Romney uses emergency powers to slash $425M in spending

Boston Herald ^ | November 10, 2006 | Casey Ross

[Mount Athos]

Today Gov. Mitt Romney slashed $425 million in state spending to fill a gaping budget hole, portraying the move as a favor to Gov-elect Deval Patrick, who would have had to act swiftly to balance the budget in January.

“In some respects, I think I’m taking heat which otherwise might be on his shoulders if he had to take this action,” Romney said, adding that Patrick can undo the spending cuts once he takes office if he does not agree.

Patrick has been tied up in meetings over his transition for the last two days and could not be immediately reached for comment.

Romney’s action broke a stalemate with the Legislature surrounding the governor’s veto of a $450 million appropriation lawmakers approved from the state’s so-called rainy-day fund.

The Legislature did not override Romney’s veto, leaving a large shortfall the governor said he was obligated to eliminate with spending cuts. The cuts included $388 million in reductions the governor made previously, only to have his actions reversed by the Legislature.

Romney used emergency executive branch powers to make the cuts this time, meaning only Patrick - not the Legislature - can reverse his decisions. The items cut included items Romney labeled “pork” spending, such as a gazebo and a merry-go-round, as well as less desirable cuts to increase pay for personnel at higher learning institutions.

The governor also slashed another $37 million by instituting a 1 percent payroll reduction across all executive branch agencies. “The problem is not revenues; the problem is overspending,” Romney said of his budget actions. “The level of spending which we’re looking at would put us on the same road to financial crisis and ruin that our commonwealth has been down before.”

[Right_in_Virginia]

The Christians will destroy Romney.

I've heard this before, but I'm not clear as to why. Can you expand? Thanks.

[Hildy]

Because he's a Mormon.

[KevinDavis]

I'm liking Romney more and more... I have to get more info more about him.. His religion does not bother me.

[proxy_user]

I think the days of being picky about what particular religion you have are pretty much over. The anti-religious tone on the left has consolidated those who believe politically, although not theologically. Orthodox Jews, Catholics, and evangelical Christians would all rather have a Mormon than a militant atheist.

[zarf]

I've heard this before, but I'm not clear as to why. Can you expand? Thanks.

Some kind of 16th century fear/prejudice of an offshoot of the original religion.

I've been informed by those who claim to know the Mormonism is blasphemy; a bastardization of Christianity.

I would compare it to how Christianity is a bastardization of Judaism. Jews don't seem to have a problem with voting for Christians however....it's all rather medieval.

[marajade]

He did it on purpose. He saw what happen on election day and he's learned from it. You don't really think its about MA do you?

[popdonnelly]

How did Romney ever get elected in Massachusetts? He doesn't fit the profile. He's not drunk and useless.

[speekinout]

What he did wasn't even close to hillary-care. hillary-care was to have the gov't take over all medical care. What he did was to require everyone to have health insurance, and to subsidize people who really can't afford it.

What it did was pretty much assure that gov't run health care won't be easy to sell.

[KevinDavis]

Here is Romney on Illegal Immigration:

“I would like to see us, as a nation, bringing in fewer illegal immigrants.”

“I do not like the idea, therefore, of Amnesty; because, I’m afraid, that when you have a regular Amnesty program, of one form or another, you will create a greater incentive for people to come into the country illegally.”

“In my state I’ve said that I will veto any legislation which calls for a drivers license for illegal immigrants.”

“I recently had a bill on my desk last year that said that we should give kids of illegal immigrants who lived in our state a tuition break for our state colleges and universities and I said “No” I vetoed that, it’s one of my few vetoes that has stood up. It’s not that those kids deserve to be discriminated against . . . they don’t. But I didn’t want to create any incentives to have people move to our country illegally. Now, why is that? I’d like to have more people come to our country legally. I love immigrant populations coming to this land. They’ve been an enormous source of our strength.”

“Now I realize that there are some states that rely on immigrant populations to carry out agricultural business. Maybe Pres. Bush’s idea of a guest-pass program may be the right answer for that kind of setting . . . but to have that turn into a permanent citizen status or to encourage illegal immigration is something that we should take care to avoid.”

Source: http://blog.electromneyin2008.com/index.php?title=the_comprehensive_word_on_romney_and_imm&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

[Lib-Lickers 2]

this guy is leaps and bounds better than McLame

he is my number one pick so far

he can get elected, will be hard to beat in Michigan and other critical midwest states

the guy destroys Hillary in the debates and projects grace and gravitas in his demeanor

[tiger-one]

Mitt = RINO

[tiger-one]

Mitt = RINO

[Hildy]

Really? Wait until he runs...but the noise will not be coming from the Christians...it'll be coming for progressives.

[KevinDavis]

Allen was, but he lost, so right now Romney is #1 on my list.

[reaganandme]

I'm starting to think Romney could be the one.
I'd vote to see a Romney/Bush ticket. Jeb Bush that is.

[KevinDavis]

Same here.....

[LdSentinal]

He's a RINO trying to placate the base.

[KevinDavis]

Ok take a look at this:

If the proposal is approved, Massachusetts would join a handful of states and localities that have entered into such pacts since they were first authorized in 1996. That list includes Florida, Alabama, and a few counties in California and North Carolina, where a limited number of officers have been trained to enforce immigration laws.

http://blog.electromneyin2008.com/index.php?title=troopers_would_arrest_immigrants_romney&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

[CharlesWayneCT]

I think you are wrong.

[zarf]

I'd vote to see a Romney/Bush ticket. Jeb Bush that is.

Another Bush? Are you nuts or just a masochist?