View source for Governorship of Mitt Romney

{{Short description|Mitt Romney's tenure as the 70th Governor of Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2013}}

{{Infobox administration
| image          = Mitt Romney's official gubernatorial portrait.jpg
| name           = Governorship of Mitt Romney
| term_start     = January 2, 2003
| term_end       = January 4, 2007
| predecessor    = [[Jane Swift]] {{small|(acting)}}
| successor      = [[Deval Patrick]]
| governor          = [[Mitt Romney]]
| governor_link     = Governor of Massachusetts
| party          = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| election       = [[2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|2002]]
| seal           =
| seal_caption   =
}}
{{Mitt Romney series}}
[[File:Romney at the unveiling.jpg|thumb|right|Romney and artist [[Richard Whitney (artist)|Richard Whitney]] at the June 2009 unveiling of Romney's official portrait in the [[Massachusetts State House]].<ref name="bg-portrait"/>]]
[[Mitt Romney]] was sworn in as the 70th [[governor of Massachusetts]] on January 2, 2003, along with Lieutenant Governor [[Kerry Healey]].
Romney's term ended on January 4, 2007; he chose not to run for re-election.

==Inauguration==
Romney's swearing in as governor used the same [[Bible]] that his father [[George W. Romney|George Romney]] had used when he was sworn in as the [[Governor of Michigan]].<ref name="crim010603">{{cite news | url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=255979 | title=Romney Sworn In As Mass. Governor | publisher=[[The Harvard Crimson]] | date=January 6, 2003 | access-date=May 25, 2009}}</ref>  In his 15-minute inauguration speech in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]], he avoided policy specifics, but said that he intended to bring about a "lighter, more agile bureaucracy."<ref name="crim010603"/>  The overall inauguration festivities took place over three days and emphasized themes around common citizens.<ref name="crim010603"/>

Upon taking office, Romney faced a state legislature in which Democrats held 85&nbsp;percent of the seats.<ref name="aap-04"/>  Indeed, the state Republican Party had fielded no candidate for 62&nbsp;percent of the seats during the [[Massachusetts general election, 2002|2002 state elections]].<ref name="aap-04"/>

From the outset Romney sought to show himself as the state's first 'CEO governor'.<ref name="bgseries6">{{Cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/?page=full |title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 6: Taking office, remaining an outsider |last=Mooney |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2007 <!--|access-date=July 3, 2007--> |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref>  His choices for the executive cabinet included well-known figures such as Democrat [[Robert Pozen]], former vice chairman of [[Fidelity Investments]], and Douglas Foy, who had served as president of the [[Conservation Law Foundation]].<ref name="bgseries6"/>  They and other cabinet members and advisors were picked more on managerial abilities rather than on party affiliation.<ref name="tnr-cohn">{{cite news | url=http://www.tnr.com/article/parent-trap-how-mitt-romney-un-became-his-father | title=Parent Trap: How Mitt Romney un-became his father | author=Cohn, Jonathan | magazine=[[The New Republic]] | date=July 2, 2007 | author-link=Jonathan Cohn}}</ref> Romney gave them broad authority over new what he called "super-secretariats".<ref name="bgseries6"/>

Romney and Healey both pledged to forgo their official salaries for the length of their terms.<ref name="crim010603"/>

==Fiscal policy==

===Background===
During the campaign for the governorship in 2002, Romney proposed a plan that he said would balance the Massachusetts budget without raising taxes.<ref name="aap-04"/> He campaigned that he would be able to save $1 billion (out of a $23 billion budget) by reducing waste, fraud, and mismanagement in the state government,<ref name=collisioncourse>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Romney sets collision course; plan targets local aid, courts, human services|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 2, 2003}}</ref> and he railed against the large tax increase that the legislature were negotiating in an attempt to close a looming $2 billion budget deficit.<ref name=vowrollback>{{cite news|last=Abraham|first=Yvonne|title=Romney vows tax hike rollback; Democrats demand cuts in budget be spelled out|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 8, 2002}}</ref> He promised that if elected he would repeal that tax increase within four years without cutting core government services.<ref name=vowrollback/><ref name=taxvow2>{{cite news|last=Abraham|first=Yvonne|title=Romney faults O'Brien on taxes|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 4, 2002}}</ref> Surveys suggested that many residents agreed with his antitax stance. Though less than a majority, some 40&nbsp;percent of the voters voted in favor of abolishing the income tax in a referendum held during the election that carried Romney into office;<ref>{{cite web|title=Massachusetts 2002 Election Ballot Question Results|url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleres/res02/questions.htm|publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> and in an April 2003 poll of Massachusetts residents, 57&nbsp;percent said Romney should not consider raising taxes as part of his plan to balance the budget.<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Poll finds a popular governor, fiscal worries|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 7, 2003}}</ref>

Upon entering office, Romney found that the emergency spending cuts and tax increase that the legislature had enacted under his predecessor, Jane Swift, months earlier had proven insufficient. He faced an immediate budget shortfall for the current fiscal year estimated to be between $450 million and $650 million,<ref name=1stbudget>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Romney to cut $343M, eyes $143M in savings; health care, local aid hit; layoffs planned|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 30, 2003}}</ref><ref name=bg012303>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Romney is said to spare school aid; smaller cuts seen for municipalities|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 26, 2003}}</ref> and a deficit for the following year initially projected to be $3&nbsp;billion, although outside analysts and the state Department of Revenue said that that projection was too high, as it was based, they said, on faulty revenue predictions.<ref name=otherdetails>{{cite web   |title= Romney often casts himself as budget hero; But speeches omit some important detail  |work=Greenberger, Scott S. (Boston Globe) |url=http://www.massbudget.org/article.php?id=376 |access-date=October 28, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060522071230/http://www.massbudget.org/article.php?id=376|archive-date = May 22, 2006}}</ref>

===Emergency budget cuts===
Massachusetts law required that all state budgets be balanced, and the current fiscal year was already more than halfway over when Romney assumed office (Massachusetts' [[fiscal year]] begins July 1 of the preceding calendar year). To close the deficit, he asked for, and was granted by the state legislature, emergency powers (under the existing Section "9C" authority in state law) to make unilateral cuts in the fiscal year 2003 budget.<ref name=bg9cauth>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Governor seeks more power to cut; targets local aid for budget gap; debate looms|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 30, 2003}}</ref>

Romney's initial emergency budget proposal for the fiscal year 2003 called for $343 million in immediate funding cuts, necessitating layoffs of state employees and cuts in aid to cities and towns for public safety and education.<ref name=1stbudget/> He explained in a televised address, "There's no time to restructure state government or remake state programs. On such an emergency timetable, there's just time for cuts."<ref name=1stbudget/> He also proposed cuts in state expenditures for [[Medicaid]], the government program providing health care for the poorest state residents. The cuts included caps in payments to medical providers (one example being through limiting payments for hospital stays to 20 days, no matter how sick the patient), increased stringency of the criteria for Medicaid eligibility, and rationing of access to higher-priced medications for Medicaid patients.<ref name=bg013103>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Romney team spreads its cuts; critics question whether savings will close deficit|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 31, 2003}}</ref> Some 36,000 Massachusetts residents lost their Medicaid eligibility.<ref name=bg061703>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Lawmakers want $333M spent on Medicaid|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 17, 2003}}</ref> The 2003 emergency budget revision proposal also included funding cuts affecting public colleges and universities, treatment for schizophrenic and other mentally ill patients, and various other social services.<ref name=bg013103/><ref>{{cite news|title=Cutting into the core|newspaper=The Boston Globe (editorial)|date=February 7, 2007}}</ref>

===Cuts in funding to local communities===
Romney's austerity budget for the fiscal year 2004, unveiled just weeks later, included even more substantial cuts in state funding for cities and towns.<ref name=collisioncourse/> The final budget passed by the legislature (after overriding Romney's attempt to make still further cuts using [[line-item veto|line-item]] vetoes), cut funding for local aid to many communities by as much as 20&nbsp;percent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Paige|first=Connie|title=State cutbacks in local aid deeper than some expected|newspaper=The Boston Globe (Globe West)|date=June 26, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gedan|first=Benjamin|title=Some see increase leading to more cuts|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 29, 2004}}</ref> Already struggling to absorb funding cuts from the prior year's budget, communities across the state were forced to cut services and hike fees, while laying off teachers, police officers, and other municipal workers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Buote|first=Brenda J.|title=Hard-pressed communities hike fees|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=July 20, 2003}}</ref>

To compensate for lost revenue from the state government, communities raised local property tax rates, helping drive up the average residential property tax bill by 22&nbsp;percent over the course of Romney's tenure.<ref name="Telegram">{{cite news|author=Landrigan, Kevin |url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS08/312130115/-1/news08 |title=Taxing Matter |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Nashua)|The Telegraph]] |location=Nashua, New Hampshire |date=December 13, 2007 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080109195323/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071213%2FNEWS08%2F312130115%2F-1%2Fnews08 |archive-date=January 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In response to complaints about the high residential property taxes, Romney supported<ref>{{cite news|last=Medaglia|first=Angelica|title=Business taxes might increase; bill would let towns raise maximum rate|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 1, 2004}}</ref> and signed into law<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro">{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/us/politics/romneys-strategies-as-governor-bucked-his-ceo-image.html | last = Barbaro |first = Michael | title = Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business | work = [[The New York Times]] |date = October 1, 2011 | access-date = October 2, 2011 }}</ref> legislation that allowed communities to shift some of the burden of rising property taxes from residential property owners onto business owners. He also expressed approval for state tax law changes that would permit communities to raise local sales taxes and fees if the local voters agreed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenberger|first=Scott A.|title=Romney says voters must ok new local taxes; condition seen as a big hurdle|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 29, 2003}}</ref>

As with the 2003 emergency revision budget, Medicaid funding, which was responsible for more than one-fourth of all state spending and which had been growing rapidly,<ref>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=As budget worsens, spending to increase|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 16, 2003}}</ref> was targeted for cuts in the 2004 budget. In addition to proposing reductions in payments to hospitals and nursing homes for care of Medicaid patients, and restrictions on Medicaid patients' access to prescription drugs and eligibility for nursing homes admission, Romney proposed that the low-income Medicaid patients be charged monthly fees for participation in the program, along with [[copayment|co-payments]] for visits to doctors' offices.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dembner|first=Alice|title=Medicaid recipients face new fees; state hospital, Fernald school closings planned|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 27, 2003}}</ref> The 2004 budget also incorporated further cuts in funding for higher education. Public colleges and universities responded to funding cuts during Romney's tenure by raising mandatory fees 63&nbsp;percent.<ref name=mooneymaker>{{cite news|last=Mooney|first=Brian C.|title=The making of Mitt Romney; Part 6: The Governor (Taking office while remaining an outsider)|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 29, 2007}}</ref> Most other areas of state government were budgeted to receive approximately 5&nbsp;percent less funding on average.<ref name=bg022703/>

===Government restructuring plans===
Romney's budget proposals included savings he anticipated achieving by restructuring the state government. On announcing his 2004 budget proposal, he said that through improving efficiency by reorganizing the state bureaucracy, along with reducing waste and fraud, he would save $2 billion.<ref name=bg022703>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Layoffs, new fees in Romney budget; says $2.17B would be saved in restructuring; Romney proposes a $22.86B state budget|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 27, 2003}}</ref> Democratic legislators and independent analysts called that estimate vastly overdrawn.<ref name=bg022703/><ref name=resistance>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=After fast start, Romney running into resistance|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 6, 2003}}</ref> The Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, a nonpartisan, business-funded organization that monitors state finances, suggested the figure might have been closer to $100 million,<ref name=Telegram/> and Romney himself was eventually forced to concede that the $2 billion figure could not be reached without new revenue.<ref name=resistance/>

The budget proposed requiring state workers to make larger contributions toward the cost of the health insurance they received as an employee benefit.<ref name=wtfees>{{cite news|last=McLaughlin|first=Seth|title=Romney's initiatives: miracles or gimmickry?|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/10/romneys-initiatives-miracles-or-gimmickry/|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=June 10, 2012}}</ref> An attempt to persuade the legislature to relax state rules to allow for the outsourcing of state services to private contractors was rebuffed.<ref name=wtfees/> However, Romney was more successful with efforts to reorganize and consolidate some of the agencies of the state executive branch (such as Health & Human Services), trimming the ranks of state government workers by 2,000 to 3,000 workers with the 2004 budget.<ref name=bg022703/><ref name=bs062103>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Romney praises timely passage of budget with no new taxes but $23.1B plan may face governor's line-item vetoes|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 21, 2003}}</ref> Another example of his government restructuring efforts was his plan to reduce state expenditures on legal proceedings by revamping the court system, cutting the numbers of state-employed attorneys, and refusing to increase state payments to attorneys who accepted cases of defendants too poor to afford private attorneys (Massachusetts' court-appointed attorneys were being paid some of the lowest hourly rates in the nation).<ref name=1stbudget/><ref name=lawyersrefuse>{{cite news|last=Burge|first=Kathleen|title=Lawmakers OK back pay after lawyers refuse clients; defenders of poor await bill signing|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=August 19, 2003}}</ref> Romney vetoed a funding bill for payment of attorneys representing the poor, declaring that it was more important for the state to balance its books than to pay attorneys, and that the attorneys should provide the services ''[[pro bono]]''.<ref name=lawyersrefuse/><ref name=lawyerstrike>{{cite news|last=Cambanis|first=Thanassis|title=Legal strike ends in Essex County|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=November 26, 2003}}</ref> The cuts in payments for representation of the indigent provoked outraged attorneys to strike.<ref name=lawyersrefuse/><ref name=lawyerstrike/> The plan to remake the court system was unsuccessful.

===Fee increases===
In addition to spending cuts, Romney and the legislature relied heavily on fee increases to help balance the budgets throughout Romney's term, more aggressively pursuing a revenue source that the legislature had already begun to draw upon to close a deep deficit during the year prior to Romney's election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=As funds drop, state lawmakers eye more fee hikes|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=July 11, 2002}}</ref> The state of Massachusetts raised $500 million in new revenue during Romney's first year in office from fees, more than any other state surveyed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=Mass. is called no. 1 in fee hikes|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=July 24, 2003}}</ref> Romney proposed 33 new fees along with increases in 57 existing fees,<ref name=bgleblancfees>{{cite news|last=LeBlanc|first=Steve|title=Romney saw millions in fee hikes as Massachusetts governor|url=http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/08/28/romney_oversaw_millions_in_fee_hikes_as_massachusetts_governor/?page=full|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=August 28, 2007}}</ref> resulting in higher costs for birth certificates, new car purchases, driver's learning permits, firearms permits, professional licenses, and billboards advertising, as well as for many state services.<ref name=wtfees/><ref name=bg013103fees>{{cite news|last=Abraham|first=Yvonne|title=Governor sets $5 million increase in fees|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 31, 2003}}</ref> He also increased a state gasoline fee originally intended for cleanup of contamination around underground fuel storage tanks.<ref name="bgseries6"/> The two cents per gallon increase made for a total effective state gasoline tax of 23.5 cents per gallon, generating about $60&nbsp;million per year in additional revenue (surpluses of $40 million over the costs of the cleanup program).<ref name="bgseries6"/> Opponents said many of the fees posed a hardship on those who could least afford them, such as fees for the state to provide certification of blindness and a photo identification card for the blind.<ref name=bgleblancfees/> The proposal also called for a $50 fee for tuberculosis tests and a $400 fee for those who tested positive (the tuberculosis fees were rejected by the legislature).<ref name=bgleblancfees/><ref name=svcfees>{{cite news|last=Roy|first=Cynthia|title=Plan would raise fees on certain services|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 27, 2003}}</ref>

Critics, including some conservatives, complained that Romney was using these fees increases as a tax increase in disguise after having promised he would not raise taxes.<ref name=bg013103fees/><ref name=feescons>{{cite news|last=Abraham|first=Yvonne|title=Romney considers raising state service fees to reduce shortfall|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 14, 2003}}</ref> Romney said that the fees were distinct from taxes because fees were charged for particular services provided whereas taxes were assessed more broadly, without expectation of any specific services<ref name=feescons /> — although critics noted that this explanation applied to only some of the fees Romney proposed.<ref name=bg013103fees/>

===Business tax collection increases===
Having vowed not to raise taxes, Romney found he could not completely close the budget deficits by cutting spending and raising fees alone.<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro" /> He sought additional revenue by pursuing changes in the business tax code to prevent businesses from evading payment of taxes.<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro"/><ref name=bulldog>{{cite news|last=Syre|first=Steven|title=Mitt Romney's bulldog on tax loopholes|url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-28/business/31104834_1_sales-tax-tax-strategies-tax-revenues|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118162305/http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-28/business/31104834_1_sales-tax-tax-strategies-tax-revenues|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 28, 2012}}</ref> Businesses called these changes tax increases, but Romney defended them as the elimination of "loopholes."<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro"/><ref name="bg013105">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7889736.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502180331/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7889736.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 2, 2013 | title=Romney, Business Wrangle on 'Loopholes' | first=Scott S. | last=Greenberger | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=January 31, 2005 | page=A1}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Examples of specific changes and 'loophole' closures included blocking corporations from transferring [[intellectual property]] assets to [[shell corporation|shell companies]] in states with lower corporate tax rates, preventing banks and some corporations from avoiding taxes through paper restructurings, eliminating tax breaks for [[direct mail]] advertising, and taxing sales of software downloaded over the internet (which had previously gone untaxed) the same as identical software purchased in [[brick-and-mortar]] stores.<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro"/><ref name=bulldog/><ref name="bg013105"/> The Romney administration even sought an exemption to avoid having to comply with a federal law passed in 2004 that mandated that states like Massachusetts lower their corporate tax rates.<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro"/>

Romney's fee increases generated an estimated $350–375 million per year<ref name=miga>{{cite news|last=Miga|first=Andrew|title=Spin Meter: Romney used fees to close budget gap|url=http://www.chron.com/news/article/SPIN-METER-Romney-used-fees-to-close-budget-gap-3526444.php|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=May 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name=rez>{{cite news|last1=Woolhouse|first1=Megan|last2=Rezendes|first2=Michael|title=As governor, Romney faced similar economic situation as Obama -- with similar results|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 5, 2012}}</ref> in additional revenue for the state, and the business tax "loophole closures" brought in another $350–375 million per year.<ref name=miga/>

===Attempts to cut taxes===
The additional revenue from the tax increase that had been enacted prior to Romney's taking office<ref>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Rick|title=More tax hikes next year called possible; House votes override of Swift's $1.14B veto|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=July 24, 2002}}</ref> (and which Romney had opposed during his campaign for the governorship)<ref name="vowrollback" /> reduced the deficit, previously projected to be $3 billion, by $1.3&nbsp;billion.<ref name=otherdetails/> Unanticipated federal funds reduced the budget gap further still;<ref name=bg061703/> and in combination with funding cuts, fee increases, collection of more business tax revenue, and reliance on funds in the state's "[[rainy day fund]]" (more formally known as the Stabilization Fund), Romney and the legislature were able to balance the 2004 budget.

Reflecting on his administration's response to the fiscal crisis, Romney would declare, "We have successfully closed the largest deficit in our state's history without raising taxes."<ref>{{cite book|last=Scott|first=Ronald B.|title=Mitt Romney: An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics|year=2011|publisher=Lyons Press|location=Guilford, CT|isbn=9780762779277|page=[https://archive.org/details/mittromneyinside0000scot/page/111 111]|url=https://archive.org/details/mittromneyinside0000scot/page/111}}</ref> Some have called that statement disingenuous, citing the large increases in fees and business tax revenues Romney had produced, as well as the increases in fees and taxes levied by local governments in response to Romney's policies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Farley|first=Robert|title=Romney vs. Santorum: a misleading contrast|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2012/02/romney-vs-santorum-a-misleading-contrast/|newspaper=FactCheck.org|date=February 16, 2012}}</ref>

Romney stated that Massachusetts finished fiscal 2004 with a $700&nbsp;million surplus.<ref>{{cite news   |title=Romney criticizes Patrick on taxes  |author=Frank Phillips|newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/04/16/romney_hits_patrick_on_tax_rollback/ | access-date = December 7, 2006 | date=April 16, 2005}}
</ref> Official state figures said that fiscal 2005 finished with a $594.4&nbsp;million surplus.<ref name="bgseries6"/><ref name="gov-mass" />  For fiscal 2006, the surplus was $720.9&nbsp;million according to official figures.<ref name="gov-mass">{{cite web | url=http://www.mass.gov/treasury/docs/debt/disclosurearchive/2008/infostatementsupplement12-4-08.pdf | title=Information Statement Supplement | publisher=[[The Commonwealth of Massachusetts]] | date=December 4, 2008 | access-date=October 24, 2012 | page=A–12}}</ref>   The state's "[[rainy day fund]]", more formally known as the Stabilization Fund, was replenished through government consolidation and reform.  At the close of fiscal year 2006, the fund enjoyed a $2.155&nbsp;billion balance.<ref name="gov-mass"/>

As the state's fiscal outlook improved, Romney repeatedly, and unsuccessfully, urged the legislature to reduce the state income tax from a [[flat tax|flat rate]] of 5.3&nbsp;percent to 5.0&nbsp;percent.<ref name=greenbergertaxcut>{{cite news|last=Greenberger|first=Scott|title=Romney seeks $225 million in tax cuts; says recovering economy allows more spending|newspaper=Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/05/04/romney_seeks_225m_in_tax_cuts/ |date=May 4, 2004|access-date=July 5, 2013}}</ref> (In 2000, voters had approved a gradual reduction in the income tax from 5.85 to 5.0&nbsp;percent; but as an emergency measure in response to the fiscal crisis, the legislature had halted the rollback at 5.3&nbsp;percent in 2002.<ref name=greenbergertaxcut/>) He also proposed a "tax-free shopping day",<ref>
[http://myclob.pbwiki.com/08-11-2004 "Romney Promotes Tax-Free Shopping Day On Saturday"] ''The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department'' Press Release transcript of August 11, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2006.</ref> a property tax relief for Seniors,<ref>
[http://myclob.pbwiki.com/03-30-2005 "Romney Proposes C.H.O.I.C.E. Tax Relief Program For Seniors"] ''The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department'' Press Release transcript of March 30, 2005. Retrieved November 6, 2006.</ref>
and a manufacturing tax credit.

The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship.<ref name="bgseries6"/> According to an analysis by the [[Tax Foundation]], from 2002 to 2006 the average rate of state and local taxes in Massachusetts rose from 9.6&nbsp;percent to 10.2&nbsp;percent (compared to the national rate, which rose from 9.5&nbsp;percent to 9.7&nbsp;percent).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/460.html | title=Massachusetts' state and local tax burden, 1977–2009 | publisher=[[Tax Foundation]] | date= February 23, 2011| access-date= September 1, 2012}}</ref>

===Transition to Patrick administration & legacy===
In 2006, the Massachusetts legislature approved a budget for fiscal year 2007 that required spending $450&nbsp;million from the rainy day fund. Even though the state had collected a record-breaking amount of tax revenue in the fiscal year,<ref>
{{cite news  |title=Mass. tax revenues eclipse $18 billion mark |first=Ken |last=Maguire | agency = Associated Press | date = July 17, 2006 |url= http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2006/07/17/mass_tax_revenues_eclipse_18_billion_mark/ |access-date= December 7, 2006 | newspaper=The Boston Globe}}
</ref>  the funds were needed to cover the increased spending.
Romney vetoed the transfer of funds from the contingency account. The veto was overturned by the legislature, and indeed for the 2006 budget, all 250 line-item vetoes were overturned, and for the entire year of 2006, all of Romney's vetoes of legislative bills were subsequently overturned by the Massachusetts Legislature.<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro"/><ref name="Concord Monitor-2007-05-03-Barrick">
{{Cite news
 |title=Romney's vetoes seldom stood 
 |last=Barrick 
 |first=Daniel 
 |work=[[Concord Monitor]] (Concord NH) 
 |date=May 3, 2007 
 |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood 
 |access-date=October 1, 2011 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027012435/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood 
 |archive-date=October 27, 2012 
 |df=mdy 
}}</ref>
In November 2006, Romney then used his emergency budget-revision authority to cut the $450 million from the budget, saying: "One of the primary responsibilities of government is keeping the books balanced. The problem here is not revenues; the problem is overspending. 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."<ref>{{cite web|title=Gov. Withholds $425 Million in State Spending |publisher=[[WCVB-TV]] |url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/10290864/detail.html |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204458/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/10290864/detail.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}
</ref>  Later, he restored some of that amount.<ref name="bg010707"/>

Upon leaving office in January 2007 (the middle of fiscal year 2007), Romney argued that he had left the state with a large budget surplus, after he cut hundreds of millions of dollars of programs. However, upon taking office, successor Governor [[Deval Patrick]] said there would be a $1&nbsp;billion deficit for fiscal 2008 if existing service levels were carried over into the next year's budget.<ref name="ap-deficit">{{cite news|url=http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/ |title=Patrick says state has $1 billion deficit |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[WHDH (TV)|WHDH]] |date=January 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107032133/http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/ |archive-date=January 7, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> At the same time, Patrick restored $384&nbsp;million in the emergency budgetary authority spending cuts for fiscal 2007 that Romney had made.<ref name="bg010707">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/07/patricks_reversal_of_cuts_brings_joy/ | title=Patrick's reversal of cuts brings joy | author=Carroll, Matt | newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=January 7, 2007}}</ref>  The budget for fiscal 2008 that Patrick submitted in February 2007 included $515 million in spending cuts and $295&nbsp;million in new corporate taxes.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/28/patrick_says_budget_without_gimmicks/ | title=Patrick says budget 'without gimmicks' | author=Frank Phillips | author2= Andrea Estes | newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=February 28, 2007}}</ref>  As it happened, fiscal 2007 ended with a $307.1&nbsp;million deficit and fiscal 2008 ended with a $495.2&nbsp;million deficit.<ref name="gov-mass"/>

Romney later said, while campaigning for the presidency, "we didn't just slow the rate of growth of our government, we actually cut it."<ref name=cutspending>{{cite news|last=Jacobson|first=Louis|title=Mitt Romney said he 'actually cut' spending as Massachusetts governor|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/21/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-said-he-actually-cut-spending-massachu/|newspaper=Politifact.com (Tampa Bay Times)|date=May 21, 2012}}</ref> However, by most measures, state government spending increased in Massachusetts during Romney's governorship.<ref name=cutspending/><ref>{{cite news|last=Finnegan|first=Michael|title=Romney touts his Massachusetts record as fiscal hawk|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-jun-09-la-na-romney-budget-massachusetts-20120609-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 9, 2012}}</ref>

For his fiscal policies, Romney received a C in 2004<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Slivinski|first2=Stephen|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa537.pdf|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2004|work=Policy Analysis No. 537|date=March 1, 2005|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Slivinski|first2=Stephen|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-americas-governors-2004|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2004|date=March 1, 2005|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> and a C in 2006<ref>{{cite web|last=Slivinski|first=Stephen|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa581.pdf|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2006|work=Policy Analysis No. 581|date=October 24, 2006|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Slivinski|first=Stephen|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-americas-governors-2006|title=Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2006|date=October 24, 2006|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> from the [[Cato Institute]], a [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]] think tank, in their biennial Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors.

==Unemployment and new jobs creation==
Romney's term as governor fell during a respite between two nationwide economic recessions.<ref name=hicksproof>{{cite news|last=Hicks|first=Josh|title=Mitt Romney's Massachusetts record: proof of 'strong leadership'?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/mitt-romneys-massachusetts-record-proof-of-strong-leadership/2012/06/12/gJQArQUQXV_blog.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 12, 2012}}</ref> When he took office in early 2003, the nation as a whole was still suffering the effects of the [[early 2000s recession]]. Massachusetts was losing manufacturing jobs, and, with an economy heavily dependent on the technology sector, had been badly shaken by the [[dot-com bubble]] collapse.<ref name=zarrolijobs>{{cite news|last=Zarroli|first=Jim|title=How accurate is Obama's attack on Romney's jobs record|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/06/05/154362690/how-accurate-is-obamas-attack-on-romneys-jobs-record|publisher=NPR|date=June 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name=wburjobs>{{cite news|last=The Associated Press|title=Mixed job picture when Romney was governor|url=http://www.wbur.org/2011/10/01/romney-jobs-claim|publisher=WBUR|date=October 1, 2011}}</ref><ref name=hamburgerjobs>{{cite news|last=Hamburger|first=Tom|title=Romney's jobs record a little shaky|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2011-jul-10-la-na-adv-romney-jobs-20110709-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 10, 2011}}</ref> When the national economy eventually began to improve, the state lagged behind the rest of the nation in job growth and employment.<ref name=balljobs>{{cite news|last=Ball|first=Molly|title=Was Mitt Romney a good governor?|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/was-mitt-romney-a-good-governor/257942/|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=May 31, 2012}}</ref>

Job growth in Massachusetts rose at a rate of 1.5&nbsp;percent (compared to the national average of 5.3&nbsp;percent), placing Massachusetts 47th of the 50 states in new job creation over the course of Romney's term.<ref name=farleyjobs>{{cite news|last=Farley|first=Robert|title=Obama twists Romney's economic record|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2012/06/obama-twists-romneys-economic-record/|publisher=FactCheck.org|date=June 7, 2012}}</ref>  The annual rate of job growth was improving by his last year in office, moving Massachusetts up from last place nationally to 28th.<ref name=farleyjobs/><ref name=jacobsonjobs>{{cite news|last=Jacobson|first=Louis|title=Mitt Romney campaign says job growth in Massachusetts accelerated as gubernatorial term went on|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jun/05/eric-fehrnstrom/mitt-romney-campaign-says-job-growth-massachusetts/|publisher=Politifact.com (Tampa Bay Times)|date=June 5, 2012}}</ref>

Economists note that governors generally have relatively little impact on their states' employment numbers, good or bad, as these are dominated by forces beyond their control.<ref name=farleyjobs/><ref name=jacobsonjobs/> The statewide health care reforms that Romney helped enact, and signed into law in April 2006, exemplified the state's national leadership role in that industry; overall, there was a 7.6&nbsp;percent increase in job growth in healthcare and social assistance positions during Romney's term, the strongest growth during that time of any sector.<ref name=wburjobs/> Romney also personally intervened to help attract to the state, or maintain within the state, several large employers, such as [[Bristol-Myers Squibb]] and the [[Gillette (brand)|Gillette]] division of [[Procter & Gamble]].<ref name=hamburgerjobs/> However, some business leaders said Romney's policies that increased fees and corporate tax revenue drove up business costs and may have weakened job growth.<ref name=wburjobs/>

On average, unemployment rates were slightly worse in the rest of the nation than in Massachusetts for the first three years of Romney's term.<ref name=hicksproof/><ref name=hamburgerjobs/> By his final year in office, the state was struggling to keep pace with the rate of falling unemployment nationwide.<ref name=hicksproof/> Massachusetts' national ranking leapt from the 29th highest in unemployment when Romney took office to the 18th by the end of his term.<ref name=hicksproof/>

Unemployment in Massachusetts rose during Romney's first year from a rate of 5.6&nbsp;percent in January 2003, when he took office, to a peak of 6.0&nbsp;percent in mid-2003.<ref name="Bureau of Labor Statistics"/> It then steadily declined over the remainder of his term, ending at 4.6&nbsp;percent in January 2007,<ref name="Bureau of Labor Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LASST25000003 | title=Local Area Unemployment Statistics - Massachusetts | publisher=[[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] | access-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> his last month as governor, for a net improvement in unemployment of 1.0&nbsp;percent.<ref name=hicksproof/> Much of the improvement in unemployment during Romney's first three years in office reflected the loss of working-age adults from the labor force,<ref name=hamburgerjobs/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Sum|first1=Andrew M.|last2=Khatiwada|first2=Ishwar|last3=McLaughlin|first3=Joseph|last4=Trubskyy|first4=Mykhaylo|last5=Palma|first5=Sheila|title=Recapturing the American dream: meeting the challenges of the Bay State's lost decade|date=December 2011|publisher=MassINC|url=http://www.massinc.org/Research/Recapturing-the-American-Dream-Meeting-the-Challenges-of-the-Bay-States-Lost-Decade.aspx}}</ref> many of them having left Massachusetts for other states during the period.<ref name=hamburgerjobs/><ref name=arnoldy>{{cite news|last=Arnoldy|first=Ben|title=Too prosperous, Massachusetts is losing its labor force|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0109/p01s03-usec.html|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|date=January 9, 2007}}</ref> Massachusetts experienced one of the highest levels of net out-migration of any state during Romney's term.<ref name=hamburgerjobs/>

==Health care==
{{Main|Massachusetts health care reform}}
Romney was at the forefront of a movement to bring near-universal health insurance coverage to the state, after a business executive told him at the start of his term that doing so would be the best way he could help people<ref name="nyt040606">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/us/06health.html | title=On Health Care, Massachusetts Leaders Invoke Action, Not Talk | author=Belluck, Pam | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=April 6, 2006 <!--|access-date=July 3, 2007-->}}</ref> and after the federal government, due to the rules of [[Medicaid]] funding, threatened to cut $385 million in those payments to Massachusetts if the state did not reduce the number of uninsured recipients of health care services.<ref name="tnr-cohn"/><ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/>  Despite not having campaigned on the idea of universal health insurance,<ref>{{cite news | title=Romney Outlines Health Care Plan; Proposes New Fees for Higher-Income Medicaid Clients | author=Ebbert, Stephanie | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=August 7, 2002 | page=B5}}</ref> Romney decided that because people without insurance still received expensive health care, the money spent by the state for such care could be better used to subsidize insurance for the poor.<ref name="npr040806">{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5330854 | title=Romney's Mission: Massachusetts Health Care | author=Knox, Richard | publisher=[[NPR]] | date=April 8, 2006}}</ref>
After positing that any measure adopted not raise taxes and not resemble the previous decade's failed [[Clinton health care plan of 1993|"Hillarycare" proposal]], Romney formed a team that beginning in late 2004 came up with a set of proposals more innovative than an incremental one from the [[Massachusetts Senate]] and more acceptable to him than one from the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] that incorporated a new payroll tax.<ref name="tnr-cohn"/><ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/>  In particular, Romney successfully pushed for incorporating an [[Health insurance mandate|individual mandate]] at the state level.<ref name="time-prof-2007">{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1619212,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512215003/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1619212,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 12, 2007 | title=What Romney Believes | author=Tumulty, Karen | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=May 10, 2007 | author-link=Karen Tumulty}}</ref>  U.S. Senator from Massachusetts [[Edward M. Kennedy]], who had made universal health coverage his life's work, gave Romney's plan a positive reception, which encouraged Democratic legislators to work with it.<ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/> The effort eventually gained the support of all major stakeholders within the state, and Romney helped break a logjam between rival Democratic leaders in the legislature.<ref name="nyt040606"/><ref name="bgseries7"/>

On April 12, 2006, Romney signed legislation that mandates that nearly all Massachusetts residents buy or obtain health insurance coverage or face a penalty (up to approximately $2000 for 2008 or equal to half of the lowest cost premium offered) in the form of an additional income tax assessment. The bill established a regulatory authority called the [[Massachusetts health care reform#Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority|Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority]] to implement the law and establish insurance standards. For residents below certain income thresholds and without adequate employer insurance, state subsidies were established, by using funds previously designated to compensate for the health costs of the uninsured.<ref>
{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200606u/nj_crook_2006-06-27 |title=The Massachusetts Experiment |last=Crook |first=Clive |work=The Atlantic |date=June 27, 2006 |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref><ref>
[http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw06/sl060058.htm  An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care.] Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Acts of 2006 (Session Laws), Chapter 58. Retrieved January 2, 2007.</ref><ref>
 Dembner, Alice. [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/01/outline_for_new_1.html Outline for new insurance plan proposed] Boston Globe. January 19, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2007.</ref>
Legislation, effective on  July 1, 2007, requires health insurance for all state residents, provided a plan is available to the individual that is deemed affordable according to Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority.
In Massachusetts, a roughly $800&nbsp;million fund known as the "uncompensated care pool" was used to partially reimburse hospitals for expenses related to treating uninsured patients. The fund's revenue comes from an annual assessment on employers, insurance providers and hospitals, plus contributions of state and federal tax dollars. Governor Romney's plan redirects money from this fund to subsidize health insurance costs for low-income residents of Massachusetts. The Romney Administration consulted with [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] professor [[Jonathan Gruber (economist)|Jonathan Gruber]] to study the state's population and health care needs. They determined that there was enough money in the "free care pool" to implement the Governor's plans, but that it would require more people to buy health insurance at full price in order to pay into the subsidized fund.<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008213|title=Health Care for Everyone? We've found a way|last=Romney |first=Mitt |work=Wall Street Journal|date=April 11, 2006 |access-date=December 2, 2006}}
</ref>

The legislature amended Romney's plan, adding a [[Medicaid]] expansion for children and imposing an assessment on firms with 11 or more workers who do not offer health coverage. The assessment is intended to equalize the contributions to the free care pool from employers that offer and do not offer coverage. The General Court also rejected Romney's provision allowing high-deductible health plans.

Romney vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a $295-per-person fee on businesses with 11 employees or more that do not provide health insurance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/04/house_approves_healthcare_overhaul/ |title=House approves healthcare overhaul |last=Greenberger |first=Scott S. |work=The Boston Globe|date=November 4, 2005 |access-date=December 7, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-04-12T222644Z_01_N12342304_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-MASSACHUSETTS-DC.XML&archived=False |title=(Broken link) |work=Reuters |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625114450/http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews |archive-date=June 25, 2006 |df=mdy }}</ref> Romney also vetoed provisions providing dental and eyeglass benefits to poor residents on the Medicaid program, and providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal immigrants not eligible for federal Medicaid.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetranscript.com/headlines/ci_3706699 |title=(Broken link) |work=The North Adams Transcript |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928022319/http://www.thetranscript.com/headlines/ci_3706699 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolitics/view.bg?articleid=134877 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060417191101/http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolitics/view.bg?articleid=134877 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2006 |title=Mitt's vetoes on health care make pols sick |last=Powell |first=Jennifer Heldt |work=The Boston Herald |date=April 13, 2006 |access-date=December 7, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, the state legislature overrode all of the vetoes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/25/house_begins_overrides_of_romneys_health_care_vetoes/ |title=House overrides Romney's health care vetoes |last=LeBlanc |first=Steve |agency=Associated Press |date=April 25, 2006 |access-date=December 7, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830181715/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/25/house_begins_overrides_of_romneys_health_care_vetoes/ |archive-date=August 30, 2006 }}</ref>

Romney said of the measure overall, "There really wasn't Republican or Democrat in this. People ask me if this is conservative or liberal, and my answer is yes. It's liberal in the sense that we're getting our citizens health insurance. It's conservative in that we're not getting a government takeover."<ref name="nyt040606"/> The law was the first of its kind in the nation and became the signature achievement of Romney's term in office.<ref name="bgseries7">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part7_main/ | title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 7: Ambitious goals; shifting stances | author=Mooney, Brian C. | author2=Ebbert, Stephanie | author3=Helman, Scott | newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=June 30, 2007 <!--|access-date=July 3, 2007-->}}</ref>  When Romney's official portrait was made for the [[Massachusetts State House]], the composition included a leather binder with a medical seal representing the healthcare legislation.<ref name="bg-portrait">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/01/romney_returns_to_the_state_house_for_a_cameo_role/ | title=Romney returns to the State House for a cameo role | author=Viser, Matt | newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=July 1, 2009}}</ref>

(Within four years, the law had achieved its primary goal of extending coverage: in 2010, 98.1 percent of state residents had coverage, compared to a national average of 83.3 percent.<ref name="mass-rpt-2010"/> Among children and seniors the 2010 coverage rate was even higher, at 99.8 percent and 99.6 percent respectively.<ref name="mass-rpt-2010">{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20101214/BENEFITS03/101219966 | title= Massachusetts' insured rate hits 98.1%: Analysis | author=Geisel, Jerry | magazine=[[Business Insurance (magazine)|Business Insurance]] | date=December 14, 2010 | access-date=December 14, 2010}}</ref>)

==Education==

During the 2002 campaign, Romney had proposed to institute full-day kindergarten in schools that were performing below standards and to introduce merit pay to teachers.<ref name="aap-04">{{Cite book|title=The Almanac of American Politics 2004 |last1 = Barone |first1 = Michael | author-link=Michael Barone (pundit) | first2= Richard E. | last2=Cohen | author-link2 = Richard E. Cohen |year = 2004 |publisher = [[National Journal Group]] |location = Washington |isbn=978-0-89234-106-1 | type=paperback | page=773|title-link = The Almanac of American Politics }}</ref>

As governor, Romney proposed $8 billion in bonds be authorized in order to empty the waiting list for school building projects.<ref name="aap-06"/>  Instead, the legislature authorized only $1 billion in bonds and allocated the rest from sales tax receipts.<ref name="aap-06"/>

In 2004, Romney and the legislature established and funded a program to reward the top 25 percent of Massachusetts high school students with a four-year, tuition-free [[scholarship]] to the state's public universities or colleges. He has also drafted other education reforms, including the recruitment of 1,000 skilled math and science instructors, bonuses of as much as $15,000 a year for top-performing teachers, and new intervention programs for failing schools.<ref>
{{cite news |title=Romney wants teacher merit pay |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/09/22/romney_wants_teacher_merit_pay/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=September 22, 2005 |access-date=November 22, 2006 |author1=Maria Sacchetti |author2=Tracy Jan}}
</ref>
Romney's plan would allow state governments to take control of underperforming schools after three years instead of the six-year period that is now in place. Regarding the achievement gap in public education, Romney has said, "I really believe that the failure of our urban schools and, in some cases our suburban schools, to help minority students achieve the levels that are necessary for success in the workplace is the [[civil rights]] issue of our time." Romney has also advocated for a nationwide focus on education to close the "excellence gap with the rest of the world".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/mass-gov-romney-wants-nation-to-improve-education |title=Mass. Gov. Romney Wants Nation to Improve Education |date=November 16, 2005 |access-date=November 22, 2006 |work=FOXNews.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
As governor, Romney proposed mandatory parental preparation courses. He also supported English immersion classes for students that cannot speak English and opposed [[bilingual education]].<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20060409-101256-6627r.htm  |title=(broken link) |work=The Washington Times |access-date=December 7, 2006}}
</ref>

During his 2002 campaign, Romney had said he backed age-appropriate, comprehensive [[sex education]] in public schools.<ref name=politicosex>{{Cite news| url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0707/Romney_also_once_backed_ageappropriate_sex_ed.html | title=Romney also once backed 'age-appropriate' sex ed | author=Martin, Jonathan | newspaper=The Politico | date=July 19, 2007}}</ref> In 2005, against the will of the state legislature, he introduced federally funded [[abstinence-only education]] programs developed by a subsidiary of a Christian anti-abortion organization into some public schools.<ref name=bdnabs>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mAE1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3578,1309352&dq=romney+abstinence+only+education&hl=en | title=Romney promotes abstinence classes | author=Donald, Brooke | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=[[Bangor Daily News]] | date=April 21, 2006 | page=B8}}</ref><ref name=wangsabs>{{cite news|last=Wangsness|first=Lisa|title=Patrick seeks to forgo grant, end classes on sex abstinence|url=http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/children/articles/2007/04/24/patrick_seeks_to_forgo_grant_end_classes_on_sex_abstinence/?page=full|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 24, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Abstain from this|url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2005/12/23/abstain_from_this/|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=December 23, 2005}}</ref> Romney said that adoption of the programs would be voluntary for individual school districts and that the programs would supplement rather than replace existing comprehensive sex education curricula.<ref name=bdnabs /> Opponents argued that funding pressure would lead to schools dropping comprehensive sex education programs for the freely available abstinence-only ones, which under federal law were required to teach that any sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects, and which were prohibited from discussing the potential benefits of contraception.<ref name=bdnabs /><ref name=wangsabs /><ref name=siecusabs>{{cite web|title=Massachusetts to change use of Title V funds|url=http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&featureID=1316|publisher=SIECUS|access-date=September 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614200125/http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&featureID=1316|archive-date=June 14, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

During Romney's tenure as governor, Massachusetts' per capita funding for public higher education decreased from $158 to $137, and in national rank, per capita state expenditures changed from 48th to 47th.<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.bridgew.edu/temp/fees_rising.cfm |title=An Analysis of Rising Student Fees at Bridgewater State College |work=Bridgewater State College |access-date=December 7, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060913094705/http://www.bridgew.edu/temp/fees_rising.cfm <!--|access-date=July 3, 2007--> |archive-date = September 13, 2006}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.tbf.org/indicators2004/economy/indicators.asp?id=2457&crosscutID=325&crosscutName=Competitive%20Edge |title=Funding for public higher education |work=The Boston Foundation |year=2005 |access-date=December 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231348/http://www.tbf.org/indicators2004/economy/indicators.asp?id=2457&crosscutID=325&crosscutName=Competitive%20Edge |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
</ref>
In July 2005, Romney proposed $200&nbsp;million in funding for [[University of Massachusetts]] capital projects. The governor's capital budget included $50&nbsp;million earmarked to repair the crumbling parking garage and foundation of the [[UMass Boston]] campus.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.umb.edu/news/2005news/releases/july/romney.html |title=Governor Romney Announces Capital Spending Plan that Includes $50&nbsp;million for Repairs to UMass Boston Campus |last=Hayward |first=Ed |work=University of Massachusetts Boston |date=January 24, 2006 |access-date=December 7, 2006}}</ref> The [[Massachusetts legislature]] declined to vote on the bond bill needed to fund the projects.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}
Romney also vetoed a retroactive pay raise for unionized employees of state and community colleges. Romney voiced his opposition to retroactive pay increases for public employees although the raises had previously been agreed to then vetoed by his predecessor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1128584845188960.xml&coll=1| title = Romney vetoes retroactive raises |last=Ring |first=Dan |work=The Republican |date=October 6, 2005 |access-date=December 7, 2006}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/04146115.asp |title=The real Romney |work=The Boston Phoenix (Editorial) |date=September 24–30, 2004 |access-date=December 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050910081045/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/04146115.asp |archive-date=September 10, 2005 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Romney successfully pressured [[William Bulger]] to resign as president of the [[University of Massachusetts]] (UMass) on September 1, 2003. Bulger said that his resignation was the result of "a calculated political assault" on him, largely by the governor.<ref>{{cite news
| author = Fox Butterfield
| title = UMass President, Facing Pressure Over Brother, Quits
| date = August 7, 2003
| work = [[The New York Times]]
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/07/national/07BULG.html
| access-date = August 5, 2008
}}</ref> William Bulger came under pressure from Romney and others to resign after he invoked his [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]] right not to testify when he was [[subpoena]]ed by a Congressional committee to testify about his brother, [[James J. Bulger|James J. "Whitey" Bulger]], one of the [[FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives]]. Romney, who had called for Bulger's resignation and the elimination of the UMass presidency as a cost-cutting move, denied that he had been personally targeting the former state senate president. "The decision was not a political calculation or a personal one," Romney said in February 2003, after unveiling his plan to eliminate the president's job.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/articles/2006/07/13/romney_turns_up_heat_on_former_ally_amorello/?page=2 Romney turns up the heat on Amorello – The Boston Globe<!-- Bot-generated title -->] at www.boston.com</ref> The Governor's aides stressed that he had not been personally targeting Bulger, saying such interpretations of Romney's actions were cynical. "I think everybody should be taken at their word," spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said.<ref>
Healy, Patrick and Lewis, Raphael. Globe Staff. "Governor Wants `Open' UMASS Hunt - Critics Say His Interest Shows He Was Out To Get Bulger" ''The Boston Globe'' August 8, 2003, Metro/Region: page A1.</ref>

On September 5, 2006, Romney denounced [[Harvard University]] of [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] for inviting former Iranian President [[Mohammed Khatami]] to speak at the school. Romney ordered all state agencies to boycott the visit by refusing to provide state police escorts and other service typically given to former heads of state.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://www.nysun.com/article/38903 Khatemi at Harvard - August 31, 2006 - The New York Sun<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.nysun.com</ref>

==Same-sex marriage==
{{details|Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts}}

When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney declared his opposition to same-sex marriage.<ref>
McElhenny, John.  [http://www.dailycollegian.com/media/paper874/news/2002/10/16/News/Shannon.Obrien.Supports.Gay.Marriage-1551350.shtml?norewrite200603272221&sourcedomain=www.dailycollegian.com "Shannon O'Brien supports gay marriage"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511191250/http://www.dailycollegian.com/media/paper874/news/2002/10/16/News/Shannon.Obrien.Supports.Gay.Marriage-1551350.shtml?norewrite200603272221&sourcedomain=www.dailycollegian.com |date=May 11, 2006 }} ''Daily Collegian'' October 16, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2006.</ref> "Call me old fashioned, but I don't support gay marriage nor do I support civil union," said Romney in an October 2002 gubernatorial debate. He also voiced support for basic [[domestic partnership]] benefits for gay couples. Romney won the endorsement of the [[Log Cabin Republicans|Log Cabin Club]] of Massachusetts, a Republican gay-rights group, who in 2005 accused him of reneging on his 2002 campaign commitment to support some benefits for gay couples.<ref name="Logcabinrebuke">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=February 23, 2005 |access-date=December 10, 2006}}</ref> He also opposed an amendment, then before the General Court, that would have banned same-sex marriage and outlawed all domestic partnership benefits for gay couples. When campaigning in 2002, Romney's stated position was that "All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/ |title=Mitt Romney on the Issues |work=Romney for Governor 2002 |date=2002 |access-date=December 11, 2006}}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Romney strongly opposed [[same-sex marriage]] during his governorship. He emphasized his desire to "protect the institution of marriage" while denouncing discrimination against [[gay]]s and [[lesbian]]s. "Like me, the great majority of Americans wish both to preserve the traditional definition of marriage and to oppose bias and intolerance directed towards gays and lesbians," Romney said in 2004.<ref name="maggieg">{{cite news |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/gallagher200406250924.asp |title=In Defense of the Family |last=Gallagher |first=Maggie |date=June 25, 2004 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=National Review}}</ref>

On June 2, 2006, Romney sent a letter to each member of the U.S. Senate urging them to vote in favor of the [[Federal Marriage Amendment|Marriage Protection Amendment]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mass.gov/Agov2/docs/20060602_Marriage_Letter.pdf |title=Letter to the US Senate |last=Romney |first=Mitt |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=mass.gov|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061117202508/http://www.mass.gov/Agov2/docs/20060602_Marriage_Letter.pdf <!--|access-date=July 3, 2007--> |archive-date = November 17, 2006}}</ref> In the letter, Romney stated that the debate over same-sex unions is not a discussion about "tolerance", but rather a "debate about the purpose of the institution of marriage". Romney wrote, "Attaching the word marriage to the association of same-sex individuals mistakenly presumes that marriage is principally a matter of adult benefits and adult rights. In fact, marriage is principally about the nurturing and development of children. And the successful development of children is critical to the preservation and success of our nation."

Romney's letter was his second effort to persuade the U.S. Senate to pass the [[Federal Marriage Amendment|Defense of Marriage Amendment]]. On June 22, 2004 he testified before the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee]], urging its members to protect the definition of marriage. "Marriage is not an evolving paradigm," said Romney, "but is a fundamental and universal social institution that bears a real and substantial relation to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of all of the people of Massachusetts."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=1234&wit_id=3608 |title=Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachusetts |date=June 22, 2004 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=US Senate Committee on the Judiciary |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061130072500/http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=1234&wit_id=3608 <!--|access-date=July 3, 2007--> |archive-date = November 30, 2006}}</ref>

Romney attempted to block implementation of the [[Goodridge v. Department of Public Health|decision]] of the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] that legalized same-sex marriage in 2003.  Romney criticized the decision as harming the rights of children:<ref name="maggieg"/>

{{quote|They viewed marriage as an institution principally designed for adults. Adults are who they saw. Adults stood before them in the courtroom. And so they thought of adult rights, equal rights for adults ... Marriage is also for children. In fact, marriage is principally for the nurturing and development of children. The children of America have the right to have a father and a mother.}}

In 2004, the [[Massachusetts General Court]] addressed the issue of gay marriage before the implementation of the Goodridge decision. During a [[Constitutional convention (political meeting)|constitutional convention]], the predominantly Democratic legislature approved an amendment that would have banned gay marriage and established civil unions. An initial amendment offered by House Speaker Thomas Finnernan to merely ban gay marriage without a provision for civil unions was narrowly defeated.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/articles/2004/02/12/romney_tried_to_play_role_in_debate/ |title=Romney tried to play role in debate |author1=Rick Klein |author2=Raphael Lewis |date=February 12, 2004 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref> The compromise amendment needed to be approved in a second constitutional convention to be held a year later before it could appear on a state election ballot. The amendment was voted down in the subsequent convention and never appeared on a ballot put before voters of Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/mass-gay-nups-change-rejected |title=Mass. Gay Nups Change Rejected |date=September 14, 2005 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |agency=Associated Press |work=Fox News}}</ref>

Romney reluctantly backed the compromise amendment, viewing it as the only feasible way to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts. "If the question is, 'Do you support gay marriage or civil unions?' I'd say neither," Romney said of the amendment. "If they said you have to have one or the other, that Massachusetts is going to have one or the other, then I'd rather have civil unions than gay marriage. But I'd rather have neither."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=February 23, 2005 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref>

In June 2005, Romney abandoned his support for the compromise amendment, stating that the amendment confused voters who oppose both gay marriage and civil unions. The amendment was defeated in the [[Massachusetts General Court|General Court]] (legislature) in 2005 when both supporters of same-sex marriage and opponents of civil unions voted against it. In June 2005, Romney endorsed a petition effort led by the Coalition for Marriage & Family that would ban gay marriage and make no provisions for civil unions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/06/17/romney_backs_new_effort_to_prohibit_gay_marriages/ |title=Romney backs new effort to prohibit gay marriages |last=Lewis |first=Raphael |date=June 17, 2005 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref>  Backed by the signatures of 170,000 Massachusetts residents the new amendment was certified as a valid referendum on September 7, 2005 by [[Massachusetts Attorney General]] [[Thomas Reilly (Massachusetts politician)|Thomas Reilly]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/09/08/reilly_oks_2008_initiative_on_ban_of_gay_marriage/ |title=Reilly OK's 2008 initiative on ban of gay marriage|first=Raphael|last=Lewis|newspaper=Boston.com|date=September 8, 2005|via=The Boston Globe}}</ref> The measure needs the approval of fifty legislators in two consecutive sessions of the [[Massachusetts General Court]] to be placed on the ballot.<ref name="signatures">{{cite web |url=http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2005/12/massachusetts-gay-marriage-opponents.php |title=Massachusetts gay marriage opponents move closer to ballot initiative |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017154146/http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2005/12/massachusetts-gay-marriage-opponents.php |archive-date=October 17, 2006 }}</ref>  The Massachusetts legislature however declined to vote on the initiative in two consecutive sessions held on July 12, 2006 and November 9, 2006.<ref name="referendum convention">{{cite news |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/05/18/tactics_honed_as_debate_nears_on_banning_gay_marriage/|title=Tactics honed as debate nears on banning gay marriage|first=Scott|last=Helman|newspaper=Boston.com|date=May 18, 2006 |via=The Boston Globe}}</ref> Romney responded by joining former Boston Mayor [[Raymond Flynn]] and eight others to file a complaint with the state's Supreme Judicial Court to force the legislature to vote on the proposed amendment. The petition also asked the court to instruct the Massachusetts Secretary of State to place the referendum on the 2008 ballot if the legislature failed to vote on the amendment by January 2, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/11/24/romney_asks_court_to_force_gay_marriage_question_onto_2008_ballot/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070624195540/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/11/24/romney_asks_court_to_force_gay_marriage_question_onto_2008_ballot/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2007 |title=Romney asks state high court to force vote on gay marriage |last=Weber |first=David |date=November 24, 2006 |access-date=December 14, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe }}</ref>

On the first day that same-sex marriages came into effect in Massachusetts, May 17, 2004, Romney instructed town clerks not to issue marriage licenses to out-of-state gay couples, except for those announcing their intention to relocate to the Commonwealth by requiring the enforcement of the "[[1913 law]]" (General Legislation, Part II, Title III, Chapter. 207 (Certain Marriages Prohibited), Sections 11, 12, & 13), which prohibits non-residents from marrying in Massachusetts if the marriage would be void in their home state.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7839919.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725133405/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7839919.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 25, 2013 | title=Romney Eyes Order on Licenses; Seeks to Halt Marriage of Gay Outsiders | first1=Yvonne | last1=Abraham | first2=Frank | last2=Phillips | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=May 19, 2004}}</ref> The law had not been enforced for several decades. Some legal experts have argued that the original purpose of the legislation was to block [[interracial marriage]]s and have noted that the law was enacted due to a public scandal over [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]]'s interracial marriages.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/articles/2004/05/21/history_suggests_race_was_the_basis/ |title=History suggests race was the basis |last=Greenberger |first=Scott S. |date=May 21, 2004 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/10/07/sjc_hears_challenge_to_marriage_law/ | work=The Boston Globe | first=Jonathan | last=Saltzman | title=SJC hears challenge to marriage law | date=October 7, 2005}}</ref>  Massachusetts Attorney General [[Thomas Reilly (Massachusetts politician)|Thomas Reilly]] has stated that there in no evidence to support that claim. Those who agree with him claim that the law is meant to respect the laws of other states and has not been enforced simply because there was not reason.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gays-battle-1913-massachusetts-law/ |title=Gays Battle 1913 Massachusetts Law |date=July 14, 2004 |access-date=December 8, 2006 |work=CBS News }}</ref>  Some towns and their clerks said they would ignore the old ordinance, but the state Attorney General's office said they must obey it.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94881881.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119003251/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94881881.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 19, 2016 | title=Towns Won't Wed Out-Of-State Gay Couples | agency=[[AP Online]] | date=May 25, 2004}}</ref>

The Massachusetts legislature in 1913 passed the three laws denying marriage rights to persons domiciled out-of-state who came to Massachusetts to circumvent their own states' anti-miscegenation marriage laws. Romney was criticized for reviving a [[Jim Crow]] era piece of legislation that had avoided being nullified by the U.S. [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]'s 1967 ''[[Loving v. Virginia]]'' decision due to it not saying anything about race. However, in March 2006, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared the statute legal under the state's constitution.<ref name="maggieg" />
Romney declared the "ruling is an important victory for traditional marriage". He also stated, "It would have been wrong for the Supreme Judicial Court to impose its mistaken view of marriage on the rest of the country. The continuing threat of the judicial redefinition of marriage, here and in several other states, is why I believe that the best and most reliable way to preserve the institution of marriage is to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution."<ref>Jacobs, Ethan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060506202313/http://www.baywindows.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=80354FA6376441B4873F9696A073ADFD "SJC upholds 1913 law"] ''Bay Windows'', March 30, 2006. Retrieved December 10, 2006.</ref>

Romney subsequently released a statement in support of a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts state constitution defining marriage as existing only between "one man and one woman" in order to overrule the court's decision. His statement said, "the people of Massachusetts should not be excluded from a decision as fundamental to our society as the definition of marriage."

While consistently rejected same-sex marriage, there was a rhetorical shift in other emphasis around this subject during his time as governor, culminating with Romney rarely talking about protecting gays from bias and instead characterizing himself as a conservative stalwart in the battle against same-sex marriage and in support of heterosexual families.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/us/politics/09romney.html | title=Romney's Gay Rights Stance Draws Ire | author=Nagourney, Adam | author2=Kirkpatrick David D. | newspaper=The New York Times | date=December 9, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/mitt-romney.htm | title=Run touts success, dodges shifts | newspaper=USA Today | date=June 15, 2007 <!--|access-date=July 3, 2007--> |access-date=February 17, 2011}}</ref>

==Law and order==

===Gun control===
During his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney had been a supporter of the [[federal assault weapons ban]], and had also said he believed "in the rights of those who hunt to responsibly own and use firearms."<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref name="geriwao">{{cite web|url=http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021218005104/http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 18, 2002 |title=Governor-elect Romney - Issues |date=December 18, 2002 |access-date=November 28, 2010 }}</ref> On July 1, 2004, Romney signed a permanent state ban on assault weapons, saying at the signing ceremony for the new law, "Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts. These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."<ref name="iberk">{{cite news | url=http://www.iberkshires.com/story.php?story_id=14812 | title=Romney signs off on permanent assault weapons ban | publisher=iBerkshires.com | date=July 8, 2004}}</ref>  The law extended a temporary measure that had been in effect since 1998 and covered weapons such as the [[AK-47]], [[Uzi]], and [[MAC-10]].<ref name="iberk"/>  The same law also modified some other aspects of general firearms licensing regulations.<ref name="iberk"/>

===Massachusetts Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes===
<!-- citation checking needed on this section -->The [[Massachusetts Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes]] was an agency created by Governor [[William Weld]], coordinating representatives of the state police and local law enforcement agencies with community advocates to further efforts to prevent and prosecute bias-motivated crime in Massachusetts. The Task Force was given permanent status by Weld's successor, Governor [[Paul Cellucci]] in 1998.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Crime+Prevention+%26+Personal+Safety&L2=Personal+Safety&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=eops_govtaskforce_hatecrimes&csid=Eeops Governor's Task Force On Hate Crimes] Executive Office of Public Safety (EOPS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved January 10, 2007.</ref> In 2003 Romney vetoed a bill funding [[hate crimes]] prevention, after which he impounded money previously approved by his predecessor, Governor [[Jane Swift]], for a bullying prevention program.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120721174915/http://www.bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=438C101B3188DCFA138A3E2CC01210EC?diaryId=4081 Unmasking Kerry Healey] ''Blue Mass Group'' Thu Sep 21, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2007.</ref>  The anti-bullying program attracted the ire of right-wing Christian activists.<ref>Mann, A. [http://massresistance.blogspot.com/2006/10/middle-school-transgender-bullying.html Middle School Transgender Bullying?] ''MassResistance.'' October 13, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2007.</ref> Romney's actions against the Task Force preceded his efforts to dismantle same-sex marriage, which was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004 by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

===Death penalty===
In December 2004, Romney announced plans to file a [[death penalty]] bill in early 2005.
The bill, filed April 28, 2005, sought to reinstate the death penalty in cases that include [[terrorism]], the assassination of law enforcement officials and multiple killings. Romney's legislation required the presence of scientific evidence such as [[DNA]] to sentence someone to death and a tougher standard of "no doubt" of guilt for juries to sentence defendants. This differs from the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in traditional criminal cases. The legislation called for a pool of certified capital case lawyers to ensure proper representation for the accused and allowed jurors who do not personally support the death penalty to serve in the guilt phase of the trial.<ref>Lewis, Raphael. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/04/29/romney_files_death_penalty_bill/ "Romney files death penalty bill, Measure sets out tight restrictions"] ''Boston Globe'', April 29, 2005. Retrieved December 11, 2006.</ref> Romney said; "In the past, efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Massachusetts have failed. They have failed because of concerns that it would be too broadly applied or that evidentiary standards weren't high enough or proper safeguards weren't in place. We have answered all those concerns with this bill."<ref>[http://illinoisans-4-mitt-romney.blogspot.com/2006/04/relying-on-science-romney-files-death.html "Relying On Science, Romney Files Death Penalty Bill; Death penalty applies to narrow set of crimes, requires higher standard of proof"] April 28, 2005. Retrieved September 1, 2008.</ref> The [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] defeated the bill 99-53.

===Drunk driving: Melanie's Bill===
In May 2005, Romney presented a proposal to the [[Massachusetts General Court]] to crack down on repeat drunk drivers. Massachusetts had some of the weakest drunk driving laws of any state in the country, and the state was losing $9&nbsp;million annually from its highway budget because existing laws were not in compliance with federal standards.<ref name="Weakdrunkdriving">DeLeo, Dan. [http://www.southofboston.net/specialreports/drunkendriving/update042904.shtml "At a loss: Weak drunken driving laws could cost state $9M"] ''Driving to Endanger'', April 29, 2004. Retrieved December 12, 2006.</ref> Romney called his proposal "Melanie's Bill" in honor of Melanie Powell, a 13-year-old who was killed in 2003 by a repeat drunk driver while walking to the beach with friends. The bill included provisions that gave prosecutors greater power to go after repeat offenders with increased penalties. It also increased license suspensions, raised sentencing guidelines and required repeat drunk drivers to install [[Breath alcohol ignition interlock device|ignition-interlock devices]] in their vehicles. The state House Judiciary Committee removed many of the bill's provisions and sent the reduced version to an eventual conference committee.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.southofboston.net/specialreports/drunkendriving/update092805.shtml |title=Advocates say House has removed much of the legislation's bite |work=Patriot Ledger |last=Eschbacher |first=Karen |date=September 28, 2005 |access-date=December 12, 2006}}</ref> Romney criticized the "watered down" bill, which he said reflected the interests of defense lawyers, and sent the bill back to legislators with amendments to restore some of the original provisions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/10/21/romney_seeks_restoration_of_tougher_provisions |title=Romney seeks restoration of tougher provisions |last=Helman |first=Scott |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 21, 2005 |access-date=December 12, 2006}}</ref> On October 28, 2005, Romney signed the amended version of the bill, which approved two of Romney's three amendments and rejected Romney's provision for increasing penalties for motorists who refuse to take a [[breathalyzer]] test.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/10/28/lawmakers_toughen_drunken_driving_bill/ |title=Lawmakers toughen drunken driving bill |date=October 28, 2005 |access-date=December 12, 2006 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |first=Scott |last=Greenberger}}</ref><ref name="Mel-law-effect">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/09/14/repeat_drunken_driving_slowed/ |title=Repeat drunken driving slowed |access-date=December 12, 2006 |date=September 14, 2006 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |last=Daniel |first=Mac}}</ref> Eleven months after the enactment of Melanie's Law, arrests of repeat drunk drivers decreased by half, and the number of drivers agreeing to breathalyzer tests increased by more than 18 percent.<ref name="Mel-law-effect"/>

===Increase in crime rates===
In July 2006 Romney offered the assistance of his state police force to municipalities dealing with increased crime rates. Romney's offers were rejected by local officials. Officials from Boston Police unions complained that "if state aid hadn't been cut in recent years, then the city's police force might be staffed adequately to handle the crime surge."<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/06/23/menino_says_no_to_state_police_use/ |title=Menino says no to State Police use - The Boston Globe |publisher=Boston.com |date=June 23, 2006 |access-date=November 28, 2010 |first=Donovan |last=Slack}}</ref>

===Pardons and commutations===
Romney was the first governor in modern Massachusetts history to deny every request for a pardon or commutation during his four years in office. He denied 100 requests for commutations and 172 requests for pardons, including the request from a soldier serving in Iraq to be pardoned for a conviction at age 13 involving a BB gun.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19586943 "Romney defends Bush's commutation move: Former Mass. governor denied every pardon request during his term"], ''Associated Press'', July 3, 2007</ref>

==Abortion==
In March 2002 during his run for governor, Romney told the ''[[Lowell Sun]]'' that, "On a personal basis, I don't favor abortion. However, as governor of the commonwealth, I will protect a woman's right to choose under the laws of the country and the commonwealth. That's the same position I've had for many years."<ref name="i2000-a">{{cite news |url=http://www.issues2000.org/Governor/Mitt_Romney_Abortion.htm |title=Mitt Romney on Abortion |last=Romney |first=Mitt |work=issues2000.org |access-date=December 12, 2006}}</ref> Also, during the 2002 governor's race, Romney's platform stated, "As Governor, Mitt Romney would protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts. No law would change. The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government's."<ref name=" MITT ROMNEY ON THE ISSUES">{{cite news |url=http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021218005104/http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 18, 2002 |title=Mitt Romney on the issues |last=Romney |first=Mitt |work=Romney for Governor Committee|year=2002 |access-date=December 12, 2006 }}</ref> Romney promised to "preserve and protect a woman's right to choose" and declared "I will not change any provisions in Massachusetts' pro-choice laws".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tech.mit.edu/V122/N52/52debate.52n.html |title=Candidates for Gov. Spar for Last Time |last=Sterner |first=Beckett |work=The Tech |date=November 1, 2002 |access-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref>

By July 2005, Romney criticized [[Roe v. Wade]] in a veto message in rejecting a bill mandating access to [[emergency contraception]].<ref name = "BGlobe-Greenberger-2005-07-26">{{cite news |title=Romney vetoes law on pill, takes aim at Roe v. Wade |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/07/26/romney_vetoes_law_on_pill_takes_aim_at_roe_v_wade |last=Greenberger |first=Scott |work=The Boston Globe |date= July 26, 2005 |access-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref> In a February 2006 interview, Romney said that his views had "evolved" and "changed" since 2002 such that he then considered himself to be a "pro-life governor."<ref>{{cite news|title=Transcript: Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney on 'FNS'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/transcript-mass-gov-mitt-romney-on-fns|newspaper=Fox News|date=February 27, 2006}}</ref>

Romney says that his views on abortion were drastically altered on November 9, 2004, after discussing stem cell research with Douglas Melton, a stem cell researcher at [[Harvard University]]. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute was planning research that would have involved therapeutic cloning.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mitt Romney's Choice |url=http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=7798 |last=Antle III |first=W. James |work=The American Spectator |date=February 23, 2005 |access-date=March 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223211611/http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=7798 |archive-date=February 23, 2005 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Governor says that Melton declared that the research "is not a moral issue because we kill the embryos at 14&nbsp;days." "I looked over at [[Beth Myers]], my chief of staff, and we both had exactly the same reaction, which is it just hit us hard," recalled Romney. "And as they walked out, I said, 'Beth, we have cheapened the sanctity of life by virtue of the ''Roe v. Wade'' mentality.' And from that point forward, I said to the people of Massachusetts, 'I will continue to honor what I pledged to you, but I prefer to call myself pro-life.'"<ref>{{cite news  |title=Meet the Next President: Romney - The Man to Beat? |last=Sammon |first=Bill |publisher=[[Examiner.com]] |date=September 11, 2006 }}</ref>  Melton disputes Romney's account of the meeting, declaring "Governor Romney has mischaracterized my position; we didn't discuss killing or anything related to it ... I explained my work to him, told him about my deeply held respect for life, and explained that my work focuses on improving the lives of those suffering from debilitating diseases."<ref name="Romney's journey to the right">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/12/17/romneys_journey_to_the_right/ |title=Romney's journey to the right |last=Helman |first=Scott |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=December 17, 2006}}</ref>

In a May 2005 press conference, Romney when asked about Massachusetts abortion laws stated, "I have indicated that as governor, I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice, and so far I've been able to successfully do that."<ref>David L. Miller, [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pure-horserace-mccain-vs-romney-goes-on/ "McCain Vs. Romney Goes On, Their Fight Over Abortion Is The Latest Chapter In A Dispute Between GOP Hopefuls"], [[CBS News]], February 11, 2009.</ref>

Romney has said he has kept his campaign promises. Romney vetoed an [[emergency contraception]] bill in July 2005, claiming that allowing it to pass into law would violate his "moratorium" on changes to the abortion laws.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:--><ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/26/why_i_vetoed_contraception_bill Why I vetoed contraception bill – The Boston Globe<!-- Bot-generated title -->] at www.boston.com</ref>  He vetoed a bill on pro-life grounds that the bill would expand access to [[emergency contraception]] in hospitals and pharmacies. He returned from his vacation house in New Hampshire to veto the bill, because the Lt. Govorner, [[Kerry Healey]] would have signed the bill into law.<ref name="WMUR-Romney Veto-2005-07-25">{{cite news | url=http://www.wmur.com/r/4766618/detail.html | title=Romney Vetoes Emergency Contraception Bill | publisher=[[WMUR-TV]] | date=July 25, 2005 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511103054/http://www.wmur.com/r/4766618/detail.html | archive-date=May 11, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> The legislature voted overwhelmingly to overturn the veto and pass the bill into law on September 15, 2005.<ref name = "BGlobe-Greenberger-2005-09-16">{{cite news | work = Boston Globe | last = Greenberger | first = Scott S. | date = September 16, 2005 | access-date = November 15, 2011 | title = Lawmakers override governor's contraception veto: Move will ease morning-after pill's availability | url = http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/women/articles/2005/09/16/lawmakers_override_governors_contraception_veto/ | quote =The Senate voted, 37 to 0, to reject Romney's veto, and the House followed suit with a 139-to-16 tally. Supporters needed a two-thirds majority in each chamber to overrule the governor.}}</ref>  At the time of the veto, Romney said he does not support [[abortion]] except in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is threatened.<ref name="Veto-Contraception">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/26/why_i_vetoed_contraception_bill/ |title=Why I vetoed contraception bill |last=Romney |first=Mitt |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=July 25, 2005 |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref> He opposed the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', criticizing "'one size fits all' judicial pronouncements".<ref name="Veto-Contraception"/> The following year, Romney's spokesperson has also indicated that were he the governor of that state, he would sign into law the controversial [[South Dakota abortion law]], but include exceptions for cases of incest or rape, which the South Dakota law excludes.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Challenge to 'Roe'? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/02/AR2006030201683.html |newspaper=Washington Post |date=March 3, 2006 |page=A16 |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref>

In 2005, Romney's top political strategist, Michael Murphy, told ''[[National Review]]'' that the Governor had "been a pro-life Mormon faking it as a pro-choice friendly."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200512141539.asp |title=Matinee Mitt |last=Miller |first=John |work=National Review |date=December 14, 2005 |access-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref> Murphy later explained that he "was discussing a characterization the governor's critics use."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/11/AR2005061100634_pf.html |title=Spotlight on Romney's Abortion Stance |last=Milbank |first=Dana |newspaper=Washington Post |date= July 12, 2005 |access-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref>

==Stem cell research==
During his 2002 campaign, Romney had expressed broad support for [[embryonic stem cell research]], and said he would lobby President Bush (who the year before had banned most federal funding for such research) to support it.<ref name="bg021107">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/02/11/romneys_stem_cell_view_may_upset_the_right/ | title=Romney's stem cell view may upset the right | author=Helman, Scott | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=February 11, 2007}}</ref>  In particular, Romney stated that he supported the use of surplus [[embryo]]s from [[fertility clinic]]s for [[stem-cell research]].  In early 2005, Romney announced his position on [[therapeutic cloning]] for the first time, saying he was against it, but was still in favor of research on unused embryos from fertility treatments.<ref name="bg021107"/>  Per this stance, he vetoed a Massachusetts bill to fund stem-cell research because the legislation allowed such cloning of human embryos. "I am not in favor of creating new human embryos through cloning," said Romney, calling the practice "a matter of profound moral and ethical consequence". Romney also opposed the legislation because of its assertion that life does not begin until an embryo is implanted in a uterus. "It is very conceivable that scientific advances will allow an embryo to be grown for a substantial period of time outside the uterus," Romney said in an interview with the ''[[Boston Globe]]''. "To say that it is not life at one month or two months or four months or full term, just because it had never been in a uterus, would be absurd."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/05/12/romney_urges_changes_to_stem_cell_bill/ |title=Romney urges changes to stem cell bill Adds amendment to prohibit cloning|work=The Boston Globe|author=Scott Greenberger|date=May 12, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/lopez/lopez200502110936.asp |author=Kathryn Jean Lopez |title=Romney vs. Harvard: Is the Bay State a make-or-break point for the culture of life?|work=National Review Online|date=February 11, 2005}}</ref> The state legislature overrode Romney's veto, with many legislators feeling that stem-cell research will be important in the future to the state's biotech industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/04/02/romney_concedes_defeat_on_stem_cell_research/ |author=Raphael Lewis and Michael Levenson|title=Governor concedes defeat on stem-cell bill Raises possibility of US legislation|work=The Boston Globe|date=April 2, 2005}}</ref>

==Military and veterans benefits==
[[File:US Navy 050520-N-4549D-002 USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Commanding Officer, Capt. Dennis E. Fitzpatrick, gives the Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney a tour of the conventionally powered aircraft carrier's flight deck.jpg|thumb|right|Governor Romney received a tour of the aircraft carrier [[USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)|USS ''John F. Kennedy'']] in May 2005 as part of celebrating [[Armed Forces Day#United States|Armed Forces Day]].]]
In February 2005, Romney filed legislation to increase benefits for Massachusetts National Guard members.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}
Working with the state legislature, Romney developed the "Welcome Home Bill" which provides guardsman with reduced life-insurance premiums and free tuition and fees at Massachusetts universities and community colleges.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/10/12/romney_pushes_bill_to_boost_benefits_of_guard_members/ |title=Romney pushes bill to boost benefits of Guard members |last=Helman |first=Scott |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 12, 2005 |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref> The bill also increases daily state active-duty pay rate from $75 to $100, and increases the death benefit paid to families of Guard members killed in the line of duty from $5,000 to $100,000.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/11/new_veterans_come_marching_home_to_welcome/ New veterans come marching home to welcome – The Boston Globe<!-- Bot-generated title -->] at www.boston.com</ref> Additionally, the "Welcome Home Bill" creates a $1,000 bonus for Guardsman and reservists called to active duty in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]] since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] and a $500 bonus for those who were activated for duty elsewhere. The legislation provides a $2,000 benefit for Gold Star spouses and increases the Gold Star parents' benefit from $1,500 to $2,000. High school diplomas will also be granted to veterans who dropped out to enlist in [[World War II]], Korea or Vietnam wars. Romney signed the bill into law on Veterans Day 2005.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3731/is_200604/ai_n16350622 Governor Signs Bill Expanding State Benefits for Guardsmen | National Guard | Find Articles at BNET<!-- bot-generated title -->] at findarticles.com</ref>

In a November 3, 2006 press release, Romney stated that the account that funds the insurance benefits created in the "Welcome Home Bill" faced a deficit of $64,000. The [[Massachusetts General Court|Massachusetts legislature]] was out of session at the time of the shortfall. According to the press release, Romney transferred money from the governor's office budget to cover the deficit.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=pressreleases&agId=Agov2&prModName=gov2pressrelease&prFile=gov_pr_061103_vets_insurance.xml |date=November 3, 2006 |access-date=November 21, 2006 |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department |title=Romney transfers funds from governor's office to pay military benefit}}</ref>

Working with the legislature, Romney developed legislation to provide tax exemptions to disabled veterans and benefits to families of fallen and missing soldiers. Romney signed the Massachusetts Military Enhanced Relief Individual Tax (MERIT) Plan into law on August 14, 2006. The bill increases property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and grants spouses of veterans killed or missing in action since September 11, 2001 full property tax exemptions for five years. After five years the spouses receive an annual $2,500 exemption under the legislation.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-15912.html|title=Massachusetts Gov. Romney Expands Tax Benefits For Disabled Veterans|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820083606/http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news%2Barticle%2Bstoryid-15912.html|archive-date=August 20, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=January 8, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Romney was also the first governor in Massachusetts history to appoint a secretary of veteran's affairs to his cabinet.<ref>[http://myclob.pbwiki.com/08-28-2003 "Romney Appoints State's 1st Secretary Of Veterans' Services; commissioner Kelley's elevation to cabinet honors veterans and their contributions"] ''The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department'' Press Release transcript of August 28, 2003. Retrieved November 13, 2006.</ref>

Romney's efforts to assist Massachusetts servicemen were recognized by the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, which presented him with the Pro Patria Award<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://www.esgr.org/employers2/newsdetail.asp?newsid=25 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005082222/http://www.esgr.org/employers2/newsdetail.asp?newsid=25 |date=October 5, 2006 }}</ref> and the 2006 [[Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award]].<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://www.esgr.org/employers2/FAP2006.asp?c=FAP2006recipients.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225003205/http://www.esgr.org/employers2/FAP2006.asp?c=FAP2006recipients.html |date=February 25, 2007 }}</ref>

==Housing==
[[File:Secretary Alphonso Jackson with Governor Mitt Romney.jpg|thumb|right|Governor Romney with [[United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development|HUD Secretary]] [[Alphonso Jackson]] in May 2004.]] 
As governor, Romney signed off on a substantial increase in funding for the construction of thousands of new housing units, especially in urban or downtown areas.<ref name="aap-06"/>  A goal of this was to counteract the state's otherwise high housing prices.<ref name="aap-06"/>

==Minimum wage==
As a candidate for governor in 2002, Romney proposed indexing the [[minimum wage]] to inflation and raising the hourly pay for the state's lowest-paid workers from $6.75 an hour to $6.96 an hour starting January 2004, saying, "I do not believe that indexing the minimum wage will cost us jobs. I believe it will help us retain jobs."<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/05/26/senate_oks_minimum_wage_hike/ Senate OK's minimum wage hike - The Boston Globe<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.boston.com</ref>

In July 2006, the legislature passed a bill increasing the minimum wage to $8.00 an hour, and he vetoed it. "I have spent hours reading a wide array of reviews on the minimum wage and its impact on the economy, and there's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs, and the loss of jobs is at the entry level," said Romney when he vetoed the bill.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/01/minimum_wage_hike_veto_rejected/ Minimum wage hike veto rejected – The Boston Globe<!-- Bot-generated title -->] at www.boston.com</ref> He proposed an increase to $7.00/hour (which represented a 25 cents an hour increase over the existing rate.) The legislature voted on July 31, 2006 to override his veto (unanimously in the Senate) thus setting the minimum wage at the higher amount.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw06/sl060271.htm Chapter 271 of the Acts of 2006] ''An Act Increasing the Minimum Wage.'' The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (See the enabling text of the act.) Retrieved November 18, 2007.</ref>

==Illegal immigration==
Romney vetoed a bill in 2004 that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain in-state tuition rates at state colleges if they graduated from a Massachusetts high school after attending it for at least three years and signed an affidavit affirming that they intended to seek citizenship. Romney argued that the bill would cost the state government $15&nbsp;million and that Massachusetts should not reward illegal immigration.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/11/house_defeats_in_state_tuition_bill_for_undocumented_immigrants/ |title=House defeats in-state tuition bill for undocumented immigrants |last=LeBlanc |first=Steve |date=January 11, 2006 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=January 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510145728/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/11/house_defeats_in_state_tuition_bill_for_undocumented_immigrants/ |archive-date=May 10, 2008 }}</ref> A study by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation predicted that the legislation would generate over $5&nbsp;million in state revenues; the Massachusetts Coalition for Immigration Reform disputed this conclusion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/06/tax_lobby_sees_gain_in_tuition_proposal/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=January 6, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2007 |last=Lewis |first=Raphael |title=Tax lobby sees gain in tuition proposal}}</ref> In 2005, the bill was reintroduced to the House and brought to a vote on January 11, 2006. The legislation was defeated 96-57.<ref>{{cite news|author=Abraham, Yvonne|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/12/immigrant_tuition_bill_defeated/ |title=Immigrant tuition bill defeated: Mass. House votes no on rate cut for the undocumented|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=January 12, 2006|access-date=December 18, 2006}}</ref>

On December 2, 2006, it was reported that a landscaping company Romney contracted to perform yard work at his home had been suspected of employing illegal immigrants. Romney said that he was unaware of the immigration status of the company's employees.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney2dec02,1,2970133.story?coll=la-headlines-nation|title=Workers a thorny issue for Romney|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 2, 2006|author=Mehren, Elizabeth}}</ref>  A year later it was reported that the same company was still using illegal immigrants to work on Romney's estate. After this second report, Romney fired the landscape company.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/mitt-romney-terminates-contract-with-lawn-care-company-for-hiring-illegal-immigrants "Mitt Romney Terminates Contract With Lawn Care Company for Hiring Illegal Immigrants"], [[Fox News]] (December 5, 2007).</ref>

Later in December 2006, Romney signed  an agreement with the [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE) agency that would have allowed Massachusetts State Police troopers to arrest and seek deportation of suspected illegal immigrants they encounter over the course of their normal duties.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=171835&format=&page=1/ |title=Romney signs agreement allowing State Police to detain illegals|work=Boston Herald|date=December 13, 2006|access-date=December 19, 2006}}</ref>  Under the terms of the agreement, a group of 30 troopers would have received specialized training allowing them to question and detain suspected illegal immigrants, charge them with a violation of immigration law and place them in removal proceedings.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

The executive order pertaining to state police was consistent with [[Section 287(g)]] of federal immigration law. Section 287(g) is a program of the [[Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996]] that deputizes state and local law enforcement personnel to enforce immigration matters.<ref>{{cite news|author=Elizabeth Llorente |title=Newark Killings Become Immigration Flash Point |work=The Record |date=August 14, 2007 |url=http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTgxNjYzJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Ng== |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070616140555/http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTgxNjYzJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Ng== |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cobb ignoring tool aimed at illegals |work=Marietta Daily Journal |date=August 3, 2006 |url=http://www.mdjonline.com/articles/2006/08/03/270/10226979.prt }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ice.gov/news/library/factsheets/287g.htm|title=Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality Act|website=www.ice.gov|access-date=March 21, 2011|archive-date=February 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220090259/http://www.ice.gov/news/library/factsheets/287g.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The agreement was never implemented because governor-elect [[Deval Patrick]], who had expressed strong opposition to the agreement before it was signed, revoked it a month later when he was sworn in.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Governor rescinds immigration order| author = Jonathan Saltzman  |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2007/01/12/governor_rescinds_immigration_order/ | publisher = Boston Globe |date=January 12, 2007 |access-date=July 27, 2007}}</ref>

==Environment==
[[File:Mitt Romney, 2006.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Governor Mitt Romney in June 2006]]
In May 2004, Romney issued a 72-point Climate Protection Plan describing the approach his administration would take on environmental matters.<ref name="jt-m-env"/> Later that year, he issued a press release that stated, "Costs are down, but environmental enforcement is up".{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} He supported regulation of [[greenhouse gas|greenhouse gas emissions]], primarily through voluntary measures.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:--><ref name="jt-m-env">[http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=15250 "Massachusetts Gov. Romney Unveils Climate Protection Plan", James M. Taylor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201194648/http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=15250 |date=December 1, 2006 }}, [[The Heartland Institute]]<span>,<!-- bot-generated title --></span> July 1, 2004.</ref> He initially supported the [[Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative]] (RGGI),<ref><!-- check cite, and insert retrieved date when reviewing this section--> Little, Amanda Griscom. [http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/01/28/muckraker/index_np.html "Mitt Romney's mistake: Bowing to big business, the GOP governor and presidential hopeful flip-flops on clean air for New England."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624115500/http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/01/28/muckraker/index_np.html |date=June 24, 2007 }} ''Salon.com,'' Jan 28, 2006.</ref><ref><!--check cite and insert retrieval date --> Daley, Beth. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/02/states_to_move_on_cutting_emissions/?page=2 "States to move on cutting emissions: reluctant Mass may be left behind," ] ''Boston Globe'', December 2, 2005.</ref><ref name = "NYT-Draper-2012-10-02"/> but ultimately pulled Massachusetts out of the project when he could not ensure that there would be caps on the fees charged to businesses which exceeded emission limits, out of concern that the increased costs businesses would face would be passed to consumers.<ref name = "NYT-Draper-2012-10-02">
{{cite news | magazine = The New York Times Magazine, Published October 2, 2012. Issue date: Sunday, October 7, 2012 | title = The Mitt Romney Who Might Have Been | last = Draper | first = Robert | date = October 2, 2012 | access-date = October 2, 2012 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/magazine/mitt-romney.html }}
</ref><ref name="bg-rggi-out">
{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7928566.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130000323/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7928566.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2015|title=Mass. Pulls Out of Agreement to Cut Power Plant Emissions |first=Beth |last=Daley |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=December 15, 2005}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="bg-rggi7"/> The decision to not participate in RGGI was revealed on the day that he announced he would not run for re-election, spurring accusations that he had switched his stance in order to gain support from industry groups for a possible presidential campaign.<ref name = "NYT-Draper-2012-10-02"/><ref name="bg-rggi7"><!--check cite and insert retrieval date -->Greenberger, Scot S. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/21/7_states_sign_emissions_pact/ "7 states sign emissions pact: Mass. legislators urge compliance,"] ''Boston Globe'', December 21, 2005.</ref>

Although Romney voiced support for [[wind farm]] projects in several Massachusetts towns,<ref name="Energyplan-081106">{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/11/romney_outlines_energy_plan_mixing_conservation_alternate_supply/ |title=Romney outlines energy plan mixing conservation, alternate supply |last=Johnson |first=Glen |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=August 11, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821195213/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/11/romney_outlines_energy_plan_mixing_conservation_alternate_supply/ |access-date=July 3, 2007 |archive-date=August 21, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> he opposed the [[Cape Wind]] offshore wind farm proposed for [[Nantucket Sound]], saying that it would depress property values and damage the local, tourism-based economy in an area he described as pristine and a "national treasure".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/11/21/MNG5H9V40D1.DTL |title=Residents upset over Cape Cod wind-farm plan |last=Badkhen |first=Anna |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 21, 2004 |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref> Cape Wind supporters accused Romney and federal lawmakers of "back-door deal-making" in an attempt to kill the project,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3083 |title=Cape Cod Wind Farm Could Face Romney Veto |last=Komp |first=Catherine |work=New Standard |date=April 21, 2006 |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref> while elected officials opposed to the project accused Cape Wind developers of receiving a "back-room deal" for the {{convert|24|sqmi|km2}} of state-controlled property targeted to be used in the project.<!-- Note: convert this link into a footnote:
--><ref>[http://outside.away.com/outside/news/20060427_1.html World's Largest Wind-Farm Project Draws Debate | Outside Online<!-- bot-generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528074223/http://outside.away.com/outside/news/20060427_1.html|date=May 28, 2006}} at outside.away.com</ref>

In August 2006, Romney unveiled an energy plan calling for improved energy-efficiency requirements for state buildings, increased use of biofuels in the state automobile fleet, the creation of a prize-rewards lottery for consumers who buy energy-efficient equipment, and proposals for wind and biomass power-generation for state facilities.<ref name="Energyplan-081106"/> Three months later, in November 2006, Romney cut $7&nbsp;million from the maintenance budget for the state's parklands (the sixth largest state park system in the country). He also cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from the budget for environmental law enforcement, efforts to promote cleaner water in communities, and hazardous waste cleanup.<ref>{{cite news |last=Daley |first=Beth |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/11/12/estimate_to_fix_state_parks_system_leaps/ |title=Estimate to fix state parks system leaps |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 12, 2006 |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref>

==Transportation policy and the "Big Dig"==
During his campaign for governor, Romney proposed merging the [[Massachusetts Turnpike Authority]], the government agency that managed the massive [[Big Dig (Boston, Massachusetts)|"Big Dig"]] project in Boston, with the [[Massachusetts Highway Department]].<ref name="aap-04"/><ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/01/13/romney_set_to_propose_break_on_tolls/ "Romney set to propose break on tolls: By Scott S. Greenberger "] ''Globe Staff'' December 15, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2006.</ref> Under Massachusetts law the Turnpike Authority is an independent agency that does not report to the governor.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/11/romney_takes_steps_to_remove_turnpike_authority_chairman/ "Romney takes steps to remove Turnpike Authority chairman: Jay Lindsay"] ''Associated Press'' July 11, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2006.</ref> After being elected Governor, Romney called for the merger in 2003 and 2004.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/02/03/merger_for_pike_authority_is_pressed/ " Merger for Pike authority is pressed: By Anthony Flint"] ''Globe Staff'' February 3, 2004. Retrieved December 17, 2006.</ref> The Massachusetts legislature rejected Romney's call for consolidation.  However the legislature did approve making the head of the [[Massachusetts Department of Transportation]] the head of the Turnpike Authority.{{dubious|date=December 2013}}<ref name="aap-06">{{Cite book |title = The Almanac of American Politics 2006 |last1 = Barone |first1 = Michael |author-link = Michael Barone (pundit) |first2 = Richard E. |last2 = Cohen |author-link2 = Richard E. Cohen |year = 2006 |publisher = [[National Journal Group]] |location = Washington |isbn = 978-0-89234-111-5 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00mich_5/page/808 808–809] |title-link = The Almanac of American Politics }}</ref>

Following the discovery of leaks in the I-93 tunnel, Romney called for the resignation of [[Matthew Amorello]], the Chairman and CEO of the Turnpike Authority.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/06/28/amorello_tries_to_preserve_his_power/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |title=Amorello tries to preserve his power |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=June 28, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2007}}</ref> Amorello refused to resign and in June 2005, Romney asked the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to grant him the authority to fire Amorello. The request was denied, as the court declined to hear his case.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/06/30/romney_retreats_on_turnpike_ouster?mode=PF |title=Romney retreats on turnpike ouster |last=Levenson |first=Michael |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 30, 2005}}</ref> In July 2006 a woman was killed when a section of the I-90 roof collapsed on her car. Citing continued mismanagement of the project, Romney once again called for Amorello's dismissal and initiated legal proceedings to oust the chairman. Despite calls from Massachusetts Attorney General [[Thomas Reilly (Massachusetts politician)|Tom Reilly]], House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, Senate President Robert Travaglini, Boston Mayor [[Thomas Menino]], the chairman of both the house and senate transportation committees and the editorial boards of the ''Boston Globe'' and ''Herald'', Amorello once again refused to step aside.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/articles/2006/07/14/turnpike_chief_resisting_pressure_to_step_down/ |title=Turnpike chief resisting pressure to step down |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=July 14, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2007 |first=Scott |last=Helman|author2=Andrea Estes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eagletribune.com/local/local_story_193063924 |title=Big Dig death leads to calls for safety inspection, prosecution |work=Eagle-Tribune |date=July 12, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123090547/http://www.eagletribune.com/local/local_story_193063924 |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Romney responded by filing emergency legislation to wrest control of the inspection of the Big Dig tunnel system from the Turnpike Authority.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/us/13cnd-tunnel.html |title=Gov. Romney Seeks Control of Big Dig Inquiry |work=[[The New York Times]] |last=Belluck |first=Pam |date=July 12, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2007}}</ref> The Massachusetts State Legislature overwhelmingly approved the legislation, which Romney signed on July 14, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cbs4boston.com/local/local_story_195063246.html |title=Romney Details Problems With Connector Tunnel |date=July 14, 2006 |publisher=CBS4 |access-date=January 2, 2007 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Department of Transportation began immediate inspections of the I-90 tunnel and pledged a "stem to stern" review of the entire Big Dig Tunnel System. Meanwhile, Romney continued his effort to fire Amorello. He scheduled a termination hearing for the Chairman for July 27, 2006. Facing increasing pressure from associates and colleagues, Amorello resigned, effective August 16, 2006, one and a half hours before the hearing was to take place. "A new era of reform and accountability at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority has begun," said Romney after receiving the resignation. "Patronage will be replaced by professionalism, and secrecy will be replaced by openness." Romney has pledged a "nationwide" search for a replacement to lead the Turnpike Authority and the Big Dig. Romney's administration then hired [[Bechtel]] to inspect the faulty work it had itself done.<ref>Miga, Andrew. [http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/romney-faced-leadership-test-1442188.html "Romney faced leadership test in Big Dig tragedy."] ''AJC'', May 21, 2012.</ref>

Since the collapse, the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] has informally investigated whether Massachusetts Turnpike Authority bonds misled investors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/10/14/sec_is_probing_turnpike_bonds/ |title=SEC is probing turnpike bonds |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 14, 2006 |first=Scott |last=Allen |author2=Sean P. Murphy |access-date=January 2, 2007}}</ref> The SEC has requested documents relating to the Big Dig from the Turnpike Authority, the state Treasurer's office, the highway department and the governor's executive transportation office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct13/0,4670,BigDig,00.html |title=SEC Asks for Big Dig Documents |agency=Associated Press |last=LeBlanc |first=Steve |work=FoxNews.com |date=October 13, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2007}}</ref>

As governor, Romney worked with members of Congress from Massachusetts to request [[Earmark (politics)|federal spending earmarks]] to benefit state transportation projects.  These included a safety review for the Big Dig as well as funds for local bridges and highway interchanges.<!-- did he get these funds? unclear from source --><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romneys-work-on-olympics-mass-projects-reveals-a-complex-history-with-earmarks/2012/02/15/gIQAHJ72HR_story.html | title=Romney's work on Olympics, Mass. projects reveals complex history with earmarks | first=Rosalind S. |last=Helderman |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=February 16, 2012}}</ref>

==Emergency responses==
In May 2006, heavy rains produced flooding in Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news|last1=MacQuarrie|first1=Brian|last2=Ellement |first2=John R.|title=Misery follows flood's havoc|url=http://www.boston.com/news/weather/articles/2006/05/17/misery_follows_floods_havoc/ |access-date=July 5, 2013|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=May 17, 2006}}</ref> Romney declared a state of emergency,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=139252|title=Romney declares state of emergency|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514165250/http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=139252|archive-date=May 14, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=January 8, 2007}}</ref> mobilized the Massachusetts National Guard,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pentagon.mil/news/May2006/20060515_5133.html|title=National Guard Activated in Response to New England Flooding|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929212121/http://www.pentagon.mil/news/May2006/20060515_5133.html|archive-date=September 29, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=January 8, 2007}}</ref> called for volunteers and charitable donations to help residents,<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacQuarrie |first1=Brian|last2=Ellement |first2=John R.|title=For flooded, a fearful cost|url=http://www.boston.com/news/weather/articles/2006/05/18/for_flooded_a_fearful_cost/|access-date=July 5, 2013|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=May 18, 2006}}</ref> and asked [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] to declare the flooded area a major disaster area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_137171730.html|title=Gov. Romney Unveils Plan To Help Flood Victims|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210043715/http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_137171730.html|archive-date=December 10, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=January 8, 2007}}</ref> Romney was criticized by local politicians when he vetoed $5.7&nbsp;million in state funding for flood control in [[Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody]] six months after the town was flooded in April 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last=LeBlanc|first=Steve|title=Democrats accuse Romney of using veto pen for politics|url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040923/NEWS/309239951& |access-date=July 5, 2013|newspaper=South Coast Today|date=September 23, 2004}}</ref> After Peabody again suffered flooding in May 2006, Romney announced that he supported spending $2&nbsp;million of state money on flood control for the town.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}

==State politics==
[[File:Mitt Romney speaking at Old North Church in Boston.jpg|thumb|right|Governor Romney speaking at a ceremony, at the Old North Church in Boston, marking the announcement of a Save America's Treasures Historic Preservation grant for the Church, May 27, 2003.]] 
Romney's relationship with the state legislature was somewhat fraught. He insisted that discussions with executive branch appointees always go through the governor's office, which left legislators annoyed.<ref name="aap-06"/>  Furthermore, he withheld giving the legislators permanent authority to create new committees or to grant committee chairs pay increases.<ref name="aap-06"/>  Romney was disinclined towards making political deals with the legislature, saying: "I ran on the platform of cleaning up the mess on Beacon Hill, [and] reform means changing the way things are. Legislatures by and large, despite the political titles, are conservative. They don't want to change the way things work. So of course it's going to be a battle."<ref name="aap-06"/>

On a personal level, Romney mostly only dealt with the leadership of the state legislature, and rarely developed any political or social relationships with most of the members.<ref name="nyt-nomingle">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/10/us/politics/romneys-ceo-style-in-massachusetts-could-irk-lawmakers.html | title=Legislators Recall Governor Who Didn't Mingle | first=Michael | last=Barbaro | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=March 10, 2012 | page=A1}}</ref>  Indeed, he failed to memorize the names and faces of all of them, and sometimes greeted them incorrectly as a result.<ref name="nyt-nomingle"/>  Legislators complained that he did not extend customary courtesies towards them, such as seat locations at public events, legislative liaison practices, and access to an elevator within the capitol building.<ref name="nyt-nomingle"/>

In 2004, the legislature passed a measure over his veto that took away the governor's ability to appoint a body to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate and instead set a schedule an early special election.<ref name="aap-06"/>  This was in large part an attempt to keep a seat in Democratic hands should Senator [[John Kerry]]'s campaign in the [[2004 United States presidential election]], succeed.<ref>
{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/06/11/special_election_bill_gets_new_life/ | title=Special election bill gets new life | author=Phillips, Frank | newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=June 11, 2004 | access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref>  (This measure was reversed in 2009 following the death of Senator [[Edward M. Kennedy]], permitting the then-Democratic governor to promptly appoint to fill the vacancy, pending the mandated election no more than 160 days after the vacancy occurred.<ref name = "Boston Globe-Viser & PHillips-2009-09-24">
{{cite news|last=Viser|first=Matt|author2=Phillips, Frank| title=Kirk named interim senator| newspaper = [[The Boston Globe]] |date=September 24, 2009| url= http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/09/kirk_to_be_name.html | access-date=September 24, 2009}}</ref>)
In any case, Romney did not think much of Kerry, labeling him "a very conflicted person" who would be "a most unfortunate person to have as president of the United States."<ref name="aap-06"/>
By comparison, Romney expressed a measure of admiration for his one-time electoral rival, saying "Senator Kennedy is a workhorse."<ref name="aap-06"/>

In the [[Massachusetts Senate elections, 2004]] and [[Massachusetts House election, 2004]], Romney campaigned heavily to try to recruit Republican candidates to contest seats, coming up with 131 such candidates, an unusually large number for the weak Massachusetts Republican party to field.<ref name="aap-06"/><ref name="nyt-nomingle"/>  Overseeing a $3 million fund-raising effort for what he called Team Reform,<ref name="nyt-nomingle"/> he financed radio and television convincement campaigns on issues such as tuition for children of illegal immigrants.<ref name="aap-06"/>  However, his efforts were for naught.<ref name="bgseries7"/> Republicans lost two seats in the state House and one seat in the state Senate,<ref name="aap-06"/> and the Democrats who had supported some of Romney's measures but were nonetheless still targeted took personal offense at the entire effort.<ref name="nyt-nomingle"/> Romney subsequently made a conscious decision to focus less on the state Republican Party and more on bipartisanship at the state level and his own interests at the national level.<ref name="bgseries7"/>

Romney issued 844 vetoes as governor,<ref name="nyt-nomingle"/> the large share of which were overturned by one or the other of the state houses.<ref name="bgseries7"/><ref name="Concord Monitor-Barrick-2007-05-03">{{cite news
 |title=Romney's vetoes seldom stood: Legislature pushed bills through anyway 
 |first=Daniel 
 |last=Barrick 
 |work=Concord Monitor 
 |date=May 3, 2007 
 |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood 
 |access-date=December 26, 2011 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027012435/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood 
 |archive-date=October 27, 2012 
 |df=mdy 
}}
</ref>  Late in Romney's term, his vetoes issued began to annoy Republicans in the legislature and he lost support among them too.<ref name="bgseries7"/> Every veto in his final year in office was overturned by the legislature.<ref name = "NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro"/><ref name="Concord Monitor-2007-05-03-Barrick"/>
Nevertheless, Romney defended the practice: "I know how to veto. I like vetoes. I've vetoed hundreds of spending appropriations as governor."<ref name="bgseries7"/>

==Last year of term==
[[File:Barbour-DeVos-Romney-Saginaw-MI-Nov-3-2006-Cropped.jpg|thumb|right|Mississippi Governor [[Haley Barbour]], Michigan gubernatorial candidate [[Dick DeVos]], and Governor Romney drop the puck at a [[Saginaw Spirit]] hockey game in November 2006 at the [[Dow Event Center]] in [[Saginaw, Michigan]].]]

On December 14, 2005, Romney announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term as governor, fueling speculation about a run for the White House in 2008<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/14/romney_to_announce_he_wont_seek_re_election/ |title=Romney to announce he won't seek re-election |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=December 14, 2005 |access-date=November 21, 2006 |work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> in the face of rising dissatisfaction with the Republican Party in the state.

In 2006, his last year as governor, Romney spent all or part of 212&nbsp;days out of state, laying the foundation for his anticipated presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/12/24/romney_left_mass_on_212_days_in_06/|title=Romney left Mass. on 212 days in '06|first=Brian C.|last=Mooney|newspaper=Boston.com|date=December 24, 2006|via=The Boston Globe}}</ref>
The cost of the Governor's security detail for out-of-state trips increased from $63,874 in [[fiscal year]] 2005 to a cost of $103,365 in the first 11&nbsp;months of fiscal year 2006. Romney's use of state troopers for security during his campaign trips was criticized by former Governor [[Michael Dukakis]], who never traveled with state troopers during his 1988 presidential run, and Mary Boyle of [[Common Cause]] who complained that "[t]he people of Massachusetts are essentially funding his presidential campaign, whether they like it or not."<ref name="taxleap">{{Cite news|first=Frank |last=Phillips |author2=Brian C. Mooney |title=Taxpayers face leap in governor's travel costs |date=June 21, 2006 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/21/taxpayers_face_leap_in_governors_travel_costs/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=April 20, 2007 }}</ref>  A Romney spokesman noted that Romney did not accept a salary while he was Governor and that he paid for his personal and political travel, while the superintendent of the State Police pointed out that the Governor never requested the security and that the security detail followed the Governor on all trips.<ref name="taxleap"/>  In some cases his statements made while campaigning elsewhere in the country came back to affect him in Massachusetts, such as when he caused offense by using the term "[[tar baby]]" in [[Iowa]] in reference to the potential pitfalls of taking responsibility for the Big Dig.<ref>On July 29, 2006, while addressing a crowd in Iowa, Romney referred to the political risk involved with his efforts to oversee the "Big Dig" as a "tar baby". Romney was answering an audience question about whether his new responsibility for the project's safety following the death of a woman in the I-90 tunnel carried political risk. "The best thing politically would be to stay as far away from that tar baby as I can," said Romney, "But I got elected as governor of Massachusetts. It's part of my job to do what I think is the right thing."<!-- Note: convert this link into a cite:
-->[http://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/articles/2006/07/30/romney_touts_his_big_dig_efforts/] "I'll get the blame for anything that goes wrong," he said. "But I'm sure tired of people who are nothing but talk. I'm willing to take action."<!-- Note: convert this link into a cite:
-->[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/31/massachusetts_governor_apologizes_for_calling_big_dig_tar_baby/] ''Tar baby'', a term derived from an [[Uncle Remus]] story by [[Joel Chandler Harris]], is defined by the [[Merriam-Webster]] dictionary as "something from which it is nearly impossible to extricate oneself".<!-- Note: convert this link into a cite:
-->[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/tar%20baby] The term has also been used as a derogatory term for a black person. Some black leaders were offended by the governor's word choice. Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, said the governor was describing "a sticky situation". "He was unaware that some people find the term objectionable and he's sorry if anyone's offended," Fehrnstrom said.<!-- Note: convert this link into a cite:
-->[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/31/massachusetts_governor_apologizes_for_calling_big_dig_tar_baby/]<!-- Note: convert this link into a cite:
-->[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/31/romney.racialremark.ap/index.html]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Lieutenant Governor [[Kerry Healey]] became the Republican nominee for the [[Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2006|2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial race]] and subsequently lost overwhelmingly to [[Massachusetts Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee [[Deval Patrick]].

At the end of Romney's term, several of his staffers purchased the hard drives from their state-issued computers, and emails were deleted from the server.<ref name="records">{{cite news| last1 = Levenson| first1 = Michael| last2 = Viser| first2 = Matt| title = Romney staffers wiped out records in '06| newspaper = [[The Boston Globe]]| date = November 17, 2011| url = http://articles.boston.com/2011-11-17/news/30411090_1_e-mails-andrea-saul-mitt-romney| access-date = November 20, 2011| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111119224656/http://articles.boston.com/2011-11-17/news/30411090_1_e-mails-andrea-saul-mitt-romney| archive-date = November 19, 2011| df = mdy-all}}</ref> The amounts expended purchasing the drives came to nearly $100,000.<ref name="reut-hide">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-campaign-romney-computers-idUSTRE7B500X20111206 | title=Romney staff spent nearly $100,000 to hide records | work=[[Reuters]] | date=December 6, 2011 | author=Mark Hosenball | access-date=July 1, 2017 | archive-date=November 13, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113142738/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/06/us-usa-campaign-romney-computers-idUSTRE7B500X20111206 | url-status=live }}</ref> Under the [[Massachusetts Public Records Law]], the emails did not have to be made public but did have to be preserved.<ref name="records"/> Terry Dolan, who worked as director of administration under Romney and several other governors, has said that scrubbing the servers was a common practice but that selling the hard drives was not.<ref name="recall"/> When news of the actions became widely known in 2011, a Romney spokesperson said that the purchase of the computer equipment "complied with the law and longtime executive branch practice."<ref name="records"/> State government officials and aides to Romney's three predecessors as governor said that they did not know of any prior sales of hard drives to staffers.<ref name="reut-hide"/><ref name="recall">{{cite news| last1 = Levenson| first1 = Michael| last2 = Viser| first2 = Matt| title = Past staffs recall no computer buybacks| newspaper = [[The Boston Globe]]| date = November 18, 2011| url = https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2011/11/18/past-staffs-recall-computer-buybacks/jpLb3VSnMf0FdyrEbhwk1K/story.html| access-date = November 20, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111120012907/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2011/11/18/past-staffs-recall-computer-buybacks/jpLb3VSnMf0FdyrEbhwk1K/story.html| archive-date = November 20, 2011| url-status = dead| df = mdy-all}}</ref> When questioned on the subject in 2011, Romney responded that he had not wanted the information to be available to "opposition research teams".<ref>{{cite web| last = Seitz-Wald| first = Alex | title = Romney Admits He Destroyed Government Records To Keep Them From Political Opponents | publisher = [[ThinkProgress]] | date = November 21, 2011  | url = http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/11/21/373627/romney-admits-recordsdestruction/ | access-date = November 21, 2011}}</ref>

Romney's term ended January 4, 2007. Romney filed papers to establish a formal exploratory presidential campaign committee on his next-to-last day in office as governor.<ref>Estes, Andrea; and Helman, Scott. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/04/romney_exits_with_pomp_ambition/?page=full Romney exits with pomp, ambition: Ends term, takes 1st formal step for White House bid] ''Boston Globe''.  January 4, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2007.</ref>

==Job approval ratings as governor==
{| class="wikitable floatleft"
|-
! Date
! Approval
! Disapproval
! Notes
|-
| Feb. 2003<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Romney's budget ax cuts his way in poll|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=March 2, 2003}}</ref>
| 56%
| 23%
|
|-
| June 2003<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Poll: More favor tax hikes in lieu of cuts in services|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 5, 2003}}</ref>
| 56%
| 36%
|
|-
| Sep. 2003<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=In poll, Romney's popularity on rise|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 10, 2003}}</ref>
| 61%
| 36%
|
|-
| Nov. 2003
| 66%
| 33%
| Before Supreme Judicial Court ruling on gay marriage.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/11/27/poll_suggests_mass_voters_back_changes/ | work=The Boston Globe | title=Poll suggests Mass. voters back changes | first1=Frank | last1=Phillips | date=November 27, 2003}}</ref>
|-
| April 2004<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Poll finds split over marriage amendment|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 6, 2004}}</ref>
| 58%
| 40%
|
|-
| Sep. 2004<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Romney popularity down in poll; many in survey hit national run|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=September 15, 2004}}</ref>
| 55%
| 44%
|
|-
| March 2005
| 50%
| 37%
| After rumors of exploring run for presidency.<ref name=hurdles>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Poll shows Romney bid for president faces hurdles|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=March 11, 2005}}</ref>
|-
| Aug. 2005<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Polls show hurdles for Romney; conservative stances hurting him in Mass|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=August 21, 2005}}</ref>
| 50%
| 40%
|
|-
| March 2006
| 46%
| 47%
| After announcing not running for re-election.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/12/reilly_leads_patrick_gains_in_new_poll/ | work=The Boston Globe | title=Reilly leads, Patrick gains in new poll | date=March 12, 2006 | first1=Frank | last1=Phillips}}</ref>
|
|-
| June 2006<ref name=susa>{{cite web|url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollTrack.aspx?g=454ada23-20dc-41f0-9c0c-a8a2a45d653c |title=MA Gov |publisher=SurveyUSA |access-date=November 28, 2010}}</ref>
| 39%
| 56%
| 
|-
| Nov. 2006<ref name=susa/>
| 34%
| 65%
| Lowest approval of governorship.
|-
| Dec. 2006<ref name=susa/>
| 39%
| 59%
| Last full month of governorship.
|}

Romney had job approval ratings around 50&nbsp;percent for most of his term,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bay State Poll - March 2006 Study Report |url=http://kahuna.merrimack.edu/polling/BSP0306SR.pdf |date=March 13, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906042740/http://kahuna.merrimack.edu/polling/BSP0306SR.pdf |archive-date=September 6, 2006 }}</ref> but they began to decline towards the end of his term. A March 2005 poll found that only 32&nbsp;percent felt Romney should be re-elected if he ran for a second term as governor (69&nbsp;percent of Republicans said he should be re-elected, compared to 31&nbsp;percent of independents and 12&nbsp;percent of Democrats).<ref name=hurdles/> Many in Massachusetts grew dissatisfied with Romney's frequent out-of-state travel and shift toward promoting socially conservative issues as he began to focus increasingly on national rather than state politics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wangsness|first=Lisa|title=Voters voice regard, regret over Romney - Huge potential unment, some say|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=December 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Burr|first=Thomas|title=Romney unpopular as he leaves governor's post|url=http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5021713|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=January 16, 2007}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Cabinet and administration==
{| cellpadding="1" cellspacing="2" style="float:margin:1em 1em 1em 0; border:1px solid #000; font-size:85%;"
|-
! style="background:#dcdcdc;" colspan="3"|The Romney Cabinet
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|'''OFFICE'''||align="left"|'''NAME'''||align="left"|'''TERM'''
|-
! style="background:#000;" colspan="3"|
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Governor of Massachusetts|Governor]]||align="left" |'''Mitt Romney'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Lt. Governor||align="left"|'''[[Kerry Healey]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
! style="background:#000;" colspan="3"|
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth Development|Commonwealth Development]]||align="left"|'''[[Douglas I. Foy]]'''<br />'''[[Andrew Gottlieb]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2006<br />2006{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Transportation|Transportation]]*||align="left"|'''[[Daniel A. Grabauskas]]'''<br />'''[[John Cogliano]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2005<br />2005{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Director of the Department of Housing & Community Development|Housing & Community Development]]*||align="left"|'''[[Jane Wallis Gumble]]'''||align="left"|1996{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs|Environmental Affairs]]*||align="left"|'''[[Ellen Roy Herzfelder]]'''<br />'''[[Stephen Pritchard]]'''<br />'''[[Robert W. Golledge, Jr.]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2005<br />2005{{spaced ndash}}2006<br />2006{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development|Economic Development]]||align="left"|'''[[Robert Pozen]]'''<br />'''[[Ranch C. Kimball]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2004<br />2004{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation|Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation]]**||align="left"|'''[[Beth Lindstrom]]'''<br />'''[[Janice S. Tatarka]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2006<br />2006{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Director of the Department of Business & Technology|Business & Technology]]**||align="left"|'''[[Barbara Berke]]'''<br />'''[[Renee Fry]]'''<br />'''[[Deborah Shufrin]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2005<br />2005{{spaced ndash}}2006<br />2006{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Director of the Department of Workforce Development|Workforce Development]]**||align="left"|'''[[Jane C. Edmonds]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services|Health and Human Services]]||align="left"|'''[[Ron Preston (state cabinet secretary)|Ron Preston]]'''<br />'''[[Timothy R. Murphy]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2004<br />2005{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs|Elder Affairs]]||align="left"|'''[[Jennifer Davis Carey]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Director of the Department of Labor|Labor]]||align="left"|'''[[Angelo R. Buonopane]]'''<br />'''[[Gayl Mileszko]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2005<br />2006{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration & Finance|Administration & Finance]]||align="left"|'''[[Eric Kriss]]'''<br />'''[[Thomas Trimarco]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2005<br />2005{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Services|Veterans' Services]]||align="left"|'''[[Thomas G. Kelley]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2007
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety & Homeland Security|Public Safety & Homeland Security]]||align="left"|'''[[Edward A. Flynn]]'''<br />'''[[Robert C. Haas]]'''||align="left"|2003{{spaced ndash}}2006<br />2006{{spaced ndash}}2007
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> reports to Commonwealth Development<br />
<nowiki>**</nowiki> reports to Economic Development<br />
Source: [http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov2subtopic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Romney+Team&L2=The+Cabinet&sid=Agov2 www.mass.gov]

==See also==
* Massachusetts state legislature in [[2003–2004 Massachusetts legislature|2003–2004]] and [[2005–2006 Massachusetts legislature|2005–2006]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=mg2terminal&L=7&L0=Home&L1=State+Government&L2=About+Massachusetts&L3=Interactive+State+House&L4=History+Resources&L5=Governors+of+Massachusetts&L6=Commonwealth+of+Massachusetts+(1950-present)&sid=massgov2&b=terminalcontent&f=interactive_statehouse_govs_romney&csid=massgov2 Profile of Mitt Romney from The Official Website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Paul Cellucci|Argeo Paul Cellucci]]
| title = [[Massachusetts]] [[United States Republican Party|Republican Party]] [[Governor of Massachusetts|gubernatorial]] candidate
| years = [[Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002|2002]] (won)
| after = [[Kerry Healey]]}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Jane Swift]]<br /><small>(as Acting Governor)</small>
| title = [[Governor of Massachusetts]]
| years = January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007
| after = [[Deval Patrick]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Mitt Romney}}

[[Category:2003 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Governorships of U.S. states|Romney, Mitt]]
[[Category:Mitt Romney]]