Select A Candidate ®


Candidate positions: Mitt Romney

The following positions reflect those used for Mitt Romney in the Select A Candidate survey. They come from the candidate's public statements, Web sites, and responses to Minnesota Public Radio questionnaires. In some cases, candidiates have failed to respond to inquiries, and their position is noted as "No known opinion."


Issue Question Candidate Position
Abortion What types of legislation would you support regarding legalized abortion? ANSWER OPTION
Oppose abortion rights. State law should guide abortion rights, and Roe v. Wade should be reversed by a future Supreme Court. Would not sign pledge to advance only anti-abortion appointees for relevant administration jobs, cut off federal dollars for clinics that perform or finance abortions, and support a ban on abortions after the fetus reaches a certain stage in development.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
According to the AP. (More Info)
Back to top
Debt What should be done about the federal debt? ANSWER OPTION
Cap federal spending at 20 percent of gross domestic product, down from today's recession-swollen 25 percent. Favor constitutional balanced budget amendment. Propose 10 percent cut in federal workforce, elimination of $1.6 billion in Amtrak subsidies and cuts of $600 million to the public arts and broadcasting.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
According to the AP. (More Info)
Back to top
Economy What would you do to invigorate the economy? ANSWER OPTION
Support lower taxes, less regulation, balanced budget, more trade deals to spur growth. Replace jobless benefits with unemployment savings accounts. Propose repeal of the law (Dodd-Frank) toughening financial-industry regulations after the meltdown in that sector. Propose changing, but not repealing, the (Sarbanes-Oxley) law tightening accounting regulations in response to corporate scandals, to ease the accountability burden on smaller businesses.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
According to the AP. (More Info)
Back to top
Issue Question Candidate Position
Education What changes would you make to federal education policy? ANSWER OPTION
Support the federal accountability standards of No Child Left Behind law.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
In 2007, Romney said he was wrong earlier in his career when he wanted the Education Department shut down because he came to see the value of the federal government in "holding down the interests of the teachers' unions" and putting kids and parents first. (More Info)
Back to top
Energy What changes would you make to federal energy policy? ANSWER OPTION
Accelerate drilling permits in areas where exploration has already been approved for developers with good safety records. Supports drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific outer continental shelves, Western lands, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska; and supports exploitation of shale oil deposits. Reduce obstacles to coal, natural gas and nuclear energy development, because green power has yet to become viable.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
According to the AP. (More Info)
Back to top
Environment What are your views concerning the environment? ANSWER OPTION
We don't know what's causing climate change. Propose to remove carbon dioxide from list of pollutants controlled by Clean Air Act, and amend clean water and air laws to ensure the cost of complying with regulations is balanced against environmental benefit. Oppose cap and trade because it would lead to increase of energy prices.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
Romney has in the past acknowledged the scientific consensus that humans contribute to global warming: "I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that." But now says: "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet." (More Info)
Back to top
Issue Question Candidate Position
Same-sex marriage Should same-sex marriage be legal? ANSWER OPTION
No. Favor constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage because policy should be set federally, not by states.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
"Marriage is not an activity that goes on within the walls of a state," Romney said. (More Info)
Back to top
Health care What changes would you make to federal health care policy? ANSWER OPTION
Work to repeal Obama's federal health care law. States, not Washington should drive policy on the uninsured. Propose to guarantee that people who are "continuously covered" for a certain period be protected against losing insurance if they get sick, leave their job and need another policy. Would expand individual tax-advantaged medical savings accounts and let the savings be used for insurance premiums as well as personal medical costs. Would let insurance be sold across state lines to expand options, and restrict malpractice awards to restrain health care costs. Introduce "generous" subsidies to help future retirees buy private insurance instead of going on traditional Medicare. No federal requirement for people to have health insurance. On Medicaid, propose to convert program to a federal block grant administered by states.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
Romney has promised to work for the repeal of Obama's federal health care law, even though it is modeled largely after his universal health care achievement in Massachusetts. (More Info)
Back to top
Immigration What are your views concerning immigration? ANSWER OPTION
Favor complete U.S.-Mexico border fence, oppose education benefits to illegal immigrants. Propose more visas for holders of advanced degrees in math, science and engineering who have U.S. job offers, and would award permanent residency to foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with a degree in those fields.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
According to the AP. (More Info)
Back to top
Issue Question Candidate Position
Social Security What should be done with the Social Security program? ANSWER OPTION
Raising the age for benefits and reducing inflation adjustments for rich retirees are among options that should be considered.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
According to the AP. (More Info)
Back to top
Taxes What would you do to overhaul federal tax policy? ANSWER OPTION
No one with adjusted gross income under $200,000 should be taxed on interest, dividends or capital gains. Cut corporate tax rate to 25 percent from a high of 35 percent. Oppose proposals to replace current tax system with national sales tax because it raises taxes on middle class while lowering them for rich and poor. Make Bush-era tax cuts, including for the wealthy, permanent. Eliminate estate tax.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
According to the AP. (More Info)
Back to top
Terrorism How should the federal government fight terrorism? ANSWER OPTION
No constitutional rights for foreign terrorism suspects. Waterboarding could potentially be used to interrogate terrorist suspects.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
In 2007, Romney refused to rule out use of waterboarding to interrogate terrorist suspects. In 2011, his campaign says he does not consider waterboarding to be torture. (More Info)
Back to top
Issue Question Candidate Position
War How should the U.S. government handle its current wars? ANSWER OPTION
Maintain the force level necessary to secure our gains and complete our mission successfully in Afghanistan. Obama was wrong to begin reducing troop levels as soon as he did. Increase strength of armed forces, including number of troops and warships.

CANDIDATE'S POSITION
Romney has not specified the troop numbers behind his Afghanistan pledge. (More Info)
Back to top
Select a Candidate:  Take the survey   Candidate positions   All Races
Listen Now

MPR News Radio

Hourly Newscast
On Air BBC World Service
Become a sponsor

Most Shared

  1. On a desert island, first find a source of water; then, a light to read by
  2. Minn. cycling race gives athletes a rough ride
  3. More and more, faculty work for less pay and no security
  4. UMD graduates first cohort of tribal management program
  5. Glitch pushes back MNsure deadline

In The Spotlight

Latest News & Features