Indiana Democratic Party Blasts Romney for Refusing To Discuss His Failed Economic Record with Average Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker released the following statement today in advance of GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney's visit to Northwest Indiana for a fundraiser at the home of former State Rep. Dan Dumezich.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100929/DNCLOGO)

"It's a shame Mitt Romney would rather speak to big donors and not average Hoosiers on his trip through the state. He must know his abysmal record of creating jobs won't play well with voters here. The fact is, when Mitt Romney was the Governor of Massachusetts, the state ranked 47th out of 50 in job creation and lost manufacturing jobs at twice the national average.

"When President Obama made the tough choice to lend the auto industry a helping hand, Mitt Romney said we should 'Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.'

"Communities here in Indiana have been saved from disaster because President Obama took bold action and made the tough choice to ensure Chrysler and GM could not only weather the economic crisis, but return to profitability. And after emerging from structured bankruptcy reorganization, Chrysler and General Motors are both hiring again and operating at a profit.

"Mitt Romney just doesn't get it. His economic policies are so out of whack with working and middle class Hoosiers that he'd rather cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires like him than fight to create manufacturing and auto industry jobs that are the lifeblood of our economy, our communities, and our families."

UNDER ROMNEY, MASSACHUSETTS RANKED 47TH IN JOB CREATION

Under Mitt Romney, Massachusetts Ranked 47th In Job Creation. "The Republican contender was the governor of Massachusetts from January 2003 to January 2007. And during that time, according to the U.S. Labor Department, the state ranked 47th in the entire country in jobs growth. Fourth from last. The only ones that did worse? Ohio, Michigan and Louisiana. In other words, two rustbelt states and another that lost its biggest city to a hurricane. The Massachusetts jobs growth over that period, a pitiful 0.9%, badly lagged other high-skill, high-wage, knowledge economy states like New York (2.7%), California (4.7%) and North Carolina (7.6%). The national average: More than 5%." [Marketwatch, 2/23/10]

During Romney's Tenure As Governor Massachusetts' Economic Performance Was "One Of The Worst In The Country" On "All Key Labor Market Measures." "As Mitt Romney pursues his bid for the presidency, his record as Massachusetts governor will come under scrutiny, including how the state's economy performed during his administration. Our analysis reveals a weak comparative economic performance of the state over the Romney years, one of the worst in the country. On all key labor market measures, the state not only lagged behind the country as a whole, but often ranked at or near the bottom of the state distribution." [Boston Globe, 7/29/07]

ROMNEY HAD THE 3RD WORST MANUFACTURING JOBS RECORD IN THE NATION

Under Romney Manufacturing Jobs In Massachusetts Declined By Twice The National Average-"The Third Worst Record In The Country." "Manufacturing payroll employment throughout the nation declined by nearly 1.1 million or 7 percent between 2002 and 2006, but in Massachusetts it declined by more than 14 percent, the third worst record in the country." [Boston Globe, 7/29/07]

Romney's Budget Cuts To Manufacturing Partnership Hampered Effort To Save Thousands Of Jobs. "Romney's recent move to slice $425 million from state spending will hamper the efforts of a program that has helped hundreds of small manufacturers compete, survive, and save thousands of jobs. The program, the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, or MassMEP, is jointly funded by state and federal governments and considered by business officials to be a particularly effective economic development effort... Over the past five years, MassMEP has helped small manufacturers create or retain some 3,000 jobs, generate sales of more than $300 million, and undertake nearly $100 million in new investments, according to annual client surveys." [Boston Globe, 11/23/06]

UNDER OBAMA, MANUFACTURING HAS BEEN A "BRIGHT SPOT" FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY

WSJ: The Manufacturing Sector Has Been A "Bright Spot" Of The Economic Recovery With Manufacturing Jobs Up 1.4% In May From The Same Period A Year Ago And Production Growing At A 7% Rate In The First Three Months Of 2011. "While perhaps not in full flower, the manufacturing sector has been something of a bright spot for the bleak job market after decades of declines. Manufacturing jobs in May totaled 11.7 million, up 1.4% from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the same period, total nonfarm jobs grew just 0.7%. In 2010 and early this year, manufacturing output has grown as customers began building up depleted inventories. Manufacturing industrial production, measured on a quarter-to-quarter basis, grew at a 7% annual rate in the first three months of 2011, after expanding at a 3.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2010." [Wall Street Journal, 6/24/11]

Paid for and authorized by the Indiana Democratic Party
Daniel J. Parker, Chair

SOURCE Democratic National Committee