Hillsborough, N.H. (CNN) – Mitt Romney knows the chances of California going for him in November are slim, so why not call the state out as an example of economic policy gone awry?
A day after musing over a move to low-tax haven Florida, Romney–who owns a home in La Jolla, California–cast the Golden State as a cautionary tale for overtaxing and overspending.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
On a Friday conference call he told swing-state voters that the 2012 election gave them a choice over the country's economic future.
"You could either be like the America that we've known in our past, which is having low taxes and high growth and a strong economy," Romney said. "Or you could try to be like California, where they raise taxes higher and higher and higher."
Romney said California's policies "scare away employers. They make it harder for entrepreneurs to grow and thrive in their state. And they have huge deficits. The deficits in California get worse and worse."
California's budget deficit has reached an eye-popping $16 billion, the state's governor acknowledged this week.
A day earlier, on Thursday, Romney told voters in Jacksonville, Florida that his wife Ann had a soft spot for the battleground Sunshine State.
"She has said someday, who knows, we might move to Florida," he said to cheers from the audience. "You never know. Someday, way down the road."
He later assured reporters that he and his wife "love California," but added: "There are attractions to Florida. It has the right tax rate, among others."
Florida does not levy a state income tax.
– CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
Also see:
Romney to start airing first general election campaign ad Friday
From CNN Politics
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As Mittster Runs & hides like a little girl & yells SECURITY to his secret service detail when the Press Aproaches............
OMG – What a fool this man is. So he is going to buy a house in Florida now.
He had made his millions buying up companies and closing them down, shipping our jobs to India and China.
Can't wait for the haters to start cheering. Do not fall for this man.
Obama / Biden 2012
This proves he knows nothing about California. The Governater put us in this mess. 8 years for those GOP ways and here we are. Go back to Mass with your money where they want you.
If Willard doesn't like California, he can leave at any time. Good riddance of bad rubbish!
A few factual notes that you didn't see fit to mention for some reason:
(see next post; comments are being silently censored again so I have to try to guess what word(s) it doesn't like this time)
Lionel = SS TT UU PP ID. Thats what you get for not studying and making your brain work extra hard.
Hey Mitt don't bash my home state! Stay in your home state(s) with your fancy houses and car elevators. Pfft.
And just amagine, THIS MAN COULD BECOME THE PRESIDENT!
"You could either be like the America that we've known in our past, which is having low taxes and high growth and a strong economy," Romney said. "Or you could try to be like California, where they raise taxes higher and higher and higher."
IF you are so troubled by the taxes in CA – why don't you take your mansion, your car elevators, your kept wife, your good for nothing sons and your BAD breath OUT of our state? We don't want you here anyway.
"She has said someday, who knows, we might move to Florida," he said to cheers from the audience. "You never know. Someday, way down the road."
Someday will be November 6, 2012 when we SEND YOU PACKING and this statement won't help you win FL either.
1. Economists almost universally agree
that California's budget problems
are the result not of "taxing and spending,"
but of a framework that makes the state virtually ungovernable.
California just proved that raising taxes doesn't work, if it did California wouldn't be in this financial disaster. Logically, we must do the opposite of California and keep taxes down and yes that includes the Bush tax-cuts for businesses. California is a perfect example of what does not work.
Has anyone bothered to inform Mitt that his party has dominated the Governor's Mansion in CA over the last 3 decades, and that its been their disasterous taxation policies that have put CA into the hole? I guess not. The problem lies in the false premise the righties have operated on with regards to taxing and spending, which is the deficits don't matter and that the burdens can be shifted onto local governments without repurcussions. The result of that is a bankrupt treasury and a lack of will to address the problem. Way to go, GOP.
Who is Mitt Romney fooling, he and his wife can buy a house in every State in the U.S.
What a political hack. He may have bought a mansion in California, but he doesn't know a thing about the state. California hasn't raised any taxes in decades. Prop 13 in the 70s required a 2/3 majority for any tax increases, in the legislature or by the ballot. The Republicans in the legislature have stonewalled any reasonable effort for new revenue ever since. That's why the budget is a mess. That's what Romney wants for the US.
You know he tales any thing folks like to hear. So why not take one more chance ? How about that ?
Isn't California where all the rich, wealthy people live? So when they raise taxes higher, higher and higher it didn't work? Wow, they didn't see that one coming? I thought California was really educated.
Give me a break. Way to pander to the Florida audience. Yeah...that's not transparent at allllllll.
I wonder if Romney ever goes to Disney Pride Day. He can assault some Gays with long hair. Oh I forgot Gays today would not tolerate that. Hopefully he retires to Nauvoo, Illinois and waits for his polygamist Jesus Christ.
Ok, I found the word that the CNN filter was censoring: C.o.n.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n.a.l
Yes, that's right. Apparently, CNN believes that's a naughty word. Try posting it in one of comments and see what happens. Notice how it just takes you back to the article and your comment never appears? I.e. it doesn't even say "awaiting moderation?" But if you post it again, it'll say it's a duplicate. In other words, it's silently being filtered.
Sure, use the most populated state in America as a negatice example. That's a winning campaign at work.
Forget the Democrats and Republicans, I'm voting for the independent.