Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Romney vows to change health care, energy policy in U. Oklahoma address
By Monica Albert
Oklahoma Daily (U. Oklahoma)
08/15/2007

(U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. — Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney emphasized the need for improving public education, health care reform and tougher enforcement of immigration laws during his speech Tuesday at the Health Sciences Center at the University of Oklahoma.

OU President David L. Boren invited all presidential candidates to speak on campus during the upcoming election season, and Romney was the first to accept.

"As a former governor, I admire what Governor Romney has accomplished," Boren said. "With health care being one of the most important issues, I feel it is only fitting to have him at this campus today."

The forum brought an audience of more than 300 people, including students, current and former legislators and the public. Romney began by introducing himself, while emphasizing that a life in the private sector has prepared him for a successful political career.

"With the exception of my governorship of Massachusetts, my whole life has been in the private sector," Romney said. "I'm not working for a political career because I don't have one."

"I'm going to turn to strengthening the people as America's great strength," Romney said.

Romney focused this quest for strength on economics, policies and the American family.

STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY

While discussing economics, Romney told the audience the country's main problem is spending too much money. He said by spending money we don't have, we are putting the nation further into a debt that will be hard to escape.

Despite his desire to lower the debt, Romney still made it very clear that making it possible for middle and lower class people to save money is still a top priority.

"My goal is to let those people save their money without being taxed," Romney said. "It will make a big difference."

Romney also addressed the health care situation in the United States. He said it is a conservative idea to ask people to pay for their own health care.

"If someone can't afford it, we will find a way to help them buy it," Romney said. "It is cheaper for us to help people buy insurance than to pay for it for them."

This idea was one Romney succeeded in successfully implementing in Massachusetts.

Romney recognized the need to make higher education more affordable as a top priority as well. In Massachusetts, he was able to begin a program that covered tuition costs for four years for the top 25 percent of high school students, as well as attempting to allocate $400 million in capital improvement funds, with the legislature cutting that amount to about $100 million.

In response to a question of how he would make this a national goal, Romney reverted to his plan for tax cuts.

"If we can help those moderate and middle class families save money without being taxed, it will help greatly with making education affordable," Romney said.

STRENGTHEN FOREIGN POLICY

Romney's discussions of policies revolved around foreign energy and immigration.

Romney said if he was elected, he would work with Congress to find ways to save as much energy as we use and develop new ideas in conserving it, such as reprocessing nuclear fuel.

"We are sending out over $1 billion a day outside of this country," Romney said. "Foreign policy advocates ... environmentalists ... economists all support being energy independent."

Romney also noted the urgency of enforcing immigration laws by securing borders and implementing employment verification systems.

"I fully support legal immigration," Romney said. "But no one deserves the illegal shortcut, and if they are already here, they need to get back in line with everyone else."

He expressed a plan to cut back on giving funds to "sanctuary cities," those cities who knowingly welcome and hide illegal immigrants.

"It is also unfair that students who come and learn excellent skills are forced to leave at the end and illegal immigrants are staying," Romney said. "I would rather staple a green card to someone's degree."

STRENGTHEN FAMILY VALUES

When asked by an audience member how he would improve the image of the nation if elected, Romney discussed his own plans for improving family values, as well as admiration for some of President George W. Bush's actions. He asked everyone to remember Bush's policies that give law enforcement the power to protect the people.

"We need to clean up the water our kids drink in the world," Romney said. "We need to clean up the drugs and the pornography and make it good again."

After the forum, Romney held a press conference, answering additional questions. He said his recent success in Iowa are where his changes have begun, and he plans to take those changes with him throughout his election.

"The individual is the sovereign, and the state is the servant," Romney said. "That is what I want to go back to."

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