2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Mitt Romney Proposes A Series Of Health Care Reforms Today In A Speech At The University Of Michigan Cardiovascular Center

REPEAL OBAMACARE, REFORM HEALTHCARE
Gov. Mitt Romney Lays Out The Right Path Forward

ANN ARBOR, MI – Today at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, Mitt Romney called for the repeal of Obamacare and proposed a series of health care reforms to lower costs and empower states to craft their own health care solutions.

Romney said that upon taking office, he would issue an Executive Order paving the way for Obamacare waivers for all 50 states and begin the process of fully repealing the legislation. Romney also spelled out steps he would take to reform health care by giving the states incentives to make market-based reforms:

Restore State Leadership

Restore to the states the responsibility and resources to care for their poor, uninsured, and chronically ill:

Block grant Medicaid and other payments to states
Limit federal standards
States will experiment and learn from one another
Flexibility to deal with uninsured: e.g., charity, exchanges, subsidy for private coverage
Flexibility to deal with chronically ill: e.g., high-risk pools, reinsurance, risk adjustment

Empower Individual Ownership

Give a tax deduction to those who buy their own health insurance, just like those who buy it through their employers:

. End tax discrimination

. Greater consumer choice—can buy what you want, not only what your employer wants

. Promote portability

. Help control health care costs

Focus Federal Regulation

Focus federal regulation of health care on making markets work:

Correct common failures in the insurance market

- Ensure that individuals with pre-existing conditions who are continuously covered for a specified period may not be denied coverage

- Empower individuals and small businesses to form purchasing pools

Eliminate counterproductive federal constraints

- Remove barriers to the sale of insurance across state lines

- Allow providers to design plans that meet consumer needs

Reform Medical Liability

Reduce the influence of lawsuits on medical practice and costs:

. Cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits

. Innovation grants for state reforms: health courts, alternative dispute resolution, etc.

Introduce Market Forces

Make health care more like a consumer market and less like a government program:

. Unshackle HSAs—e.g., permit HSA funds to be used to pay insurance premiums

. Promote “co-insurance” products

. Encourage “Consumer Reports”-type rating of alternative insurance plans

. Facilitate IT interoperability

. Promote alternatives to “fee for service”

Mitt Romney To Kick Off Greater Des Moines Partnership 2012 Presidential Candidate Series On May 27, 2011

Mitt Romney to Kick Off Presidential Candidate Series

Potential presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, will kick-off the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series with an event to be held Friday, May 27, 2011, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the State Historical Building in downtown Des Moines.
 
This series is being sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Mediacom and Iowa Politics.com and in partnership with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. As the First in the Nation Caucus, Iowa falls under a global spotlight, and an open invitation will be extended to prospective presidential candidates to address Central Iowans as part of the series between now and the 2012 Presidential Caucuses.
 
“Iowans are intensely proud and passionate of their role in helping to select our nation’s leader every four years,” said Martha Willits, CEO and President of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “Our ‘first in the nation’ status also carries great responsibility to become acquainted with the candidates, educated on the issues, and vocal on the issues important to Iowa voters. That’s why we are pleased to partner with local and statewide groups to host this Des Moines-area series.”
 
Lynn Campbell of Iowa Politics.com, which is owned by the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, will serve as the moderator for the series. The event is free of charge and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions via social media on the Partnership Facebook and Twitter sites. Attendees may RSVP at www.desmoinesmetro.com/events. The event will be held at 600 East Locust Street, Des Moines. Free parking is available at the adjacent parking lot located north of Grand Avenue.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is a non-partisan economic and community development organization that does not endorse any political candidates or donate funding to any political candidate campaigns.

Mitt Romney To Lay Out Plan To Repeal And Replace Obamacare Reforms To Empower States And Reduce Healthcare Costs

Mitt Romney to Lay Out Plan to Repeal and Replace Obamacare
Reforms to Empower States and Reduce Healthcare Costs

BOSTON, MA -- The Romney for President Exploratory Committee today announced that Mitt Romney will present his plan to repeal and replace Obamacare with reforms that lower costs and empower states to craft their own health care solutions.

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2011

Time:  2:00 PM EDT

Participants:  Mitt Romney

Location:

University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center
Danto Auditorium
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5852

Mitt Romney’s 2012 Principles for Healthcare Reform:

. Restore to the states the responsibility and resources to care for their poor, uninsured, and chronically ill.
. Give a tax deduction to those who buy their own health insurance, just like those who buy it through their employers.
. Streamline the federal regulation of healthcare.
. Reduce the influence of lawsuits on medical practice and costs.
. Make healthcare more like a consumer market and less like a government program.

Mitt Romney Statement On April Unemployment Numbers

MITT ROMNEY STATEMENT ON APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS

Today, the Romney for President Exploratory Committee released the following statement from Gov. Romney on April's unemployment numbers.

"Today's disheartening unemployment increase is another reminder of the failure of President Obama's economic policies. We are in the third year of unemployment above 8%. This figure is not just a statistic – 20 million Americans are out of work, underemployed, or have stopped looking for work. The cost of the President's inexperience and failed liberal policies is borne by families across the country. To get people back to work will take experienced economic leadership, a commitment to rein in government, and a credible plan to make America the best place in the world for growth and jobs."

Mitt Romney Statement on Osama bin Laden

Mitt Romney Statement on Osama bin Laden

Today, the Romney for President Exploratory Committee released the following statement from Gov. Romney on the killing of Osama bin Laden:

“This is a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere. Congratulations to our intelligence community, our military and the president. My thoughts are with the families of Osama bin Laden's many thousands of victims, and the brave servicemen and women who have laid down their lives in pursuit of this murderous terrorist.”

Gail Gitcho Joins Romney For President Exploratory Committee As Communications Director

GAIL GITCHO JOINS ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE AS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Today, the Romney for President Exploratory Committee announced that Gail Gitcho, a well-respected, 10-year veteran of Republican campaigns and elections, will serve as Communications Director.

Gitcho most recently served as U.S. Senator Scott Brown’s (R-MA) Communications Director in Washington, where she helped manage a barrage of press for Brown after he found himself in the limelight for his stunning, come-from-behind victory to replace Ted Kennedy.

She also served as National Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee from 2009 to 2010. Prior to that, she was Mid-Atlantic Communications Director for John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid. She started the 2008 presidential cycle as a Regional Press Secretary for Romney for President. She was also Communications Director for U.S. Representative Clay Shaw (R-FL) from 2004 to 2007.

Gitcho is a graduate of Ripon College.

Mitt Romney Response To President Obama Speech

MITT ROMNEY RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEECH

LEXINGTON, MA – In response to President Obama’s remarks today, Governor Mitt Romney released the following statement:

“President Obama’s proposals are too little, too late.  Instead of supporting spending cuts that lead to real deficit reduction and true reform of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, the President dug deep into his liberal playbook for ‘solutions’ highlighted by higher taxes.  With over 20 million people who are unemployed or who have stopped looking for work, the last thing we should be doing is raising taxes on job-creators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners across America.”

Mitt Romney Forms Romney For President Exploratory Committee

Mitt Romney Forms Romney for President Exploratory Committee

Today, Mitt Romney formed the Romney for President Exploratory Committee with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as a first step in a campaign for the 2012 Republican nomination for President of the United States.  While this step does not constitute a formal announcement of candidacy, it allows Governor Romney to be in compliance with the requirements of federal election law as he begins to raise the funds necessary to explore a potential candidacy.

Gov. Romney announced his plans in an online video at www.mittromney.com which was made public via Facebook and Twitter. The video was taped at the University of New Hampshire following a meeting this morning between Gov. Romney and students who said they are worried about getting a job after graduation. The transcript for the video is as follows:


Hello, I'm Mitt Romney. This morning I spoke with a number of students here at the University of New Hampshire. Like young people all over the country, they wonder whether they'll find good jobs when they graduate.

Last week, in Nevada, I walked through a neighborhood with homes vacant or in foreclosure. Unemployment there is over 13%. Across the nation, over 20 million Americans still can't find a job, or have given up looking.

How has this happened in the nation that leads the world in innovation and productivity? The answer is that President Obama's policies have failed. He and virtually all the people around him have never worked in the real economy. They just don't know how jobs are created in the private sector.

That's where I spent my entire career. In 1985, I helped found a company. At first, we had ten employees; today there are hundreds.

My work led me to become deeply involved in helping other businesses, from innovative startups to large companies going through tough times. Sometimes I was successful and helped create jobs, other times I was not. I learned how America competes with companies in other countries, why jobs leave, and how jobs are created here at home.

Later, when I served as governor of Massachusetts, I used the skills I had learned in 25 years in business to streamline state government, balance the budget every year, and restore a 2 billion dollar rainy day fund.

From my vantage point in business and in government, I have become convinced that America has been put on a dangerous course by Washington politicians, and it has become even worse during the last two years. But I am also convinced that with able leadership, America's best days are still ahead.

That is why today I am announcing my Exploratory Committee for the Presidency of the United States.

It is time that we put America back on a course of greatness, with a growing economy, good jobs and fiscal discipline in Washington.

I believe in America. I believe in the freedom and opportunity, and the principles of our constitution, that have led us to become the greatest nation in the history of the earth – and I believe that these principles will confirm American's future as well. 

This effort is not about a person, it is about the cause of American freedom and greatness. I'd like to ask you to join with us – volunteer, donate, or just pass this along to a friend. Thanks so much.

Mitt Romney: "Believe in America" Presidential Exploratory Committee Announcement Video

Mitt Romney’s Statement On Congressman Paul Ryan’s 2012 Budget Plan

MITT ROMNEY’S STATEMENT ON CONGRESSMAN PAUL RYAN’S 2012 BUDGET PLAN

Governor Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC today released a statement from Governor Romney regarding Congressman Paul Ryan’s “Path to Prosperity” 2012 budget plan:

"I applaud Rep. Paul Ryan for recognizing the looming financial crisis that faces our nation and for the creative and bold thinking that he brings to the debate. He is setting the right tone for finally getting spending and entitlements under control. Anyone who has read my book knows that we are on the same page."