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AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney talks about his plan for creating jobs and improving the economy during a speech Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, in North Las Vegas, at McCandless International Trucks.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Published Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011 | 1:21 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011 | 3:23 p.m.
Mitt Romney
With a North Las Vegas trucking company as a backdrop, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney unveiled his plan to turn around the economy, calling for a modernized American economy by harkening back to the nation’s global economic dominance of the 1950s and 60s.
The former Massachusetts governor’s plan called for lowering taxes on corporations and individuals -- including eliminating taxes on personal savings -- reducing regulations on businesses -- including to allow increased domestic energy production -- expanding free trade and reigning in the federal budget.
"In the first four years, if I'm lucky enough to be president, this will grow the economy at approximately 4 percent per year, it will add 11.5 million new jobs for Americans," he said.
At one point he offered this would-be campaign catchphrase: “Growth is the answer, not government.”
Romney, who concluded his remarks at 1:20 p.m. PDT, addressed a crowd of about 200 supporters at McCandless International Trucks, near Interstate 15 and Cheyenne Avenue.
North Las Vegas has been a favorite backdrop for Romney, who stopped there in April to highlight the country's employment problems, returned in June to film a campaign commercial to decry President Barack Obama's jobs record and chose it again to underscore the area's 14 percent unemployment rate.
Romney said his plan -- presented without the use of a Teleprompter, “not that there’s anything wrong with that,” he joked in a jab at Obama -- would cut the national unemployment rate to 5.9 percent by the end of his first term.
The plan is sweeping, covering 59 points in seven broad subjects -- taxes, regulation, trade, energy, labor, human capital and government finances -- and also including five bills and five executive orders he would submit on his first day in office.
Among the highlights:
• A call for no taxes on savings or dividends for middle class Americans, whom he defines, as the Obama administration does, as an individual earning less than $200,000 a year. The corporate tax rate would be cut to 25 percent.
• Limiting new government regulations: Introduction of a new regulation would require the elimination of an old one. He did not say where he would scale back government oversight.
• His most unusual proposal: creation of a "'Reagan Economic Zone,' a partnership among countries committed to free enterprise and free trade."
The proposal is aimed at China, which he said steals our technology and intellectual property and has manipulated their currency to detriment of the American manufacturing base by keeping their products cheap.
“I don’t want a trade war, but I don’t want a trade surrender either,” Romney said.
• Loosening restrictions on fossil fuel extraction. “We’re an energy rich nation, but we’re living like an energy-poor nation,” he said. At the same time he attacked renewable energy, calling it in written materials the “unhealthy green jobs obsession.” To the crowd, he said, “Where are all those green jobs?”
• Not allowing union dues to be used for political purposes.
• Creating personal reemployment accounts, which would, in effect, privatize federal job retraining.
• A balanced budget amendment, capping federal spending at 20 percent of gross domestic product. He assumes his policies will prompt the economy to grow by 4 percent a year.
Romney vowed to introduce five bills on his first day in office to: reduce the corporate income tax 25 percent; implement a free trade agreement with Colombia, Panama and South Korea; allow energy drilling in all areas currently approved for exploration; consolidate federal job retraining programs and give money and responsibility to the states; cutting nonsecurity discretionary spending by 5 percent, or $20 billion.
Also on the first day in office he would issue five executive orders, including a universal waiver for the new health care law; to halt all Obama administration regulations; to examine trade sanctions against China; to prohibit unions from using dues for elections.
Even before Romney delivered his remarks, Democrats presented a response. State Sen. Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said Romney, who led Bain Capital, a venture capital firm, "has made a living killing middle class jobs to increase profits for big corporations and CEOs."
"I welcome Governor Romney to Nevada... But I would ask him to talk to those who will be impacted negatively by his proposals, not just the corporations that will benefit from them," Horsford said. "We don’t appreciate Governor Romney coming here and using our hardships as a photo-op for his campaign."
Pay off the debt by cutting taxes? The teabag bigots are as bigoted against Mormons as they are against Muslims and minorities. Sorry Mitt you thump the wrong religious book for Republican bigots.
All Staples is is a distribution center for Communist Chinese products.
Romney ridded many Americans of their jobs when he bought companys and then raped them of assets and closed up shop, firing all the workers. Now this guy has the audacity to come up with a voodoo jobs bill.
Go sit in the corner Mitt, we don't wanna hear from you.
Karoun Demirjian,
I realize you got this story to the web quickly but was he more specific? I see: cut taxes, cut govt spending, cut regulations, and let in more foreign imports. I applaud the first 3 goals, but how is going to do it?
Thanks, Victor.
Really US economy of the 50's and 60's? When post War and Cold War spending made for tons of good paying government and government contractoring jobs? Federal taxes spent on the constructing the interstate highway system...When our chief rival worldwide was ourselves and not the sweatshop nations or China, Japan or Germany? When there was no globalization and few dual income families. The unregualted disposal of carcinogens leading to Superfund sites? Oh yeah, and lots and lots of federal budget deficits. Really Mitt? You should just stick with critizing Obama.
Mitt, stop pulling all these pie in the sky numbers out of your @$$. Just because you say economic growth will be 4% doesn't mean it will happen and you know it! It just makes you look like another career politician willing to say anything but do nothing for the middle class.
Wealth has never needed democracies - these people don't want to share power with the rabble in the streets or pay to education someone else's kid.
If Mitt and his billion dollar buddies can cut the Government apart, they can rule from the back room. Then they can cut trees, dam rivers, mine the Grand Canyon, dump toxins just about anywhere without restrictions and make themselves a bundle of cash.
Mitt wants to rule, not govern. Mitt is a living Saint and Earth is just a stop over in his long journey to the Streets of Gold. The environment has been provided for the purpose of becoming rich and Mitt can't wait.
I bet everyone one this site that if Obama gave that speech you would be out here saying that he knows what he is doing and he is going to be the best president we have ever seen. But since its a republican that gave this address, the people on this site just want to bash and bash and bash the other side because to tell the truth you don't have anything good to say about the way the democrats and Obama have run the country. You have been brainwashed by the liberal media to only see good in the democratic side of things and that is sad.
I really love the hate that almost everyone on this site shows and posts. This really shows how great the democratic party is.
If we don't aggree we will bash you and treat you like a low-rate citizen that has a mental disorder.
Democrats grow up! Republicans need to do the same but come on. Atleast show some ablity to be bipartisan. But I know it goes against everything MSNBC preaches to you.
Romney is right, American does need to be a "Job Machine".
Karoun Demirjian, Thanks for the update.
"a modernized American economy by harkening back to the nation's global economic dominance of the 1950s and 60s."
That is, when American Unions were strongest and when CEO's were making 10x their average employee salary, not 400x. Good point Mitt! Do you know what you said?
Mitt must have been cracking nuts with Sharon Angle. Another rich republican snake oil salesman trying to sell us a cure for his own party sickness. He took the unions money when he ran for gov of Ma. and now he is bashing them. People have to stop believing these fly by night republicans like him and Perry and Paulin. Lets face it the GOP has no real candidates or party platform. They caused this whole mess by supporting Bush for 8 years and his take care of the rich first policy. The say no party also has no answers but to give rich corporations more tax breaks sound like Mitt is in Nevada trying to drum up more $$$$ than votes.
Romney is the best candidate right now...he's shown an ability to lead from the center, showing regard and compassion on revamping health care as a governor, recognizing the need for reaching out to all economic levels as a fundamental need in redoing the tax code. For all the comments I've read, I'm sure everyone of you has a boss you work for. Romney wants to encourage your boss to expand, innovate, and bottom line, KEEP YOUR JOB ALIVE!! The current president wants to all he can to do just the opposite, and that's why you see unemployment through the roof!! The rhetoric of 'hating' your boss, CEO, or whoever it is that employs you needs to end!!
Stating 11.5 Million new jobs is an easy sound bite. I would like to see the facts that back up those numbers though.
Way to many running for office will tell the public what they want to hear, point out the problems we all already know about and attack the others running but seems no one is willing to tell us with facts and figures HOW they will really fix the problems.
The perfect candidate is not the one that points out the enemy but the one that tells me why they should be our leader.
Wierd and obviously clueless but make Perry and Palin look sane.
According to Rick Perry (WHO IS AGAINST A BORDER FENCE AND IS FOR FREE College for the "undocumented"), Romney did not create that many jobs as governor. The audience was bused in and even teabag people opposed the Romney speech and the truck dealership sells foreign made Japanese trucks).
Romney is now washed up.
Change is good. We have to do something radical and that means putting this guy in the White House. We needs jobs in Nevada and what has Obama done except criticize Las Vegas.
"I welcome Governor Romney to Nevada... But I would ask him to talk to those who will be impacted negatively by his proposals, not just the corporations that will benefit from them," Horsford said. "We don't appreciate Governor Romney coming here and using our hardships as a photo-op for his campaign."
Right on, Senator Horsford!
"Let's go back to the golden age of Republican leadership! Less regulation! Cut spending! Lower taxes! ESPECIALLY for corporations! shrink the government! And, DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!"
As Romney spoke to the crowd in NLV today, his nose GREW AND GREW AND GREW! The crowd GASPED IN HORROR! Romney tried to downplay the incident, saying "FEAR NOT, my fellow Americans! ALL us Republican candidates are growing our noses out these days! It's a show of solidarity! Pay no attention! Democrats will mock & ridicule, but we LOVE these new noses of ours; hell, we're ELEPHANTS, for God's sake! Big noses are NO BIG DEAL! Now, where was I...oh, yes... cut spending! AND, we MUST lower the Corporate tax rate! It will lead to JOB CREATION, MY FRIENDS! Corporations are PEOPLE TOO! You Democrats just DON'T GET IT..."
mcg,...your off the reservation.
It should be noted my brain dead Congressman was there too at the podium in North Las Vegas.
Mr. Heck being there giving an introductory speech at a speech by Mr. Romney is hilarious. I know he felt out of place.
Because to equate job creation with some kind of new goal pursued by Congressman Heck is pretty much the same as putting whipped cream on a hot dog. Don't make sense.
Job creation, in both his words and in his actions, is actually the farthest thing from Heck's mind. All he does is lick the shoes of Speaker Boehner and ignore the 12.9 percent unemployment rate here in Las Vegas.
As a matter of fact, the rest of the country (plus Las Vegas) is talking about jobs are the most important thing, but, on August 29, I received a letter from Congressman Heck telling me that there needs to be an amendment made to balance the budget.
Huh?
My Congressman is so out of touch, I can't wait for the elections in 2012.
I'm voting him out. Because he's operating on Planet Far Right Republican and thinks everyone is there with him too so much it's pitiful. He is just one cog in the machinery of the House of Representatives that makes this 112th Congress the most useless Congress the U.S. has had in just about sixty or so years.
I don't want Nevada to be a part of their idiocies anymore. That's why I'm getting rid of him and putting someone else productive in there.
That's awesome. I wonder if our own governor will ever speak here on a jobs plan. Does anyone know if he even has one? Anyone, anyone, bueller, bueller...
olbuddy...
I'd forgotten we HAD a Governor!
Kevin Boyer, what an incredibly rude statement and an insult to all Native Americans. Grow up.
The economy has change but the politicians still can't adjust to what is needed to get this country back on track. All you hear is the same old solutions that worked in the 60's. If you want business to hire, you must make fundamental changes in the work week to begin with. That would be shortening the work week to 32 hours a week. Overtime would be paid for any hours worked over those hours. This could be done in weeks and not years. You need to understand that what took 5 men to do several years ago only takes 1 now. That is the biggest difference. And it is only going to get worse.
Yes, where is Sandoman these days? More photo ops in Iraq? Come on Sandman, where have you been? Rollin up those political sleeves maybe. Or maybe you're about as worthless as the last clown that slept in the same bed, just with a prettier face. What a real peach this guy has turned into.
Racer,
Obama's plan is almost a mirror image. The Lib trolls will be drooling when it is released.
Funny how blind obedience works.
Blah, Blah, Blah.
Did Romney's plan include deporting all illegal aliens who have taken jobs away from black and white Americans over the last 30 years?
Of course not. His corporate masters wouldn't like that aspect of a jobs plan. Frightened and pliant employees are always better than those with some level of chutzpah and ability to speak English.
For example, some day I wish the INS would raid Primarily Prime Rib restaurant. I've never met a hostess, waiter, waitress, busboy or manager who could speak clear, unaccented English at that restaurant, which is one of hundreds in America like it. A mini example of corporate employers thought processes.
and all you jackals think Obama has all the answers and he is your savior! Keep dreaming and keep sitting in the poor house with rest of us...NOBAMA 2012!
Without democracy you cant solve unemployment questions. Biggest problem what lies on a map is where all these qualified workers live and where all these jobs are located at. If a worker lives in Maine and jobs are in California, reachable places are within long distance and how does this man/woman know about the job?
If you claim wealth doesn't need a democracy so wealth doesn't need to find an employee, it's a labourer's problem to find a job. So we get nowhere if we say we don't give a dam a subordinate.
Something to ponder on.
All these blow-hards, Dem and Repub. the same - all seem to have all the answers to our unemployment situation and yet no one says ANYTHING... how does that work - does one keep their 'great' ideas to themselves and only if elected will they choose to 'share' their 'great' idea?? If anyone knows how to get people back to work in this Country they should speak now or forever hold their peace.... liars - ALL politicians - thieving, crooked liars.
Until our congressmen and congresswomen address the problem of illegal immigration, Las Vegas will have a major problem with unemployment with no end in sight. In 2006, ninety-nine percent of the construction jobs were held by illegal immigrants in Las Vegas. Many illegal immigrants are working under someone else's name in Las Vegas. This how the racket works. A legal immigrant secures a job legally in Las Vegas. However, the person physically performing the work at the job is an illegal immigrants. This is very widespread at casinos and fast food restaurants in Las Vegas.
The corporate income tax is so ineffective that Congress could raise the tax rate to 60% and it still wouldn't generate more tax revenue because of all the tax breaks and loopholes in the tax code.
If the U.S. wants to be able to compete with other countries for business then it must eliminate corporate tax breaks and lower the effective rate to be more in line with the average rate of other members Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development. http://eng.am/mTCnZw
With lower effective rates companies will be encouraged to develop in the U.S. instead of another, less consumer-driven country. http://eng.am/nFYSql
The more businesses developing in America the more jobs opportunities there will be, the more tax revenue the government collects and the faster the unemployment rate will drop.
@ Colin (or whoever you really are): Get a job, get a life and read a book. Do you have any idea how stupid your continual factless rants sound? Everyone knows you by now and knows you are as clueless as Obama. Do you have any coherent thoughts or hasn't your lithium kicked in yet? Is it that you just like to see your name in print? Really, I want to know. I see the same postings everywhere, and I gotta ask...why??? Obviously, you are ok with making stuff up, and I've noticed you seem to have a crush on Dr. Heck. Why post stuff that only solidifies the psycho persona? Who does that?
To sames: Thanks for your insights about the issue at hand. Just go ahead and attack me, but bring up nothing of substance. Also, go ahead and call me crazy...probably because I struck a raw nerve in your blind unquestioning allegiance to Heck.
But, I will answer an observation of yours.
I do not have a crush on Heck.
I just want to make sure he is crushed by votes at the 2012 election that effectively sling him out of office. And I vow to you that I will do anything and everything to make sure the word gets out about the mistake that was made making him a Congressman.
He is taking Nevada the wrong way due to his willing participation in ensuring the 112th Congress goes down on record as the most useless, do nothing Congress America has ever experienced.
Nevada deserves better. And I can see people waking up to that fact.
Heck supports a massive Armed Forces. He supports using your tax money and your neighbors for American Imperialism. A policy which has bankrupted our Nation. A policy which has created a monetary system akin to a vampire on your future.
Heck is too stupid to understand the deadly game he is involved with. He is nothing but a tool. He loves Death, that is his thing.