Romney never had a smooth relationship with the Massachusetts legislature. He campaigned for the governor's office promising to "clean up the mess" in the State House and often criticized the bureaucracy on Beacon Hill. But as Romney's dealings with lawmakers grew frostier, the veto pen quickly became his primary tool.
Massachusetts State Rep. Jim Marzilli, a Democrat from Arlington, said the frequency with which Romney's vetoes were rejected showed "his inability to communicate with members of the legislature from either party."
Marzilli continued: "In the first year, he was willing to talk to us a bit. And the legislature wanted to show deference to the newly elected governor. . . . But it became clear after a few months that he was willing to sacrifice the interests of Massachusetts residents to serve his ego to run for president."
Campaign 2008: Romney's vetoes seldom stood - Page 2 | Concord Monitor
