Romney puts in his two cents

Mitt Romney is on Capitol Hill this morning, testifying about Barack Obama's economic recovery plan.

The former Massachusetts governor, seen as one of the Republican party's leading lights on the economy, was invited by new House Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, who says the hearing is in response to Obama's outreach for GOP input. (Click here for a link to live streaming video.)

"The best medicine for a sick economy is permanent tax relief," Romney said.

He said any spending should only go to urgently needed projects, such as military modernization.

Obama is proposing that about 40 percent of the stimulus package -- pegged at $775 billion or more -- go to individual and business tax cuts. He also wants spending on infrastructure, but also on projects that support his longer-term goals on education, healthcare, and the environment.

Of course, if the election had gone differently -- and especially if John McCain had picked him as his running mate -- Romney's say in the stimulus package would be much louder.