning team at their worst.
You belong on DU. Seriously. If you posted 1/10th the vitriol for Obama that you do for Romney I'd accept your posts. But you don't.
I believe you are a Democrat pretending to be a disgruntled Repulican.
Real people are complicated not so filled with hate that they cannot see the real goal.
I supposed you “hated” McCain too, just as much.
If McCain had won do you believe we would be as bad off as we are now? Nevermind I really don't care about you or you opinions. Good luck and God bless.
Yep, I agree.
Do you think she would want you to cancel out her vote?
I've long suspected that as well.
As long as I’m not voting Left, sure.
How long did the GOP-E's tantrum last when many of their pet RINOs lost in 2010 in the primaries?
Right through the general election. And their backstabbing was far worse than any anti-Romney postings you will see on FR.
Don't like the decline of post-primary party unity? The GOP-E showed us last cycle that party unity, for them, only applies to them when the RINO wins. They undermined their own position to demand party unity now. Quit blaming FR posters and realize who poisoned the GOP well.
IMO those who intend to vote for Romney are really quite clueless about his agenda...and deluded to think our guys will somehow wave their wands and keep him in check....Right...like they did on Obamacare...and the debt ceiling. Romney will do both.
I will vote for neither....I’ll write in and vote down ballot for conservatives. They won’t need my vote anyway as so many democrates will be voting Romney....and are saying just that.
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