A STATEMENT FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE CHAIRMAN BRUCE KEOUGH
"In winning tonight’s debate, Governor Romney again demonstrated that he has the experience and vision to be our next President. His message to make America better by strengthening our military, our economy, and our families continues to resonate with New Hampshire voters. Governor Romney is running a traditional New Hampshire campaign and will continue working to get every vote possible right up until Primary Day."
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NEW TELEVISION AD, "ENERGY"
Romney For President To Begin Airing Ads In South Carolina
Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Energy." The ad highlights Governor Romney's leadership in turning around numerous companies, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The ad will begin airing as part of the campaign's rotation today in Iowa and New Hampshire. Script and viewing links are below.
Romney for President will also be expanding its television advertising to South Carolina. Over the next two weeks, Romney for President will begin airing "Energy" and "Leadership" throughout South Carolina.
Script For "Energy" (TV:30):
ANN ROMNEY: "Every place that Mitt has gone, he has solved problems that people said were nearly impossible."
ANNOUNCER: "Mitt Romney, the innovator who created and revolutionized American businesses, turned around major companies.
"Took on the bankrupt Olympics and turned them around.
"The Republican Governor who stood up and cut spending instead of raising taxes.
"And turned around our most Democratic state.
"Leadership to turn around Washington."
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."
AMBASSADOR JULIA CHANG BLOCH JOINS ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT
Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch has joined Romney for President as National Co-Chair of Asian Pacific Americans for Mitt. Recently, Ambassador Sichan Siv was announced as National Chair. Ambassador Bloch will also provide Governor Romney with important counsel on foreign policy issues.
"Today's announcement is another indication of the strong Asian Pacific American coalition that is forming around our message of change in Washington. Ambassador Bloch has a distinguished career serving our country and is a leader in the Asian Pacific American community. I am proud that she has joined our team," said Governor Romney.
Joining Romney for President, Ambassador Bloch said, "Governor Romney is a proven leader with the energy to bring change to Washington. We need his leadership today if we are to meet the challenges facing our country both here and abroad. I look forward to being a strong surrogate for his message in the Asian Pacific American community, as well as offering my counsel and advice on foreign affairs."
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NEW TELEVISION AD, "LEADERSHIP"
Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Leadership." The ad highlights Governor Romney's leadership in turning around the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, numerous companies and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With his proven experience running businesses and institutions, Governor Romney will bring his energy to changing Washington.
The ad will begin airing as part of the campaign's rotation today in Iowa and New Hampshire. Script and viewing links are below.
Script For "Leadership" (TV:30):
ANNOUNCER: "An Olympics hit by scandal and deficits, he rescued them.
"He turned around dozens of companies and became a business legend.
"A state losing jobs, with huge deficits, Governor Mitt Romney turned it around – cutting spending, instead of raising taxes.
"At every step, he's met extraordinary challenges. Mitt Romney – the energy and experience to turn around Washington."
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT LAUNCHES UNPRECEDENTED "CREATE YOUR OWN AD" CONTEST
Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President announced the "Team Mitt: Create Your Own Ad!" contest, an unprecedented initiative to create the campaign's new television advertisement by empowering grassroots supporters of Governor Mitt Romney. The winner of the contest will become the first amateur ever to have his or her work used as an official television advertisement for a presidential campaign.
By partnering with Yahoo! and Jumpcut.com, supporters from across the country will be able to utilize an innovative video editing platform to create their own ad by remixing or "mashing up" a large variety of the campaign's photos, videos and audio clips, as well as their own multimedia content.
After the contest's submission period ends on September 17, the campaign will conduct online voting at MittRomney.com to help select the winner of the contest. The ad will air in conjunction with the campaign's massive grassroots event, "Rally for Romney," during the week of September 20.
Alex Castellanos, Senior Adviser and media strategist to Governor Romney, said, "It is truly groundbreaking for amateur, grassroots supporters to so directly assist in introducing their candidate to the American people. This contest demonstrates Romney for President's commitment to using unique and democratizing online tools to engage voters and harness the extraordinary enthusiasm of its growing team of supporters."
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES MINNESOTA STATEWIDE STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced his Minnesota Statewide Steering Committee, which will be led by State Co-Chairs Jack Meeks; Brian Sullivan, Minnesota National Committeeman; Evie Axdahl, Minnesota National Committeewoman; and Tony Sutton, State Republican Party Secretary/Treasurer.
The Minnesota StatewideSteering Committee will play an instrumental in organizing Governor Romney's grassroots campaign.
"These committed Republican leaders will be crucial to my efforts in Minnesota," said Governor Romney. "I am looking forward to working closely with them to advance our common agenda of keeping taxes low, getting spending under control, reforming health care, and governing with proven conservative principles. Minnesota voters can look forward to seeing and hearing from me during the coming weeks and months."
Joining Romney for President, Co-Chair Jack Meeks said, "Governor Romney is the candidate who understands the need to bring conservative change to Washington. We all agree Governor Romney has the proven record and the leadership qualities to keep America strong through a strong economy, strong national defense, and strong families. Every voter in Minnesota can be confident Governor Romney will lead our nation to a more prosperous future."
Romney For President Minnesota Statewide Steering Committee Co-Chairs:
Jack Meeks – Meeks is President and CEO of The Walker Group, Inc., a strategic consulting firm he founded in 1992. He is also a Senior Consultant to North State Advisors, a Minnesota public affairs and lobbying firm. Previously Meeks served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Vin Weber (R-MN). He was elected Minnesota Republican National Committeeman in 1992, and re-elected to that position without opposition in 1996, 2000, and again in 2004. He also served as Republican National Committee Vice-Chairman for the Midwest region in 1997 and was re-elected in 1999, 2001, and again in 2003.
Brian Sullivan – Sullivan is currently the RNC National Committeeman for
Minnesota and was first elected to the position in 2005. He also serves as the
CEO of SterilMed, Inc., a medical device and healthcare services company, and is
a board member of numerous charitable organizations in the Twin Cities.
Evie Axdahl – Axdahl is the RNC National Committeewoman for Minnesota. She
was first elected to this position in 1989. Axdahl also served on the State
Central Committee for 14 years and has been a Delegate to the Republican
National Convention on five separate occasions. She currently sits on the RNC
Executive Committee. She is married and has four children.
Tony Sutton – Sutton is currently the Secretary/Treasurer of the Republican Party of Minnesota. He also is currently the CEO of Baja Sol Restaurants Group, which operates a chain of Mexican restaurants. In addition to various volunteer leadership activities in the Republican Party at the local and state level, Sutton has also served the state GOP in many professional roles including Executive Director and General Consultant. Sutton also served as Deputy State Auditor for the State of Minnesota after the election of State Auditor Pat Anderson in 2002.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TOM PETRI ENDORSES GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY
Boston, MA – Today, U.S. Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) announced his endorsement of Governor Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.
"In Washington, we need a leader with a record of finding new and innovative solutions to some of our country's greatest challenges. On so many issues, we need to move beyond talk to action. In Governor Romney, we have a leader who has been tested and proven with a record of solving some of our most pressing problems by demonstrating creative, conservative leadership. I look forward to working with Governor Romney to help our nation meet a new generation of challenges," said Congressman Petri.
With today's announcement, Governor Romney said, "In his more than 20 years of service, Congressman Petri has built a distinguished record of accomplishment that reflects his commitment to finding new solutions to our most challenging problems. His efforts as part of our campaign will be instrumental in Wisconsin and in our nation's capital."
EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE Governor Romney's Plan To Improve America's Health Care System:
Today, In Florida, Governor Mitt Romney Unveiled A Bold Plan To Improve The American Health Care System By Putting Conservative, Market-Based Principles To Work. Governor Romney's health care reform plan is a comprehensive solution to America's health care ills that expands access to affordable, portable, quality, private health insurance. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all, government-run system, Governor Romney's plan recognizes the importance of the role of the states in leading reform and the need for innovation in dealing with rising health care costs and the problem of the uninsured.
Governor Romney's Plan Facilitates The Growth Of The Private Health Insurance Market. Governor Romney believes that by expanding and deregulating the private health insurance market, we can decrease costs and ensure that more Americans have access to affordable, portable, quality, private health insurance.
Governor Romney Will Preserve The Features Of The American Health Care System That Make It The Envy Of The World. Rather than deconstructing the system we have today or replacing it with a government-run system that squelches innovation, Governor Romney will "do no harm" by leaving in place the elements of the system that work well while targeting change in the parts of the system that do not.
Click Here To View Governor Romney's PowerPoint Presentation: http://www.mittromney.com/News/Photo-Albums/Health_Care_Briefing
The Romney Vision: Health Care Reform Goals
Governor Romney Outlined A Health Care Reform Plan That Includes Four Major Goals:
First, Instituting Reforms That Make Private Health Insurance Affordable. More Americans need access to quality, private health insurance. Governor Romney's reforms will make this a reality by bringing down the cost of private health insurance. He will do this by fostering vibrant and competitive health insurance markets in each of the fifty states, reforming the tax code to make it cheaper for individuals to buy private insurance, and helping the low-income uninsured afford the private coverage of their choice.
Second, Providing Access To Quality Health Insurance For Every American. Every American should have access to affordable health insurance. Governor Romney will do this by providing them with premium assistance to purchase private health insurance plans. He will also help middle-income Americans by encouraging state-level health insurance market reforms, which will result in more affordable private coverage.
Third, Enhancing The Portability Of Private Health Insurance. Americans should no longer need to worry about the risk of losing their coverage when, for example, they change jobs. Governor Romney will do this by creating a more robust market for health insurance and helping more Americans get access to affordable insurance.
Finally, Slowing The Rate Of Inflation In Health Care Spending. He will do this by instituting tax reforms that promote "smart" spending on health care, creating incentives for states to reform their health insurance markets, and supporting medical liability reform.
Linking Goals With Action Steps: The Federalist Approach
Governor Romney's Approach To Health Care Reform Is One That Values The States As Laboratories Of Innovation And Beacons Of Creativity. As Governor of Massachusetts, Governor Romney successfully led the effort for comprehensive health care reform, and he recognizes that the federal government must do what it can to facilitate effective change at the state level. His reforms will give states greater flexibility. But Governor Romney's conservative reforms also make the states true partners in the effort to expand access to affordable, quality health insurance.
The Romney Plan: Six Action Steps
Governor Romney Proposed Six Concrete Steps To Reach His Health Care Reform Goals:
Step 1: Establish Federal Incentives To Deregulate And Reform State Health Insurance Markets So Market Forces Can Work. Many Americans can't afford private health insurance because state markets are over-regulated and in serious need of reform. Governor Romney will provide federal incentives for states to deregulate and reform their health insurance markets. This will bring down the cost of health insurance and facilitate greater consumer choice, while giving states the power to institute the reforms that suit them best.
Step 2: Redirect Federal Spending On "Free Care" To Help The Low-Income Uninsured Purchase Private Insurance. Currently, taxpayers subsidize "free care" for millions of uninsured Americans who receive treatment when they need it. Governor Romney will end subsidized care for "free riders" by redirecting these existing federal and state resources to help the low-income uninsured purchase their own private health insurance. States are free to craft their own programs and institute their own eligibility requirements. Most importantly, this can be done without the need for new spending or taxes.
Step 3: Institute Health Savings Account (HSA) Enhancements And The Full Deductibility Of Qualified Medical Expenses. The tax code currently discriminates against those who do not buy their health insurance through an employer and creates incentives for the over-consumption of health care services. Governor Romney will make private insurance more affordable for every American by reforming the tax code. He will expand and grow HSAs. He also supports the full deductibility of qualified medical expenses, which will allow Americans to deduct the cost of their health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses, where accompanied by at least catastrophic insurance.
Step 4: Promote Innovation In Medicaid. States have very little flexibility under current law to enact innovative changes to Medicaid that help more of their citizens while containing costs. Governor Romney will encourage innovation by block-granting federal funds to states and removing the burdensome administrative requirements that prevent them from improving the program. This initiative has the added benefit of helping to constrain runaway entitlement spending.
Step 5: Implement Medical Liability Reform. Too many doctors are practicing defensive medicine because of frivolous lawsuits and an out-of-control medical liability system. Governor Romney will implement medical liability reform, including federal caps on non-economic and punitive damage awards in medical malpractice cases. He will also encourage states to engage in additional medical liability reforms that will both honor the rights of patients and respect the work of physicians.
Step 6: Bring Market Dynamics And Modern Technology To Health Care. Consumers are not empowered in the current system to make intelligent decisions about the purchase of health care and many aspects of the health care system remain technologically backwards. Governor Romney will bring health care into the 21st century by enhancing the use of information technology, establishing cost and quality transparency, encouraging more HSAs and co-insurance products, and calling for more provider options.
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NEW RADIO AD, "EXCEPTIONAL"
Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest radio ad, "Exceptional." The ad highlights Governor Romney's plan to cut back federal funds from cities that adopt sanctuary policies and ignore federal immigration laws. Governor Romney has a record of enforcing our immigration laws. He deputized the State Police to enforce federal immigration law, opposed drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants, and insisted that our children learn in English.
The ad will begin airing as part of the campaign's rotation today in Iowa and New Hampshire. Script and viewing link are below.
In conjunction with the release of the new radio ad, Romney for President is also launching an online ad campaign on his opposition to sanctuary policies. To view the ad graphic, please see: http://www.mittromney.com/img/Sanctuary_Web_Ad/index.html
Script For "Exceptional" (Radio:60):
ANNOUNCER: "Immigration laws don't work if they're ignored.
"That's the problem with cities like Newark, San Francisco and New York City that adopt sanctuary policies.
"Sanctuary cities become magnets that encourage illegal immigration and undermine secure borders.
"As Governor, Mitt Romney didn't wait on Washington. He acted to make our immigration laws work.
"Mitt Romney is the exceptional Governor who took a stand so State Police could enforce federal immigration laws.
"Mitt Romney said 'No' to drivers' licenses for those here illegally.
"Mitt Romney insisted on teaching our kids in English.
"And as President, Mitt Romney will cut back federal funds to cities that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants."
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "Legal immigration is great. But illegal immigration, that we've got to end. And amnesty is not the way to do it."
ANNOUNCER: "Mitt Romney – an exceptional leader for exceptional new challenges."
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."
ANNOUNCER: "Paid for by Romney for President, MittRomney.com."
MISSOURI LEGISLATORS ENDORSE GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT
Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that State Legislators Gary Nodler (R-MO) and Bryan Pratt (R-MO) have endorsed his campaign for President of the United States. Senator Nodler and Representative Pratt will help expand Governor Romney's grassroots campaign in Missouri and will help communicate Governor Romney's message of conservative change in Washington.
"I am proud to announce the addition of these two distinguished leaders to our strong and growing grassroots team in Missouri," said Governor Romney. "Senator Nodler and Representative Pratt will help me communicate my vision of a stronger military, stronger economy, and stronger families to voters throughout Missouri."
In a joint statement, Senator Nodler and Representative Pratt said, "We're looking forward to helping lead the Romney campaign to victory in Missouri. Governor Romney is a turnaround artist. He has successfully solved difficult problems in both the public and private sectors. He is the only candidate with the experience and leadership needed to get Washington back to conservative principles; less government, lower taxes, and less spending. We are proud to endorse Governor Romney's campaign for President of the United States."
