Newt Gingrich says Mitt Romney denied Jewish seniors kosher meals while governor

By Christopher Rowland, Globe Staff

TAMPA, Fla. – Newt Gingrich kept up the criticism of Mitt Romney as he barnstormed Florida today, accusing Romney of running roughshod over the religious convictions of Catholic hospital administrators and denying Jewish seniors kosher meals when he was governor.

In a state heavy with Jewish retirees, the former House speaker, who is slipping behind in the polls, was trying to score some points among a key part of the electorate.

Gingrich also raised the same points at an earlier stop in Jacksonville, according to news reports.

Gingrich did not explain the Catholic hospital reference. But it could be about a decision Romney made in 2005 that said all hospitals in the state were required to provide the Plan B birth control pill under Medicaid. At the time, Romney said the decision was made based on legal advice from a state attorney, according to Globe coverage of the issue.

Romney also vetoed a $600,000 expenditure while he was Massachusetts governor in 2003 that would have paid for kosher meals for seniors in nursing homes on Medicaid, the New York Post reported last week.

Gingrich likened Romney’s positions to a war on religion that Gingrich said is being waged on America by President Obama and Democrats.

``Governor Romney imposed on Catholic hospitals a position against their conscience. Governor Romney cut off kosher meals for Jewish senior citizens on Medicaid for $5 a day,’’ Gingrich said.

The Romney campaign did not respond to the cryptic reference about the Catholic hospitals or respond directly to the attack over kosher meals.

“It’s sad to see Speaker Gingrich lashing out in a desperate attempt to try and save his floundering campaign,’’ said Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul. “Speaker Gingrich will say anything to distract voters from the fact that he suffered an unprecedented ethics reprimand, was forced to pay a $300,000 penalty, and resigned in disgrace at the hands of his own party. His record is one of failed and unreliable leadership and simply one Americans can’t risk.”

Gingrich spoke before a small but boisterous crowd of supporters in an aircraft hangar on the edges of the Tampa International Airport. He accused Romney about lying about his record as a conservative and slammed Romney for being too liberal.

In 1992, Gingrich said Romney voted for Paul Tsongas. “And he is questioning my credentials? It just tells you how out of touch with honesty that Mitt Romney is capable of being.’’

He added: “We nominated a moderate in 1996 [Bob Dole] and we lost. We nominated a moderate in 2008 [John McCain] and we lost. And Mitt Romney is more liberal than either of those candidates.’’