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Subscribe to RSSGOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is riding his momentum from a trio of caucus wins to the top of the latest national polls. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum sought to draw another sharp contrast between himself and Republican rival Mitt Romney when his campaign released four years of tax returns Wednesday night.
The documents, reported by Politico, show Santorum and his wife, Karen, earned more than $3.5 million from 2007 through 2010, but paid more than one-quarter of their earnings back in taxes. The most they paid in taxes was in 2010, when they earned $923,411 and paid an effective tax rate of over 28 percent.
Romney's 2010 tax returns show the former Massachusetts governor and wife Ann earned $27 million and paid a tax rate of 13.9 percent.
"I felt very successful in making money. Also, I was very successful in paying taxes," Santorum told CNN on Wednesday. "I think our tax rates were ... between 25 percent and 28 percent. You know, I do my own taxes and maybe I didn't have all the deductions and exclusions that I could have. But I was trying to be as straightforward as I could and paying the taxes I thought I owed."
New Gingrich's 2010 tax records, however, show he paid even more than Santorum in taxes, earning $3.1 million that year and paying back 31.5 percent.
The Santorums filed an adjusted gross income of $659,637 in 2007, that rose to $945,100 in 2008, $1.1 million in 2009 and $923,411 in 2010.
'We've been very blessed'
While the candidate acknowledged his success, Santorum was quick to point out that he has two children in college, a special needs child and a home that has lost 40 percent of its value.
"I took a lot of that money and actually paid down a rather significant mortgage to the point where ... my mortgage was still below the value of my house," he said. "And that's been a bit of a hit for us. And I have two kids in college and a child with a disability and needing care, so, you know, we've had some expenses and we've been very blessed to have the opportunity to be able to handle those and still be in the black.
The release does show the former Pennsylvania senator's wealth grew since he lost his re-election bid in 2006. The latest Republican to surge in the polls has disputed the notion he has cashed in from his time on Capitol Hill.
But shortly after the information was made public, Santorum sought to use it to play up the blue-collar background he speaks about so frequently on the campaign trail.
He referred to himself as a "grunt lawyer" in a Pittsburgh law firm before getting to Congress.
Santorum took a break from stumping in Florida last month before the Sunshine State's primary to return home to ready the documents that he himself files each year, never relying on an accountant.
He also points to his re-election loss as an opportunity for him to gain private-sector experience, something Romney has critiqued Santorum for not having.
"In many respects, I have to say the people of Pennsylvania didn't always give me what I wanted, but they gave me what I needed. And in retrospect, Piers, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to get away from Washington to give me a perspective on things," he told CNN's Piers Morgan.
"It was a really great opportunity to get a whole bunch of different life experiences in the private sector and I think it's made me a better candidate coming forward here for president," Santorum added.
Four years worth of tax returns is the most any GOP presidential hopeful has released. Ron Paul now becomes the only candidate who has yet to make his returns public.
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Stupid article and an ignorant discussion. Romney paid a lower rate because most of his income was capital gains (15%). It's taxed lower because it represents a risk of losing your money and other reasons. Santorum paid more because his was income and wages from a job and/or business. (35%)
Nobody pays the full rate due to deductions. Obama only paid 27% last year on income of $1mill I think.
Look at the candidates of both parties and see who donated to the poor ,,,that will tell you who cares about the people! Any of the republicans are levels above hussain oBAMA (if you don't count spending other peoples money like taxes), and joe bite me ($385) !
@ america first, explain why congress votes on THERE OWN PAY RAISES....explain the math to me there...
That is kind of the way the law works. The congress writes the laws, including their own pay. The problem is that the general public doesn't care enough to hold them accountable if they abuse it.
Sooooo ....who wants to hire a Lawyer who just didn't file all his deductions because he just forgot? Or was too lazy to research what deductions he could take legally. "So I guess I paid more than I had to...Oh well... I have enough money so it doesn't hurt me and my underwater mortage situation. " HUMMMM.... I don't count that as really smart enough to run the country. He's been involved with government in or outside of office for 20 years...in my book that says he is part of the reason for our government money problems. Quite frankly I am tired of the Lawyers in government office...they seem to muck things up more. Won't get my vote
Look, if you need to be good over it, you have to start at the very beginning. Never just retain the services of anyone that claims what you would like to hear and pledges you a completely happy conclusion without listening to your background. Research before you buy, and get it done efficiently. I found ConsumerTaxReports.Org, and they create a way that makes researching tax debt businesses so easier. They've personally called 50 plus tax debt relief companies and published in-depth evaluations about their practical experience with them. Stay away from a headache and take a look
Everyone paid higher taxes than Romney. And that is only what he is reporting from money held in the US. Most of his assets and cash are offshore.
Where is the source of your information and its documentation?
Should shilling for conservative media and corporate DC lobbyists really count as "private sector experience"?
I felt very successful in making money. Also, I was very successful in paying taxes," Santorum says
And that's why we should vote for Santorum? Regardless of the drivel that comes out of his mouth? Or any other candidate for that matter? Now we're gonna compare tax returns? As if that's more important than their record? What a stupid story, exactly what i've come to expect from MSLSD.
Interesting such a fuss is made of rates and % in real dollars Mitt still paid more than Santorum or Gingrich earned. So lets talk fair. I am not Republican but the man earned it. Lets look at a few of our so called roll model athletes and their contracts or movie star figs and see their rates. I work to pay the least rate possible only to keep washington from blowing my hard earned money away. I grew up in a house with no bathroom or running water but never felt I was owed part of my neighbors pay, this is the good old USA get off your but and do it.
Republicans to Santorum...SUCKER for paying the little people's tax rates...only working stiffs see these tax rates...the wall street barons have figured out a way to turn even wages into some sort of captial gains scheme....SUCKER
He paid 28% of his income to the IRS?? That would be a good reson for one issue people to vote for Ricky The Micky. :)
the tax code is simple, it was designed and refined by rich congressmen who are lawyers, and who were paid large amounts of money by the very wealthy. those very wealthy people (and congress who exempt themselves from nearly every law) can afford to hire tax lawyers to make sure they pay little or no taxes. even if congress decides to tax the wealthy do you really think they will pay more? there are so many loopholes and shelters for them that they will never pay much in taxes. for those of you who wish to raise the tax on corporations, let me remind you that corporations simply pass on taxes to the consumer, so in affect you will just be increasing the cost of your purchase. we have a few options, 1. vote out all sitting members of congress and replace them with non-lawyers, common sense people who are sworn to follow the constitution. 2. have a revolution 3. vote for Ron Paul who at least follows the constitution in his voting record and wishes to get rid of the irs and reduce this monstrosity of a government and let the states and ultimately the people handle day to day activities
I understand now why the Republicans do not wish to raise taxes on the rich, they seem to have a good game going as it is. Why spoil a good thing, keep the rest of America struggling.
THOSE REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE BIGOTS DON'T KNOW SQUAT ; only thing they know is what BUSH know , '' start wars '' and the h— — l with diplomacy !!!!!!!!!! they get our kids stuck in the middle of their retardedness , and want to be seen as warriors. when their own kids are home safe , with the least desire to be put in harms way by their reckless parents. and the most ironic , is that '' THE GRINCH '', and '' SENT TO ROAM '', both believe the same things. SENT TO ROAM's record of cheating is not as bad as THE GRINCH , that's all folks !!!!!!
So now who paid what rate is the issue. Cool. The GOP has turned a full circle and is talking what the democrats have been saying for long. www.sci-burr.com is amazed at the hypocrisy.
I have a better Idea..... Cut some tax slack to the Fat Cats who hire people, thus lessening the burden to the Government's treasury. Given them even more incentive if they cover the health and dental for their employees as well. Why wait for the feds who will screw it up anyway, regardless of the political party....
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Can we pleeeease chuck the hate politics, and lets get some people bloody jobs... Now!
When will they ask Romney the real questions?
Like:
1."Mr. Romney, explain to everybody how placing your money into shelters overseas so you can get away with paying less then 14 percent in annual taxes is helping Americans?"
2."Mr. Romney, do you send the bulk of your money overseas because you value the trade of other countries over America's, or did you send your money over there so you didn't have to pay as much in taxes as everybody else does?"
3."Mr. Romney, you like to say that you pay what you owe in taxes and not a dollar more. What if the vast majority of America thinks you should pay a lot more? Do you agree with the majority of American people and pay more taxes or tell them you don't care and don't want their votes anyways?"
4. "Mr. Romney, do you think all Americans should pay less then 14 percent of their annual incomes to taxes, like you do, even though that would plunge this great nation into third-world status almost immediately?
5. "Mr. Romney only the rich could take advantage of loopholes you have used to insure you pay less in taxes then almost all Americans who pay taxes. Should that be how America's tax code works? Should rich people, like yourself, pay smaller percent of your income to taxes when people like our military, cops, social workers, firefighters have to pay a great deal more?
1. This is America and we have freedoms, one of which you can do with your money what you want to within the laws of the land.
2. see #1
3. I followed the tax laws that the US has passed. We all should follow the tax laws that have been developed.
4. We all should follow tha tax laws that have been passed. I have CPAs that prepare my tax returns. I pay them to do their job and they back up what they do by agreeing to go to court and defend what they have completed my taxe returns as being within the tax laws.
5. Military pay taxes? Are you aware that deployed Soldiers have zero, none, nada taxes on all income paid to them while deployed. You do relize this don't you? I have already paid taxes on most of my earned income once. I am paying the tax rate that is on the books for the income I recieve currently based on what type of income it is. It is very complicated and I have CPAs to make sure my tax returns are within the laws that the US passed.
Let's be fair here. Most of Romney's assets are not in overseas accounts. And for those that are, there's been no evidence presented that Romeny is using them to dodge taxes.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to oppose Romney. Let's not muddy the waters like this by making up false ones.
He needs to get a more aggressive financial planner and CPA.
I love how the liberals HAVE to resort to Google-Bombs to get anywhere in the presidential race because they know their candidate sux. It's the only thing they can rely on. However, they don't know how desperate it makes them look. As an independent, I won't vote democrat based on their tactics alone...
The state of truth in this country has reached the (low almost beyond belief - requiring special writing talent) point that anyone smarter than a robin must wonder what the rest of it is whenever he hears one of those "attack" adds, or reads journalist jerkwater like this. Lying in the U.S. all depends upon the individual liars ability to justify what he's said or is saying - postmodenist truth, in other words. "I can lie because it's for a good cause (read: "I hate what he might do to my pet ideology").
Who was it wrote that book years go - the one entitled "The Death of Shame"?
Stupid article. More misdirection by the press, to divert from lack of leadership in Washington. Inflation and economic collapse are heading our way, and the press spends time on this. The so called "free" American press is the biggest failure we have going and they are walking us into tyranny.
These radical nuts that the right wing cracked teanuts have fielded are a total joke. Lyin Willard keep talking about Obama's failed policies, instead of talking about his failed policies and Bush Bin Lyin and his criminal gang, led by President Cheney's failed policies. Unfortunately for lyin Willard, the unemployment rate as released this morning, shows that this is the best in 4 years. So why would anyone, except the catholic pedophile rapist priests and Jesus freaks, want to go back to the failed and criminal polices of the right wing nuts.
The Pope's boy who is backed by thousands of rapist pedophile catholic priests is not going to win by a landslide, he is going to wind up in a landfill with the rest of the garbage that is running for the cracked teanuts party.
Sanitarium's backers have destroyed the lives of so many young boys and their families, just as Sanitarium himself will destroy everyone elses.
The best bet for the radical cracked teanuts and their pedophile rapist priests and Jesus Freak backers are the best of their family values candidates.
Cain/Sandusky in 2012. Sandusky is eligible to run because he is out on bail. Sandusky, the person that every rapist pedophile catholic priest looks up to for guidance.
Does it realy matter what a candidate paid in taxes? The ultimate qusetion that should be asked and confrimed is "Can he run the country"?
Also if anyone was really upset as I,they should look to the fact that many of th present people running our governmnet have deflauted in there monies owed in taxes and if they were just like you and me they most likely would be in jail for tax evasion.
he only paid 28% you say in disbelief. He also I think has like 9 kids and that is still a tax deduction. I believe the poverty level for that size is like 60k. Also all the medical bill they probably pay out of pocket had a tax deduction element to it as well so they probably had a 35% starting level but with deductions got down to 28% still far more than most of us pay.
If your complaint is that you are paying 28% too then you are doing well on income so quit trying to make something out of nothing. Those of us out here struggling to stay above water and by that I mean keep rent paid and utilities no oh no I cant go to dinner and a movie this weekend are fed up with pretend offense being taken by those who are doing well or ok so move on and talk about what we need to do to fix our great nation.