Ryan will release two years of tax returns; says he gave Romney team 'several years'
(CNN) – Rep. Paul Ryan said Sunday he gave Mitt Romney's vice presidential vetting team "several years" of personal income tax returns, and that he would release two years of those returns to the public – the same number as Romney, the presumptive GOP nominee.
Democrats, as well as some Republicans, have called on Romney to release more than his 2010 and 2011 information, saying the voting public is entitled to know more about a candidate's financial history. Romney has consistently responded by saying his level of disclosure is beyond the legal amount and that two years give a good reflection of his tax situation.
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"It was a very exhaustive vetting process," Ryan said on CBS' "60 Minutes." "It's a confidential vetting process, so there were several years. But I'm going to release the same amount of years that Gov. Romney has."
A spokesman for Ryan later confirmed that the presumptive vice presidential nominee would release two years of income tax returns "as soon as we're ready."
Romney has disclosed his income tax returns from 2010, and released an estimate of his 2011 tax information in April. He has vowed to release 2011's full return one it's completed by his accountant.
Democrats say the lack of disclosure puts Romney at odds with a precedent for presidential candidates set by his father, George, the former Michigan governor who released 12 years of his tax returns when running for president in 1968.
Some Republican observers, including the editorial pages of the National Review and the New Hampshire Union Leader, have urged Romney to release more of his returns to quiet the political debate.
Ryan said Sunday that voters weren't interested in his or Romney's taxes, and were looking for the two presidential campaigns to return to substantive issues of economic policies.
"What I hear from people around this country, they're not asking, 'Where are the tax returns?' They're asking where the jobs are. 'Where's the economic growth?' Those are the issues that matter," Ryan said.
The calls for more disclosure "are more or less distractions to try and take us off the fact that the president has given us failed policies that aren't working," Ryan said, saying the Republican campaign would instead "focus on what it takes to turn this country around and get people back to work."
CNN National Political Correspondent Jim Acosta contributed to this report.
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This is the Republican politician`s version of 3-card Monte. The American voter will not be fooled.
If Mitt Rmney demanded to see multiple years of returns from Mr. Ryan, then WE DEMAND the same from Romney. He [Romney] has lived a life where he thinks the rules don`t apply to him. HE IS WRONG!
Ryan/Romney [cause Ryan is calling the shots] is THROWBACK team that will further advance tax policies of the Republican over the past 30 years. Yhere is no way we can have a debate on Revenue/Spending/deficits UNLESS we know that the man that wants to ultimately approve or veto thae direction America takes has been ethical & morally honestin paying his fair share.
Demanding 10 years of Mitt`s tax returns is CENTRAL to evaluating him.
...so this guy does what Romney has refused to do from the word go? And Romney wants to be President? Wow!
Romney needs to release the tax returns. This issue is not going away, show the American people the tax returns.
I guess the GOP team will release more years of tax returns when they finally discover they are in a losing battle with the American public on this issue. When poll after poll begin releasing the most current infomation and they are getting futher and further behind. Romney is determined not to reveal any of the tax loophole he has used and the tax rates that he has paid. I guess it does not matter if you do not want to win the White House.
Ryan said Sunday that voters weren't interested in his or Romney's taxes, and were looking for the two presidential campaigns to return to substantive issues of economic policies
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That is a lie. Folks have to remember that Ryan is no longer his own man. He belongs to Romney as least until 11/06/2012 and if Romney wins long after that.
It is a given that Romney's tax returns are legal. He employs the finest accountants to ensure that he pays little or no federal tax. What galls me is that his tax returns will prove via W-2 forms that he did work at Bain long after he says he left Bain plus prove he is lying about what says about paying federal taxes. Proof? In 2008, McCain's folks vetted Romney for VP. After they saw his returns, they dropped him like a hot potato.
So Romney wanted to see "several years" of Ryan's returns but thinks that the American public is out of line for wanting to see more than the 2 years that Romney knew he was running for president.
Come 0n Romney release 10 more years worth and put this to rest
Romney had prepared for his presidential run since 3 kyears, so he paid some taxes in 2010 and 2011. Those have been released for show. He had not paid any taxes in the previous 10 years while he assembled his 200-million dollar fortune at Bain. This is disclosed by his fellow Mormon Harry Reid on the US Senate floor. He conquered his millions, now he wants to take the White House just for the sheer power of it; nothing to do with bringing back employment for the average man in America. He couldn't give a hoot about that.
Isn't the rule that Liberals must release 2 years worth of tax returns and Conservatives must release 10 years?
hardly surprising. The Romney campaign is certainly not going to ley Ryan release more years than Romney did, that would make Romney's doshonest and cowardly evasions look even worse!
It appears Ryan is following the Romney policy and limiting what "you people" need to know. Yeah, they want our vote, but don't want to come straight on their income. This, in light of the GOP demands for the Presidents' birth certificate, and now, his grades in school. Such hypocrisy is not a winning formula for November.
From now on, all candidates will release only 2 years worth of tax returns. Thanks Mr. Romney for setting a new low!
When elites get into politics they usually "Scale back" namely work out a soft retirement so someone else does the monkey work managing their investments in exchange for a good salary.
IMO, like I think on Romney also, it's entirely possible they both paid no taxes for an extended time. And I'm not accusing them of breaking the law, either... Years back on 60 minutes a country western singer was approached by a company claiming they could erase all his taxes. He thought it was a sting and went to the IRS who told him they were legit, so disgusted he paid his taxes and went to the news... Essentially two virtual corporations one profits/one fails, they cancel each other out. The sort of thing that if a private citizen does they laugh him to jail but an elite with tons of money can do.
Romney dont want the public to see how much money he have an he dont want the middle class to see how we pay more taxes than he does he's about the rich
Is legal tax dodging a republican pass time now??
whats the bid deal about tax returns? Geitner didn't pay taxes for 3 years and he didn't lose his job?
Great another Republican that wants to hide his taxes.
Romney and Ryan should show tax returns for the last 10 years.
Just saying.
The rich telling the middle class to eat cake. Romney and Ryan.
why would anyone with half a brain want to vote for a party that has'nt come up with a budget in over 1200 days?....um ya heres my tax $$ don't worry about budgeting...just waste and corrupt it away......
It really doesn't matter it me if Representative Ryan releases any tax returns or not. He's not running on his record as a businessman, or should I say "job creator", but, rather, his 19th century economic ideology. He's been in congress for years years and years, so we know what he has accomplished...nothing of consequence except to stand in the way when his has not been following the herd.
What is it that these people are hiding? Release ALL your tax returns. The are cherry picking only the ones that place them in a favorable light. What a bunch of crooked politicians. Throw all the bums out!
Where are the tax returns?
Mr. Rmoney – Where are the tax returns?
Mr. Ryan – Who's going to pay for your big spending and unbalanced budgets?
lol another one with something to hide?or brown noser?
No! I am asking where are the tax returns.. You are hiding something!!!