The Hiller Instinct: Romney’s 100 Days

Andy Hiller
"What words would you use to describe your first hundred days?"

Mitt Romney (R) Governor
"Bold, exciting, dynamic, challenging, daunting, but a great start."

On Romney's opening day, this was his pitch…

Mitt Romney
"We are facing a financial emergency… We must take immediate, hard action."

Then, like a hurricane, he did. Trying to turn Beacon Hill upside down, proposing cuts in health care, reforms in courts, the elimination of UMass President William Bulger's job and slashes in local aid.

Mayor Michael McGlynn (D) Medford
"It'll jeopardize the quality of life that we've built up over the last decade here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

Firefighters Rally, April 10, 2003
"No more cuts, no more cuts"

Romney's proposals triggered protests, key legislators challenged his numbers…

Sen. Robert Travaglini (D) Senate President
"I am still not convinced that the arithmetic is accurate."

But Romney repeated the rhetoric that got him elected…

Mitt Romney
"It's time to declare that the road to ‘taxachusetts’ is a dead end street (applause)."

Mitt Romney
"I think you're going to see a budget without a tax increase."

Romney was in office 77 days when the bombs dropped in Baghdad, knocking the budget story off the front page. He doesn't think citizens missed much…

Mitt Romney
"Ultimately what they want to know is did we preserve our core mission in state government and are their taxes going up."

And what do they want from him?

Mitt Romney
"An indication of whether the person they elected is going to fight for what they campaigned for."

As a candidate, Romney campaigned against the gang of three, now he's one of the trio that rules Beacon Hill.

He has shown he can give as good as he gets…

Mitt Romney
"Working with the speaker is a great privilege and I can honestly say I worship the people he works on... (laughs)."

And that he can laugh at himself…

Mitt Romney
"There was almost a serious accident coming in here this morning. I almost banged my head on the door and broke my hair. (laughs)"

Even if you believe Mitt Romney is a bloodless businessman and hope he loses every budget battle, you must admit he has shaken up Beacon Hill and restored some stature to the governor's office.

Almost alone, he's brought a semblance of two party politics to the State House and, altogether, those are impressive accomplishments in 100 days.