Mitt Romney on International Aid

Summary

In a 2011 debate, Governor Romney stated that one portion of foreign aid was national defense. He asserted that these funds should fall under the Department of Defense instead of the foreign aid budget. He also noted part of international aid was humanitarian. However, he also stated that it doesn't make a lot of sense for us to borrow money from the Chinese to go give to another country for humanitarian aid. He stated that foreign aid was indeed one place that cutting the budget was possible.

In his 2012 literature, Governor Romney states that he would support a $100 million cut in foreign aid as one means to help lower the deficit.

Western Debate

In October of 2011, Governor Romney participated in the Western Debate. He was asked about international aid. He notes that foreign aid has a legitimate place in the foreign policy of the US. He points out that foreign aid to countries like Pakistan allow us to influence policy there and Afghanistan.

COOPER: Governor Romney, should foreign aid be eliminated?

ROMNEY: Foreign aid has several elements. One of those elements is defense, is to make sure that we are able to have the defense resources we want in certain places of the world. That probably ought to fall under the Department of Defense budget rather than a foreign aid budget.

Part of it is humanitarian aid around the world. I happen to think it doesn't make a lot of sense for us to borrow money from the Chinese to go give to another country for humanitarian aid. We ought to get the Chinese to take care of the people that are -- and think of that borrowed money on today (ph).

And finally there's a portion of our foreign aid that allows us to carry out our activities in the world such as what's happening in Pakistan where we're taking -- we're supplying our troops in Afghanistan through Pakistan.

But let me tell you: We're spending more on foreign aid than we ought to be spending. And Congressman Paul asked, is there a place we can cut the budget? Let me tell you where we cut the budget. Discretionary accounts you bring back to 2008 level. We get rid of Obamacare. Number three, we take Medicaid, turn it back to the states, grow it at only 1 percent to 2 percent per year. Number three, we cut -- number four, rather, we cut federal employment by at least 10 percent through attrition. And finally, we say to federal employees: You're not going to make more money than the people in the private sector who are paying for you. We link their compensation.

2012 Economic Plan

Reduce Foreign Aid — Savings: $100 Million. Stop borrowing money from countries that oppose America’s interests in order to give it back to them in the form of foreign aid.

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