Mitt Romney's Record of Failure on Manufacturing Jobs

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Please see below for a fact check on Mitt Romney's latest web video and a statement from DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse:

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

"With a job record like Mitt Romney has, it's no wonder he's doing everything he can to avoid talking about it during his trip to Ohio today. During his time as Governor of Massachusetts, the state ranked 47th out of 50 in job creation and manufacturing jobs declined at twice the national average. Now he is trying to take his failed economic policies nationwide. Mitt Romney is so out of touch with ordinary Americans that he supports more draconian cuts than what Congressman Paul Ryan proposed. That means he wants to gut Social Security and Medicare to pay for more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires like him. President Obama understands manufacturing jobs are the backbone of the American economy and provide a livelihood for millions of Americans. President Obama will continue fighting to help middle class workers while Mitt Romney continues his support for the wealthiest Americans."

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]

In Ohio, Private Sector Employment Increased By 263,600 Jobs, or 6.4%, From January 2010 Through June 2011. [bls.data.gov, accessed 7/27/11]

Manufacturing Employment Increased By 16,600 Jobs Between January 2010 And June 2011. [bls.data.gov, accessed 7/27/2011]

Auto Manufacturing In Ohio Has Risen 31 Percent In The Past Two Years. "The auto gains have been widespread, with the Midwest the biggest beneficiary. In Ohio alone, auto manufacturing jobs have risen 31 percent the past two years, and parts makers in Michigan have added nearly 20,000 jobs." [AP, 7/10/2011]

NYT Reported That When Visiting A Chrysler Plant In Toledo, President Obama Was "Repeatedly Thanked By People Who Said They Owed Their Jobs To Him" And His Decision In Early 2009 To Provide Government Assistance To GM And Chrysler. [NYT, 6/3/2011]

SOURCE Democratic National Committee