Corporate Tax

Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, described Romney's jobs record as "mixed," saying Romney failed to take the long view in his planning. "The administration never really put together an overall economic development strategy to improve the state's economic competitiveness," he said.

However, by 2005, when Mr. Romney proposed his third round of corporate tax loophole closings, “frustrations had reached a boil,” said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, believes broad-based tax incentives are crucial to the state's economy. He is dubious, however, of grants and tax breaks that are awarded to individual companies. "I think it's highly risky to pick selected companies, like an Evergreen Solar, and bet on them," said Widmer.