Mitt Romney

==Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007)==
{{Main|Governorship of Mitt Romney}}
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[[File:Mitt Romney speaking at Old North Church in Boston.jpg|thumb|right|Romney announcing a Save America's Treasures Historic Preservation grant for the Old North Church in Boston, 2003]]
Romney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on January 2, 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7KFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2500,518323|title=Romney takes oath as governor|first=Jennifer|last=Peter|newspaper=[[Bangor Daily News]]|date=January 3, 2003|page=B2|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205071849/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7KFJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2500,518323|url-status=live}}</ref> He faced a [[Massachusetts state legislature]] with large Democratic majorities in both houses, and had picked his cabinet and advisors based more on managerial abilities than partisan affiliation.<ref name="aap08-789">Barone and Cohen, ''Almanac of American Politics 2008'', p. 789.</ref><ref name="tnr-cohn">{{cite news|url=http://www.tnr.com/article/parent-trap-how-mitt-romney-un-became-his-father|title=Parent Trap: How Mitt Romney un-became his father|author=Cohn, Jonathan|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|date=July 2, 2007|author-link=Jonathan Cohn|access-date=December 23, 2010|archive-date=September 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926194200/http://www.tnr.com/article/parent-trap-how-mitt-romney-un-became-his-father|url-status=live}}</ref> He declined a governor's salary of $135,000 during his term.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aCMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=5032,6034303|title=Romney says he'd donate his salary|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=May 30, 2007|page=5A|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225095508/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aCMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=5032,6034303|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon entering office in the middle of a [[fiscal year]], he faced an immediate $650 million shortfall and a projected $3 billion deficit for the next year.<ref name="bgseries6" /> Unexpected revenue of $1.0–1.3 billion from a previously enacted [[capital gains tax]] increase and $500 million in new federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2–1.5 billion.<ref name="Telegram" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.factcheck.org/more_mitt_missteps.html|title=More Mitt Missteps|publisher=[[FactCheck]]|date=July 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711050047/http://www.factcheck.org/more_mitt_missteps.html|archive-date=July 11, 2007}}</ref> Through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and removal of corporate tax loopholes,<ref name="Telegram">{{cite news|author=Landrigan, Kevin |url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS08/312130115/-1/news08 |title=Taxing Matter |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Nashua)|The Telegraph]] |location=Nashua, New Hampshire |date=December 13, 2007 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080109195323/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071213%2FNEWS08%2F312130115%2F-1%2Fnews08 |archive-date=January 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the state achieved surpluses of around $600–700 million during Romney's last two full fiscal years in office, although it began running deficits again after that.{{#tag:ref|Official state figures for fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004&nbsp;– June 30, 2005) declared a $594.4&nbsp;million surplus.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="gov-mass" /> For fiscal 2006, the surplus was $720.9&nbsp;million.<ref name="gov-mass">{{cite web|url=http://www.mass.gov/treasury/docs/debt/disclosurearchive/2008/infostatementsupplement12-4-08.pdf|title=Information Statement Supplement|publisher=[[The Commonwealth of Massachusetts]]|date=December 4, 2008|access-date=October 24, 2012|page=A–12|archive-date=December 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218150132/http://www.mass.gov/treasury/docs/debt/disclosurearchive/2008/infostatementsupplement12-4-08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> During fiscal 2007, Romney cut $384&nbsp;million in spending that the legislature wanted; in January 2007, midway through the fiscal year, incoming Governor [[Deval Patrick]] restored that amount,<ref name="bg010707">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/07/patricks_reversal_of_cuts_brings_joy/|title=Patrick's reversal of cuts brings joy|author=Carroll, Matt|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=January 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726115032/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/07/patricks_reversal_of_cuts_brings_joy/|archive-date=July 26, 2008}}</ref> and also declared that the state faced a "looming budget shortfall" of $1&nbsp;billion for fiscal 2008.<ref name="ap-deficit">{{cite news|url=http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/|title=Patrick says state has $1 billion deficit|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[WHDH (TV)|WHDH]]|date=January 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107032133/http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/|archive-date=January 7, 2007}}</ref> Patrick consequently proposed a budget for fiscal 2008 that included $515&nbsp;million in spending cuts and $295&nbsp;million in new corporate taxes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/28/patrick_says_budget_without_gimmicks/|title=Patrick says budget 'without gimmicks'|author=Frank Phillips|author2=Andrea Estes|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=February 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305093832/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/28/patrick_says_budget_without_gimmicks/?page=full|archive-date=March 5, 2007}}</ref> As it happened, the state ended fiscal 2007 with a $307.1&nbsp;million deficit and fiscal 2008 with a $495.2&nbsp;million deficit.<ref name="gov-mass" />|group="nb"}}

[[File:Romney portrait.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=Mitt Romney resting on a wooden desk, flanked by an American flag, a picture of his wife, a lamp, and a painting of mountains|[[Massachusetts State House]] portrait by [[Richard Whitney (artist)|Richard Whitney]]]]
Romney supported raising various fees, including those for drivers' licenses and gun licenses, to raise more than $300 million.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> He increased a special gasoline retailer fee by {{convert|0.02|$/USgal}}, generating about $60 million per year in additional revenue.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> Opponents said the reliance on fees sometimes imposed a hardship on those who could least afford them.<ref name="Telegram" /> Romney also closed tax loopholes that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years and over $300 million for his term.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/us/politics/romneys-strategies-as-governor-bucked-his-ceo-image.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003002338/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/us/politics/romneys-strategies-as-governor-bucked-his-ceo-image.html |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|last=Barbaro |first=Michael|title=Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 1, 2011}}</ref><ref name="bg013105" /> He did so in the face of conservative and corporate critics who viewed these actions as tax increases.<ref name="NYT-2011-10-01-Barbaro" /><ref name="bg013105">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/business/taxes/articles/2005/01/31/romney_businesses_wrangle_on_loopholes/|title=Romney, Businesses Wrangle on 'Loopholes'|first=Scott S.|last=Greenberger|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=January 31, 2005|page=A1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223174513/http://www.boston.com/business/taxes/articles/2005/01/31/romney_businesses_wrangle_on_loopholes/|archive-date=February 23, 2006}}</ref>

The state legislature, with the governor's support, cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/property_taxes_still_on_rise_in_mass/ |url-status=live |title=Property taxes still on rise in Mass|author=Viser, Matt|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=December 18, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103135947/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/property_taxes_still_on_rise_in_mass/?page=full|archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref> The cuts also included a $140 million reduction in state funding for higher education, which led state-run colleges and universities to increase fees by 63% over four years.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget; the legislature overrode all the vetoes.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Romney's vetoes seldom stood |author=Barrick, Daniel |newspaper=[[Concord Monitor]] |date=May 3, 2007 |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027012435/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/romneys-vetoes-seldom-stood |archive-date=October 27, 2012 }}</ref>

The cuts in state spending put added pressure on localities to reduce services or raise property taxes, and the share of town and city revenues coming from property taxes rose from 49% to 53%.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="Telegram" /> The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship.<ref name="bgseries6">{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/29/taking_office_remaining_an_outsider/ |title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 6: Taking office, remaining an outsider |last=Mooney |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2007 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112081226/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/ |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |url-status=live }} Also [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502161440/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8712468.html available in HighBeam]. Also available as [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/680196789/Romney-took-on-outsider-role-at-helm-of-Bay-State.html "Romney took on 'outsider' role at helm of Bay State"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202035700/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/680196789/Romney-took-on-outsider-role-at-helm-of-Bay-State.html |date=February 2, 2011 }}, ''Deseret Morning News'', July 6, 2007.</ref> He did propose a reduction in the state income tax rate, but the legislature rejected it.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sahadi|first=Jeanne|url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/01/23/news/economy/Romney_tax_record/|title=Is Romney a tax cutter?|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=January 23, 2012|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202132528/https://money.cnn.com/2012/01/23/news/economy/Romney_tax_record/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Romney sought to bring near-universal health insurance coverage to the state. This came after [[Staples Inc.|Staples]] founder [[Tom Stemberg]] told him at the start of his term that doing so would be the best way he could help people.<ref name="bg-hc-1" /> Another factor was that the federal government, owing to the rules of [[Medicaid]] funding, threatened to cut $385 million in those payments to Massachusetts if the state did not reduce the number of uninsured recipients of health care services.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="nyt040606" /> Although the idea of universal health insurance had not come to the fore during the campaign, Romney decided that because people without insurance still received expensive health care, the money spent by the state for such care could be better used to subsidize insurance for the poor.<ref name="bg-hc-1">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/05/30/romney_and_health_care_in_the_thick_of_history/ |url-status=live |title=Romney and health care: In the thick of history|author=Mooney, Brian C.|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407080254/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/05/30/romney_and_health_care_in_the_thick_of_history/?page=full|archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:US Navy 050520-N-4549D-002 USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Commanding Officer, Capt. Dennis E. Fitzpatrick, gives the Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney a tour of the conventionally powered aircraft carrier's flight deck.jpg|thumb|right|Governor Romney received a tour of the aircraft carrier [[USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)|USS ''John F. Kennedy'']] on May 20, 2005, as part of celebrating [[Armed Forces Day#United States|Armed Forces Day]]]]
Determined that a new Massachusetts health insurance measure not raise taxes or resemble the previous decade's failed [[Clinton health care plan of 1993|"Hillarycare"]] proposal at the federal level, Romney formed a team of consultants from diverse political backgrounds to apply those principles. Beginning in late 2004, they devised a set of proposals that were more ambitious than an incremental one from the [[Massachusetts Senate]] and more acceptable to him than one from the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] that incorporated a new payroll tax.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="tnr-cohn" /><ref name="nyt040606" /> In particular, Romney pushed for incorporating an [[Health insurance mandate|individual mandate]] at the state level.<ref name="time-prof-2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1619212,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512215003/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1619212,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 12, 2007|title=What Romney Believes|author=Tumulty, Karen|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=May 10, 2007|author-link=Karen Tumulty}}</ref> Past rival Ted Kennedy, who had made universal health coverage his life's work and who, over time, had developed a warm relationship with Romney,<ref>Canellos, ''The Last Lion'', p. 300.</ref> gave the plan a positive reception, which encouraged Democratic legislators to cooperate.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="nyt040606" /> The effort eventually gained the support of all major stakeholders within the state, and Romney helped break a logjam between rival Democratic leaders in the legislature.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="nyt040606" />

On April 12, 2006, Romney signed the resulting [[Massachusetts health reform law]], commonly called "Romneycare", which requires nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or face escalating tax penalties, such as the loss of their personal income tax exemption.<ref name="bg-signs">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/13/joy_worries_on_healthcare/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421094214/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/13/joy_worries_on_healthcare/?page=full |archive-date=April 21, 2006|title=Mass. governor signs health bill, with vetoes|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=April 13, 2006 |author1=Helman, Scott |author2=Kowalczyk, Liz |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> The bill also established [[Means test|means-tested]] state subsidies for people who lacked adequate employer insurance and whose income was below a threshold, using funds that had covered the health costs of the uninsured.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200606u/nj_crook_2006-06-27|title=The Massachusetts Experiment|last=Crook|first=Clive|date=June 2006|magazine=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=November 21, 2006|archive-date=October 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011121837/http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200606u/nj_crook_2006-06-27|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Dembner, Alice|url=https://boston.com/yourlife/health/other/articles/2007/01/20/sticker_shock_for_state_care_plan/|title=Sticker shock for state care plan|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=January 20, 2007|access-date=April 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427160515/http://boston.com/yourlife/health/other/articles/2007/01/20/sticker_shock_for_state_care_plan/|archive-date=April 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a controversial $295-per-employee assessment on businesses that do not offer health insurance and provisions guaranteeing dental benefits to Medicaid recipients.<ref name="bg-signs" /><ref name="ap-overrides" /> The legislature overrode all eight vetoes, but the governor's office said the differences were not essential.<ref name="ap-overrides">{{cite news|url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2006/04/26/67613.htm|title=Mass. House Overrides Gov. Romney Veto of Health Care Fee|author=LeBlanc, Steve|agency=[[Associated Press]]|magazine=Insurance Journal|date=April 26, 2006|access-date=December 4, 2010|archive-date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519225254/http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2006/04/26/67613.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The law was the first of its kind in the nation and became the signature achievement of Romney's term in office.<ref name="bgseries7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part7_main/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 7: Ambitious goals; shifting stances|author=Mooney, Brian C.|author2=Ebbert, Stephanie|author3=Helman, Scott|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=June 30, 2007|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003315/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part7_main/|url-status=live}} Also [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502160824/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8706866.html available in HighBeam].</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Upon passage of the law, Romney said "There really wasn't Republican or Democrat in this. People ask me if this is conservative or liberal, and my answer is yes. It's liberal in the sense that we're getting our citizens health insurance. It's conservative in that we're not getting a government takeover."<ref name="nyt040606">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/us/06health.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060411163445/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/us/06health.html |archive-date=April 11, 2006 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=On Health Care, Massachusetts Leaders Invoke Action, Not Talk|author=Belluck, Pam|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 25, 2010 }}</ref> Within four years, the Massachusetts law had achieved its primary goal of expanding coverage: in 2010, 98% of state residents had coverage, compared to a national average of 83%. Among children and seniors the 2010 coverage rate was even higher, 99.8% and 99.6% respectively. Approximately two-thirds of residents received coverage through employers; one-sixth each received it through Medicare or public plans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20101214/BENEFITS03/101219966|title=Massachusetts' insured rate hits 98.1%: Analysis|author=Geisel, Jerry|magazine=[[Business Insurance (magazine)|Business Insurance]]|date=December 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213210806/http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20101214/BENEFITS03/101219966|archive-date=February 13, 2011}}</ref>}}
[[File:Mitt Romney's official gubernatorial portrait.jpg|left|thumb|Romney's official gubernatorial portrait, 2005]]
At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions but advocated tolerance and supported some domestic partnership benefits.<ref name="bgseries7" /><ref name="lat-sht">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OPEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776,1388597|title=Massachusetts ballot initiative could halt same-sex marriages|author=Mehren, Elizabeth|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|via=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|date=June 17, 2005|page=4A|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222232954/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OPEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776%2C1388597|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mitt Romney on the Issues|publisher=Romney for Governor 2002|access-date=December 11, 2006|url=http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20021218005104/http://www.romneyhealey.com/issues/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 18, 2002}}</ref> A November 2003 [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] decision, ''[[Goodridge v. Department of Public Health]]'', required the state to recognize same-sex marriages.<ref name="bg-civu" /> Romney reluctantly backed a state constitutional amendment in February 2004 that would have banned those marriages but still allowed civil unions, viewing it as the only feasible way to comply with the court's ruling.<ref name="bg-civu">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=February 23, 2005 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406222646/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/|archive-date=April 6, 2009}}</ref> In May 2004 and per the court decision, he instructed town clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But citing a [[Massachusetts 1913 law|1913 law]] that barred out-of-state residents from getting married in Massachusetts if their union would be illegal in their home state, he said no marriage licenses were to be issued to people not planning to move to Massachusetts.<ref name="lat-sht" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/05/19/romney_eyes_order_on_licenses/|title=Romney Eyes Order on Licenses; Seeks to Halt Marriage of Gay Outsiders|first1=Yvonne|last1=Abraham|first2=Frank|last2=Phillips|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=May 19, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725233440/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/05/19/romney_eyes_order_on_licenses/|archive-date=July 25, 2008}}</ref> In June 2005, Romney abandoned his support for the compromise amendment, stating that it confused voters who opposed both same-sex marriage and civil unions.<ref name="lat-sht" /> Instead, he endorsed a ballot initiative led by the Coalition for Marriage and Family (an alliance of socially conservative organizations) that would have banned same-sex marriage and made no provisions for civil unions.<ref name="lat-sht" /> In 2004 and 2006, he urged the U.S. Senate to vote for the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]].<ref>{{cite speech |title=Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachusetts |first=Mitt |last=Romney |event=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary |date=June 22, 2004 |url=http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522&wit_id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522-1-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913091038/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522&wit_id=4f1e0899533f7680e78d03281ffb4522-1-1 |archive-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/06/the_importance_of_protecting_m.html |title=The Importance of Protecting Marriage |last=Romney |first=Mitt |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212054805/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/06/the_importance_of_protecting_m.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2005, Romney revealed a change of view regarding abortion, moving from the [[abortion rights]] positions expressed during his 1994 and 2002 campaigns to an [[anti-abortion]] one in opposition to ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''.<ref name="bgseries7" /> He attributed his conversion to an interaction with Harvard University biologist [[Douglas A. Melton|Douglas Melton]], an expert on [[Embryonic stem cell|embryonic stem cell biology]], although Melton vehemently disputed Romney's recollection of their conversation.<ref name="draper-nyt">{{cite news|magazine=[[The New York Times]] Magazine|first=Robert|last=Draper|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/magazine/mitt-romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309061257/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/magazine/mitt-romney.html|archive-date=March 9, 2021 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=October 2, 2012|title=The Mitt Romney Who Might Have Been}}</ref> Romney subsequently vetoed a bill on pro-life grounds that expanded access to [[emergency contraception]] in hospitals and pharmacies; the legislature overrode the veto.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|last=Greenberger|first=Scott S.|date=September 16, 2005|title=Lawmakers override governor's contraception veto: Move will ease morning-after pill's availability|url=https://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/women/articles/2005/09/16/lawmakers_override_governors_contraception_veto/|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221551/http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/women/articles/2005/09/16/lawmakers_override_governors_contraception_veto/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also amended his position on embryonic stem cell research.<ref name="nb-stem" group="nb" />

[[File:Mitt and Ann Romney.jpg|thumb|Mitt and Ann Romney at the [[White House Correspondents Dinner]], 2005]]
Romney used a [[bully pulpit]] approach towards promoting his agenda, staging well-organized [[media event]]s to appeal directly to the public rather than pushing his proposals in behind-doors sessions with the state legislature.<ref name="bgseries7" /> He dealt with a public crisis of confidence in Boston's [[Big Dig]] project after a [[Big Dig ceiling collapse|fatal ceiling collapse in 2006]] by wresting control of the project from the [[Massachusetts Turnpike Authority]].<ref name="bgseries7" /> After two years of negotiating the state's participation in the landmark [[Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative]] that instituted a [[emissions trading|cap-and-trade]] arrangement for power plant emissions in the Northeast, Romney pulled Massachusetts out of the initiative shortly before its signing in December 2005, citing a lack of cost limits for industry.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenberger|first=Scott S.|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/21/7_states_sign_emissions_pact/ |title=7 states sign emissions pact|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=December 21, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051228085120/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/21/7_states_sign_emissions_pact/|archive-date=December 28, 2005}}</ref>

In 2004, Romney spent considerable effort trying to bolster the state Republican Party, but it failed to gain any seats in the legislative elections that year.<ref name="bgseries6" /><ref name="aap06-809">Barone and Cohen, ''The Almanac of American Politics 2006'', p. 809.</ref> Given a prime-time appearance at the [[2004 Republican National Convention]], he began to be discussed as a potential 2008 presidential candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/5831818|title=Is Romney ready for the big time?: Mass. Gov. gets plum prime-time speaking spot during convention|author=Bradley, Nina|work=[[NBC News]]|date=August 29, 2004|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172539/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5831818|url-status=live}}</ref> Midway through his term, Romney decided that he wanted to stage a full-time run for president,<ref name="battle-238">Balz and Johnson, ''The Battle for America 2008'', p. 238.</ref> and on December 14, 2005, he announced that he would not seek reelection as governor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aaFxZpr2FrSk&refer=us |title=Romney Says He Won't Seek Second Term as Governor |first=Heidi |last=Przybyla |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=December 14, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021234934/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aaFxZpr2FrSk&refer=us |archive-date=October 21, 2015}}</ref> As chair of the [[Republican Governors Association]], Romney traveled around the country, meeting prominent Republicans and building a national political network;<ref name="battle-238" /> he spent more than 200 days out of state in 2006, preparing for his run.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=nightlife&sc=&sc2=photoalbum&id=30744|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=EdgeBoston.com|date=December 26, 2006|title=Romney out of state 212 days so far in 2006|access-date=March 20, 2010|archive-date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021234404/http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=nightlife&sc=&sc2=photoalbum&id=30744|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Romney had a 61 percent job approval rating after his initial fiscal actions in 2003, but it subsequently declined,<ref name="mason-polls">{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Edward|last2=Mashberg|first2=Tom|title=Mitt has Always Plummeted in the Polls|magazine=Salon.com|date=December 9, 2011|url=http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/mitt_has_always_plummeted_in_the_polls/|access-date=May 26, 2012|archive-date=May 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526080016/http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/mitt_has_always_plummeted_in_the_polls/|url-status=live}}</ref> driven in part by his frequent out-of-state travel.<ref name="mason-polls" /><ref name="aap08-790">Barone and Cohen, ''Almanac of American Politics 2008'', p. 790.</ref> It stood at 34 percent in November 2006, ranking 48th of the 50 U.S. governors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Approval Ratings for All 50 Governors as of 11/20/06|url=http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/Approval50StateGovernor061120.htm|access-date=May 25, 2012|publisher=[[SurveyUSA]]|archive-date=May 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521162108/http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/Approval50StateGovernor061120.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election]], Democratic nominee [[Deval Patrick]] beat Romney's lieutenant governor, [[Kerry Healey]], by 20 points, with the win partially due to dissatisfaction with Romney's administration and the weak condition of the state Republican party.<ref name="aap08-790" /><ref name="healeypoll">{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Patrick has a Big Lead in New Poll|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/09/30/patrick_has_a_big_lead_in_new_poll/ |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=September 30, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115110810/http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/09/30/patrick_has_a_big_lead_in_new_poll/|archive-date=November 15, 2006}}</ref>

Romney filed to register a presidential campaign committee with the [[Federal Election Commission]] on his penultimate day in office as governor. His term ended on January 4, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/us/politics/04romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012152957/http://nytimes.com/2007/01/04/us/politics/04romney.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romney Takes Step Toward an '08 Run|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 4, 2007}}</ref>