Critics and supporters alike are increasingly calling for Mitt Romney’s policy specifics, and on Sunday another voice joined the chorus: Former Minnesota Gov. and potential running mate Tim Pawlenty.
Speaking on CBS’ Face the Nation, Pawlenty asserted that Romney had put out a plan for tax reform, but admitted that the details remained murky.
“He hasn't put out a specific plan to eliminate any of the particular deductions within the tax code, but he has talked pretty specifically how he would reform, reduce, and slow down government spending overall, and that would help put the country on a pathway to a balanced budget,” he said.
He added that President Obama too was short on details, failing to put out specifics on how he would reform Medicaid and Medicare. In fact, he told Face the Nation host Bob Scheiffer that he would come to his house and mow his lawn if Schieffer could find Obama’s specifics on reforming entitlement programs. Scheiffer later declined the offer. (He lives in an apartment.)
Pawlenty is one of Romney’s possible vice presidential picks, but he said that he thinks he “can best serve Governor Romney in other ways,” particularly as a surrogate. He said that was something he told the campaign when asked.
“I have encouraged people who asked this question in the campaign to look at other prospects,” he said.
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