Romney Looks at 2012 from Hawaii– Huckabee and Romney As Front Runners – Analysis Taxes and Paroles

Mitt Romney & Wife on vacation an island away from Obama - image mittromneycentral.com

The Sacramento BeeSunday news included a piece on former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, who is, coincidentally, on vacation in Hawaii at the same time as President Obama. Romney, who is touted as the “front-runner” for the GOP nomination in some instances, is a favorite of certain fiscal conservative groups, who “forgive” the former Governor for his Massachusetts Universal Health Care bill that was exported nationwide under Obama. Understanding that Romney’s vision of the Bay States version was not exactly the deficit ridden, mandate heavy, private insurance cost increasing behemoth that evolved once he left the legislation in the hands of a Democrat heavy State Legislator, it belies the fact that Romney, a savvy business man, must have foreseen the mess that would evolve once he left the Governorship to run for President in 2008. That aside, what is most often forgiven is the multiple “fees” imposed under Romney, including the “fee” for not complying with the State Mandated Program.

Although he initially opposed a “tax” for non compliance, he was fine with “fees” assessed on those that failed to comply” (Insurance Journal) . In any other universe a “fee” is a “tax”, unless one is looking for a “businessman” to run the country in 2012. When he first took the office of the Governor in 2003, then Governor Romney, hiked “fees” :

“If you own a gun or a boat, kill termites or teach horseback riding for a living or just want to learn to drive, you may have to pay more for a state permit.
Along with proposed budget cuts and reorganization plans, Gov. Mitt Romney sent the Legislature a four-page list of fees that would be increased to help balance the state budget. In all, the fee hikes would add $60 million in revenue next year. The proposed fee increases come on top of $290 million in fee hikes the governor imposed under emergency budget balancing authority given him by the Legislature in February that would be carried over into next year's budget.
While many of the fees hit businesses and special groups, few in the state would escape paying more for state services.”

The Fees (Tax increases):

“State college tuitions would be raised as much as 15 percent for in-state students
Free parking at many state parks, including Wachusett Mountain Reservation in Princeton, would give way to $2 parking fees, and a 15 cent deposit would be tacked on to juice, wine and other beverages that have escaped bottle deposits in the past.
At the Registry of Motor Vehicles, many fees would be raised.
Commercial license road tests would double to $40; drunken-driving license reinstatement would go from $300 to $500; learning permits would double to $30; a new $50 fee would be charged for emergency light permits; and the state would also bring in $507,000 by charging $2 each for bulk purchase of driver manuals by driving schools.
The Department of Public Health would begin charging a new $50 fee for all tuberculosis tests, to bring in $300,000, and hikes in license fees for hospitals, labs, radiation monitoring firms, and other licensed health-related businesses would bring the state an additional $3 million.

Elevator inspection fee increases would produce $3 million in new revenues, a hike in milk dealer licenses from $5 to $25 would raise $1.3 million.

Firearm registrations would triple to $75; fees for floats, piers and moorings would be increased 80 percent and boat registrations would go from $15 to $30 and $25 to $100. Surcharges on speeding tickets would double to $50 and current surcharges on drunken-driving violations would double to $250. “

(Worcester Telegram and Gazette, fee required for full article)

Which, the aforementioned may be why, those who are opposed to fees in states such as Iowa, the South, the Mid-West and places in between, failed to move then 2008 Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney past Mike Huckabee, the former Governor of Arkansas, who is often accused of “taxing” those in the State of Arkansas.

Additionally, he can be, of all things, Bi-Partisan! In a recent article by right of center blogger Michelle Malkin, she eviscerates Huckabee in her piece: “Malkin: Big Nannies of the Year”"

“Nanny State Republican Mike Huckabee, who used his bully pulpit position as Arkansas governor to campaign for Big Government-endorsed “healthier living” in public schools and private life, naturally sided with Mrs. Obama — and took a swipe at Sarah Palin last week for criticizing the White House usurpation of parental responsibility and rights. Huckabee scoffed at the idea that the feds are “trying to force the government’s desires on people.” But school bake sales are already under siege, and Mrs. Obama’s childhood obesity task force has already called for new and dramatic controls on the marketing of unhealthy foods. Did Huckabee miss (or does he agree with) Mrs. Obama’s officious rallying cry on child nutrition: “We can’t just leave it up to parents”?
God save us from more busybody bipartisanship in 2011.”

Ms. Malkin is either missing the point, or perhaps making a political point for the “fiscally conservative, fee happy Romney”. Governor Huckabee can be bi-partisan, when and if, it is in the best interest of his constituents, and asked for by his constituents. Apparently, addressing the issue of childhood obesity (health and strength of the nation’s future), is off the radar for certain conservatives, and any interaction with the “enemy” (i.e. a Democrat) is seen as treasonous.

That said, agreeing that parents should be the first point of defense for their children, the fact that many children in today’s society, depending upon the school district, are not offered “healthy choices” for school lunch, rather vending machines, and the like; with parents who may or may not be present and/or know what their children are ingesting must be considered. In the case of Huckabee - is not a question of “big brother”, rather a question of schools, paid for by the taxpayer, offering nutritious food for the students rather than “junk food”. Huckabee offered guidelines, rather than a mandate, including the parents in the process and ultimately changing the menus at schools to include more healthy “snacks” (from article: Star News via AP: “Arkansas Reaches Out to Overweight Kids, Schools help parents with fighting obesity” In addition he did not impose any lunch “fees”.

Of course, the two contenders have only hinted at a run in 2012, and have yet to announce, unless one can count Romney’s “hint” in the LA Times: “Running certainly seems to be on Romney's mind. His annual Christmas card showed a smiling Romney with his wife, Ann, and 14 grandchildren. The caption read: "Guess which grandchild heard that Papa might run again?"

Huckabee, Palin and a crowded field of “those speculated to run”, have repeatedly "coyly" dodged the questions of 2012 presidential runs. That said, as polls continue to show Huckabee gaining strength (CNN Opinion Research), coming in ahead of the entire pack of “contenders”. Not for nothing, the best polling (this opinion) group out there, Public Policy Polling has, in early polling, Huckabee ahead of Romney in the State of Florida.

As it now stands, the battle that may brew between Romney and the “fiscal conservatives” in the beltway, and Mike Huckabee, who is viewed as a more populist candidate, should they both decide to run, make this one very interesting fight in 2011-2012. Of course, this does not address the third front-runner, Sarah Palin, who, although currently “lagging” behind both Romney and Huckabee in a series of polls, should not be discounted. A great deal will depend on which one of the aforementioned has the rank and file, plus the “Tea Party, in full force behind any run at the Presidency.

A few facts:


Romney Pardons: He denied them all, including one for an Iraq War Vet, who when 13 years of age, (juvenile record) shot another boy in the arm, causing a welt, with a bb gun. The man was applying for a job and requested the pardon from Govenor Romney who refused. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service to the nation in Iraq.”(UPI)

Huckabee Pardons: Although credited with pardoning one man by the name of Dumond, who continued to commit murder after his parole, his release and pardon was at the behest of the Parole Board, not Huckabee. The parole board “assumed” that Huckabee would have wanted the man paroled, as he had expressed some sympathy”. (Seattle Post Intelligencer) In fact, Huckabee presided over executions performed under the laws of the State of Arkansas which offers a contradiction of sorts to those who support the Huckabee as “soft on crime” theory CBS News. Or course, Huckabee did pardon, Rolling Stone’s, Keith Richards for a “parking violation” (Pittsburg Post Gazette”)

The point being that both Romney and Huckabee have made decisions as their respective State’s governors, which can either be excused and or not, depending upon one’s ability to face facts and dig a little deeper to look at the men (or women) who may hold the highest office in the land. One can, however, anticipate a colorful battle between these two “potential” candidates – what one cannot anticipate is how either will fare against one Sarah Palin, or should the constant speculation bear fruit, One Democrat Nominee, Hillary Clinton.