Mitt Romney's Record

This is a series of articles which gives voting record information about 2012 presidential candidates.  Most of the references given are from thomas.loc.gov, an official government website which is part of the Library of Congress.  Hopefully, this information will help you to make a decision about who you are going to vote for.  Also included is a brief biography and information about endorsements made by the candidate.  Today's candidate is Mitt Romney.  Click here to read about Ron Paul's Voting record and click here to read Rick Santorum's record. 

Mitt Romney has not served in Congress, therefore no information for him comes from thomas.loc.gov.   I didn’t dig too deep into Romney’s record because it was easy enough for me to eliminate him from consideration based on what he says and a few well-known examples of his poor record. 

Abortion and Healthcare

Mitt Romney has flip-flopped on abortion in his speeches. [1] The Massachusetts universal healthcare program which he signed into law contains a mandate to purchase health insurance very similar to the mandate contained in the federal healthcare legislation passed in 2010.  This Romney is quoted as saying that he “gave the people of Massachusetts what they wanted.” 

To the best of my ability, I found nothing explicitly mentioning abortion in the bill which Romney signed.  However, this means that, like the federal Title X funding of Planned Parenthood through the DHHS (which Gingrich and Santorum repeatedly voted for), there is nothing in it to prevent taxpayer’s money from being distributed by the program’s administrators to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.  The program Romney adopted for his state as Governor is somewhat worse than DHHS appropriations bills because there is nothing in it to say the money cannot also be used directly for any type of abortion, whereas in the bills that Gingrich and Santorum voted for, the money can only be used directly to murder some babies in somewhat rare circumstances and to support abortion indirectly by funding Planned Parenthood for services other than abortions.  But in Massachusetts, a woman can get an abortion with a copayment of only $50--the Massachusetts taxpayer pays the rest of the cost through the healthcare system created by the bill which Romney signed into law.  (Poorer women only have to pay $10 or nothing at all under this plan.)  The law (I believe--the reader can correct me if you know otherwise) did not mandate this, but power was given to administrators (unelected, God-hating, bureaucrats) to make these decisions. [2-6]

Mitt Romney did not sign the Susan B. Anthony’s List pro-life pledge. [7]

Romney is a Mormon, and the Mormon Church President issued a proclamation that abortions are acceptable in cases of rape, incest, and some types of birth defects.  Romney seems to have echoed that position in speeches he has made over the last five years.

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMdK0TWtks

[2] http://www.mass.gov/Qhic/docs/cc_benefits1220_pt234.pdf

[3] http://www.massresources.org/commonwealth-care.html#benefits

[4] https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/binary/com.epicentric.contentmanagement.servlet.ContentDeliveryServlet/About%2520Us/Connector%2520Programs/Additional%2520Resources/cc_benefits1220_pt234.pdf

[5] www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/binary/com.epicentric.contentmanagement.servlet.ContentDeliveryServlet/About%2520Us/CommonwealthCare/CommCare09%2520Renewal/Health%2520Benefits%2520and%2520Copays.pdf

[6] http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXII/Chapter176q/Section2[7] http://www.sba-list.org/2012pledge?s=0617SBAP

Education

Romney claims to favor expansion of school choice and number of charter schools. He decries power and influence of teachers unions. He says he believes that abstinence education should be given to all students.

http://www.onenewsnow.com

Energy and the Environment

Claims (beware!) to be a proponent of expanding oil exploration and drilling in U.S.

http://www.onenewsnow.com

Gun Rights

Claims (beware!) to be a strong supporter of gun owners' rights.

http://www.onenewsnow.com

Marriage and Gay Rights

As governor of Massachusetts, ordered town clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples and previously stated that he supports gay marriage.  But now he says he is against gay marriage and supports a federal marriage amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman. In 1994 said he favored "gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly" in the military -- but by 2008, opposed repeal of the military ban on homosexuals.  [1-2]

[1] http://www.onenewsnow.com

[2] http://www.votesmart.org

War on Terrorism

“Calls for completion of non-nuclear ballistic missile defense system, increasing defense budget, adding more troops as well as naval vessels and aircraft. Says terrorists should not have access to civil courts or be imprisoned on U.S. soil. Says he would work with moderate Muslims to defeat jihadism; stop Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons; and strongly stand with allies such as Israel and Poland.”

Believes securing U.S. border is number-one priority. Opposes amnesty or easier pathway to citizenship over those already in line. Says illegal immigrants should be required to return to their home country. Also believes federal funding should be reduced for "sanctuary cities."

http://www.onenewsnow.com