Romney's Borrowing Ideas from 'European Welfare State'
Romney accused Obama of turning the United States into “a European-style welfare state,” saying Obama’s policies would “poison the very spirit of America and keep us from being one nation under God.”
“I’ve watched a president just become the great divider, the great explainer, the great excuse-giver, the great blamer,” Romney said. “I want to have an America that comes together. I’m an optimist. I believe in the future of America. I’m not a pessimist. I believe that this country can be as it’s always been, the shining city on a hill — but not by turning into Europe or anything like Europe, but by being quintessentially American.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-in-iowa-stop-obama-would-poison-the-very-spirit-of-america/2012/01/02/gIQAoBI2WP_blog.html
from the DNC:
ROMNEY PROMOTED THE SWISS AND FRENCH CO-INSURANCE MODEL
Romney Touted Switzerland’s Co-Insurance Health Care Model As “Something The States Might Want To Look At.” “In the interview yesterday, Romney said there are policies of European nations that could be worth considering in the United States. Switzerland, he said, has a health care model where people pay about 20 percent of their medical bills, giving them an incentive to consider cost when making medical decisions. ‘I'm not going to adopt a Swiss health care system, but the power of incentives in a co-insurance model that the Swiss have is something states might want to look at,’ he said. ‘So there are many things, in addition to good food, that we can learn from our European friends. But what I don't want is to adopt a strategy of ever-shrinking government support of the military and ever-increasing support for government programs.’” Editorial Board Interview With Romney, Concord Monitor, 12/23/11
Romney Touted The Co-Insurance Model Used By The French And Swiss Where Individuals Are Responsible For 20 Percent Of Their Adding “You Care How Much The Bill Is Because You Aren’t Just Going To Pay The First $1,000, You Pay 20%.” “Believe it or not, the French and the Swiss have some ideas that might be relevant. They have something called co-insurance; you are responsible for 20% of your hospital bill in France. So you care how much the bill is because you aren’t just going to pay the first $1000, you pay 20%. I understand for the poor they don’t charge that 20%, and if its an emergency they don’t charge that 20%, but if you have time to shop around they want you to shop around.” Portsmouth Herald Editoril Board Interview, 11/3/11
ROMNEY SAID HE WOULD CONSIDER A VALUE-ADDED TAX
Romney Said He Could Support A Value-Added Tax As A Replacement For Part Of The Tax Code. “Since Mr. Romney mentioned a consumption tax, would he rule out a value-added tax? He says he doesn't ‘like the idea’ of layering a VAT onto the current income tax system. But he adds that, philosophically speaking, a VAT might work as a replacement for some part of the tax code, ‘particularly at the corporate level,’ as Paul Ryan proposed several years ago. What he doesn't do is rule a VAT out.” Interview, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, 12/24/11
Cato Institute’s Daniel J. Mitchell Criticized Romney For Considering A Value-Added Tax, Saying A VAT-Supporter “Should Not Be Allowed Anywhere Near The White House.” Mitchell: “Simply stated, this is an awful tax. If it ever gets implemented in the United States, the battle will be over. America will descend to European-style stagnation, eventually leading to fiscal crisis. Any politician that supports a VAT (or even hints at supporting a VAT) should not be allowed anywhere near the White House. That applies to Mitt Romney.” Forbes, 12/24/11
Cato Institute’s Daniel J. Mitchell: “Mitt Romney Won't Rule Out The Possibility Of Imposing A Tax That's The Fast Track To A European Welfare State.” Mitchell Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal, 1/4/12
Cato Institute’s Daniel J. Mitchell Warned That If Romney, “A VAT Sympathizer,” Wins And Institutes A Value-Added Tax, It Would Be “A Terrible Deal For Taxpayers.” Mitchell: “But what if a VAT sympathizer like Mr. Romney wins next November and decides that his plan for a lower corporate tax rate is only possible if accompanied by a VAT? There will be quite a few Republicans who like that idea because they want to do something nice for their lobbyist friends in the business community. And there will be many Democrats drawn to the plan because they realize that they need this new source of revenue to enable bigger government. That's a win-win deal for politicians and a terrible deal for taxpayers.” Mitchell Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal, 1/4/12
Cato Institute’s Daniel J. Mitchell Warned Of Romney’s Support For A Value-Added Tax, Saying Some Republicans Would Be Attracted To A Lower Corporate Tax Rate Accompanied By A VAT Because It Would Be “Nice For Their Lobbyist Friends In The Business Community.” Mitchell: “But what if a VAT sympathizer like Mr. Romney wins next November and decides that his plan for a lower corporate tax rate is only possible if accompanied by a VAT? There will be quite a few Republicans who like that idea because they want to do something nice for their lobbyist friends in the business community.” Mitchell Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal, 1/4/12
read more: http://www.democrats.org/news/january-7-GOP-debate/mitt_romney_borrowing_ideas_from_europe