The HILL Reports:
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) said Wednesday that his party needs to take a fresh approach to government regulations in the wake of the economic crisis that has rattled the U.S. and world economies. Romney said, “We as Republicans misspeak when we say we don’t like regulation. We like modern, up-to-date dynamic regulation that is regularly reviewed, streamlined, modernized and effective.” Romney’s comments come as he mulls another run at the White House and the Republican Party grapples with how to come up with producing solutions to the housing and financial crises that were triggered by a variety of factors, including a lack of government regulation and enforcement.
“Someone shouldn’t be able to just call themselves a doctor without going to medical school,” Romney said.
“You have to have regulation, and we value regulation. What we don’t like is when you have regulation that was written in the 1920s or the early 1900s that hasn’t been updated for modern events.” Romney added that regulations on some parts of the financial sector are “overly burdensome” while others are “nonexistent.”
Romney, who was a successful businessman before running the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and winning election as the Bay State governor, said Congress was right to pass the controversial Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) last fall, but drew a distinction between preserving the nation’s financial system and bailing out companies. “Had TARP not been passed, you would have seen a cascade of collapses of banks in America,” he said. “It’s not the jobs of bankers that TARP was designed to save; it’s the jobs of all of us.”
“Someone shouldn’t be able to just call themselves a doctor without going to medical school,” Romney said.
“You have to have regulation, and we value regulation. What we don’t like is when you have regulation that was written in the 1920s or the early 1900s that hasn’t been updated for modern events.” Romney added that regulations on some parts of the financial sector are “overly burdensome” while others are “nonexistent.”
Romney, who was a successful businessman before running the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and winning election as the Bay State governor, said Congress was right to pass the controversial Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) last fall, but drew a distinction between preserving the nation’s financial system and bailing out companies. “Had TARP not been passed, you would have seen a cascade of collapses of banks in America,” he said. “It’s not the jobs of bankers that TARP was designed to save; it’s the jobs of all of us.”
Similarly, Romney is among the many Republicans who support a stimulus plan, but not in the form Congress passed in February. “The best stimulus with the highest multiplier effect is one which gives money back to people rather than having government spend more, and so I think they got it wrong. It’s too much weighted toward spending, too little weighted toward tax reductions,” Romney said...
Romney believes that one way to attract more minorities to the GOP is to pass immigration reform before the next election, saying the issue becomes demagogued by both parties on the campaign trail. “We have a natural affinity with Hispanic-American voters, Asian-American voters,” he said. Speaking in his Ritz-Carlton room with a pair of blue jeans on the dresser, Romney declined to criticize immigration hard-liners like former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), who backed Romney after he dropped his own presidential bid. Romney argued that all 2008 GOP candidates — including Tancredo — strongly favor legal immigration.
Romney believes that one way to attract more minorities to the GOP is to pass immigration reform before the next election, saying the issue becomes demagogued by both parties on the campaign trail. “We have a natural affinity with Hispanic-American voters, Asian-American voters,” he said. Speaking in his Ritz-Carlton room with a pair of blue jeans on the dresser, Romney declined to criticize immigration hard-liners like former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), who backed Romney after he dropped his own presidential bid. Romney argued that all 2008 GOP candidates — including Tancredo — strongly favor legal immigration.
With the economy remaining a top concern for the vast majority of Americans, Romney’s experience as a businessman could come in handy as Republicans search for a credible voice to rebut President Obama.
And if Romney is able to fill that niche, he could again emerge as one of the leading contenders for the GOP presidential nomination. He is arguably the top contender for the nomination, especially as the stars of both Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) have dimmed in recent weeks...
But what gives Romney a leg up on Jindal, Palin and/or most other potential presidential candidates is the network of high-profile associates who aided his campaign, and who appear ready to go back to work for their old boss. From experienced Washington hands like Ron Kaufman, Ben Ginsburg and ex-Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.) to lower-level staffers, former Romney backers remain loyal. With Myers and Fehrnstrom, along with Peter Flaherty, a former deputy chief of staff in the governor’s office, and several other employees on the payroll, Romney would presumably be able to restart his (Presidential) campaign on short notice.
3 comments:
Your headline is funny. Breaking News Mitt changes his mind.
I found his opposition against people crossing the border in search for a better life ironic when his ancestors border hopped into Mexico to escape the law.
Mitt is as credible as a gold chain wearing man in a singles bar. He will say what he needs to say to get his way.
Actually Romney has never been a successful business man. He is a venture capitalist.
Brigham,
I agree.
Post a Comment