GREER, S.C. — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Thursday that he has paid a tax rate of at least 13 percent on his income in each of the last 10 years, offering his fullest explanation to date of his tax status.
In response to repeated demands from Democrats that he release his tax returns, Romney has so far made public only last year’s tax records, which showed he paid 13.9 percent on his 2010 income. He has said he will also release his 2011 return but has no plans to make public additional information.
Graphic
Explore the 2012 electoral map and view historical results and demographics
More from PostPolitics
Sean Sullivan
THE FIX | The vice president is now drawing criticism from a member of his own party.
Felicia Sonmez and Amy Gardner
VP pick Paul Ryan mentioned Medicare for the first time on the stump on Wednesday.
Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake
THE FIX | Mitt and Ann Romney don't want to release their returns. Why?
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) claims that he was told by an investor at Bain Capital, where Romney once worked, that the Republican candidate had paid nothing in taxes for at least 10 years, due to his ability to take advantage of tax loopholes and shelters for his considerable wealth.
But Romney told reporters Thursday that he has paid at least 13 percent in taxes for each of the last 10 years.
“I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I paid taxes every single year,” he said.
He said Reid’s charge is “totally false” and complained the tax issue has been a distraction during a time when the country faces tough challenges.
“I just have to say, given the challenges that America faces – 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear, one out of six Americans in poverty – the fascination with taxes I’ve paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues that we face,” he said.
“I’m sure waiting for Harry to put up who it was that told him what he says they told him. I don’t believe it for a minute, by the way,” he said.
Asked at his daily briefing about Romney’s remarks, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said: “I don’t have a reaction. My statement to that would be that this president believes the tradition for presidential candidates putting forward multiple years of tax returns is a useful and valuable one. It’s not always a comfortable one but it’s one he abided by and one the American people believe is right and expect their candidates to abide by.”
David Nakamura contributed to this story.
In response to repeated demands from Democrats that he release his tax returns, Romney has so far made public only last year’s tax records, which showed he paid 13.9 percent on his 2010 income. He has said he will also release his 2011 return but has no plans to make public additional information.
Graphic
Explore the 2012 electoral map and view historical results and demographics
More from PostPolitics
Sean Sullivan THE FIX | The vice president is now drawing criticism from a member of his own party.
Felicia Sonmez and Amy Gardner VP pick Paul Ryan mentioned Medicare for the first time on the stump on Wednesday.
Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake THE FIX | Mitt and Ann Romney don't want to release their returns. Why?
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) claims that he was told by an investor at Bain Capital, where Romney once worked, that the Republican candidate had paid nothing in taxes for at least 10 years, due to his ability to take advantage of tax loopholes and shelters for his considerable wealth.
But Romney told reporters Thursday that he has paid at least 13 percent in taxes for each of the last 10 years.
“I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I paid taxes every single year,” he said.
He said Reid’s charge is “totally false” and complained the tax issue has been a distraction during a time when the country faces tough challenges.
“I just have to say, given the challenges that America faces – 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear, one out of six Americans in poverty – the fascination with taxes I’ve paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues that we face,” he said.
“I’m sure waiting for Harry to put up who it was that told him what he says they told him. I don’t believe it for a minute, by the way,” he said.
Asked at his daily briefing about Romney’s remarks, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said: “I don’t have a reaction. My statement to that would be that this president believes the tradition for presidential candidates putting forward multiple years of tax returns is a useful and valuable one. It’s not always a comfortable one but it’s one he abided by and one the American people believe is right and expect their candidates to abide by.”
David Nakamura contributed to this story.