2008 Woodie Awards
Romney lashes out against taxation
Dean Treftz - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
CEDAR RAPIDS - Republican presidential-nomination hopeful Mitt Romney called for restrained spending and reduced taxes while referring to the intensifying campaign in an appearance at Kirkwood Community College on Nov. 30.
"I think it's fundamentally unfair to tax people when they earn money and when they spend money and when they die," he said. "I will kill the death tax once and for all."
Romney also stressed the need for a set cap on government spending, saying that "if I get appropriations above that amount, I will veto it."
As one of his "Ask Mitt Anything" events, the former Massachusetts governor took questions from the audience on issues ranging from AIDS to Iraq to illegal immigration.
"I do not think we should have a permanent military presence in Iraq," Romney said in response to a question on his views of President Bush's current plans.
Though he doesn't believe the United States should have a permanent military presence, "If Al Qaeda took over, Iraq would make Afghanistan and the terrorism launched from there look like child's play," Romney said, responding to a question on the Bush administration's long-term Iraq plans.
Romney also faced several questions from the crowd and reporters regarding Mike Huckabee, a rival for the Republican presidential nomination. Huckabee - who has spent $250,000 in the first three quarters of 2007 in Iowa according to financial disclosures, compared with $2.4 million for Romney - leads the Republican candidates, according to recent Rasmussen and Des Moines Register polls. Before last week, Romney had led all Iowa polls since August, often by double-digits.
"I'm not at all surprised," Romney said. "I've said for months the race is going to get very tight."
Romney used the opportunity to continue jabs mad in the previous day's CNN/YouTube Republican Debate in Florida at Huckabee and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, especially on illegal immigration.
He vowed to change a "sanctuary state of mind," a shot at Giuliani, who Romney has accused of governing New York as a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants.
Huckabee received criticism for backing in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants.
"If we're going to give somebody in-state tuition, they better be U.S. citizens," Romney said.
Pat Biderman of Marion liked Romney's focus on balancing the budget and taxing less.
Though she thought President Bush has gotten a poor shake in the media, Biderman, who is leaning toward Romney, said she wants the next president to consider a different path in Iraq.
"I'd like to get out of Iraq, but I don't know if we can do that," she said. "It's a hard issue."
E-mail DI reporter Dean Treftz at:
dean-treftz@uiowa.edu
"I think it's fundamentally unfair to tax people when they earn money and when they spend money and when they die," he said. "I will kill the death tax once and for all."
Romney also stressed the need for a set cap on government spending, saying that "if I get appropriations above that amount, I will veto it."
As one of his "Ask Mitt Anything" events, the former Massachusetts governor took questions from the audience on issues ranging from AIDS to Iraq to illegal immigration.
"I do not think we should have a permanent military presence in Iraq," Romney said in response to a question on his views of President Bush's current plans.
Though he doesn't believe the United States should have a permanent military presence, "If Al Qaeda took over, Iraq would make Afghanistan and the terrorism launched from there look like child's play," Romney said, responding to a question on the Bush administration's long-term Iraq plans.
Romney also faced several questions from the crowd and reporters regarding Mike Huckabee, a rival for the Republican presidential nomination. Huckabee - who has spent $250,000 in the first three quarters of 2007 in Iowa according to financial disclosures, compared with $2.4 million for Romney - leads the Republican candidates, according to recent Rasmussen and Des Moines Register polls. Before last week, Romney had led all Iowa polls since August, often by double-digits.
"I'm not at all surprised," Romney said. "I've said for months the race is going to get very tight."
Romney used the opportunity to continue jabs mad in the previous day's CNN/YouTube Republican Debate in Florida at Huckabee and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, especially on illegal immigration.
He vowed to change a "sanctuary state of mind," a shot at Giuliani, who Romney has accused of governing New York as a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants.
Huckabee received criticism for backing in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants.
"If we're going to give somebody in-state tuition, they better be U.S. citizens," Romney said.
Pat Biderman of Marion liked Romney's focus on balancing the budget and taxing less.
Though she thought President Bush has gotten a poor shake in the media, Biderman, who is leaning toward Romney, said she wants the next president to consider a different path in Iraq.
"I'd like to get out of Iraq, but I don't know if we can do that," she said. "It's a hard issue."
E-mail DI reporter Dean Treftz at:
dean-treftz@uiowa.edu
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