Mitt Romney Won’t Release Tax Returns If He Runs Against President Obama

Mitt Romney revealed this week that he won’t release his tax returns if he’s chosen as the GOP nominee who will run against President Barack Obama.

Romney said of his decison:

“Never say never, but I don’t intend to do so.”

On the one hand it’s likely Romney would receive some support for his transparency by revealing his tax returns on the other hand it’s likely that one of the richest men ever to run for the U.S. Presidency would also show that he pays the minimum 15% capital gains taxes on the millions of dollars he earns each year from Bains Capital.

In the meantime Mitt Romney is quickly becoming one of the most secretive candidates to every run for the office of the President. He recently refused to name individuals who have bundled money on his behalf and he also paid thousands of tax payer dollars in order to have his records as Governor destroyed.

Speaking about the former Governors decision Fred Wertheimer , president and founder of Democracy 21 told the Huffington Post:

“Romney ought to be releasing his tax returns and the names of his bundlers,” and “There is no understandable reason why he isn’t doing that except for the fact that he wants to keep secret from the public information that other candidates in his situation have made public and that, for some reason, he doesn’t want voters to know.”

In an attempt to circumvent the tax release issue Romney said:

“I can tell you we follow the tax laws. And if there’s an opportunity to save taxes we, like anybody else in this country, will follow that opportunity. But we don’t have any current plans to release tax returns — but never say never. We’ll see what the future holds. We’ve released, of course, all the information required by law—which is a pretty extensive release. But down the road, we’ll see what happens if I’m the nominee.”

Romney does point out that his “saved taxes” likely come from loopholes meant to keep money in the pockets of the wealthy, allowing him to pay in a smaller tax bracket then most middle class families.

Do you think Mitt Romney should release his tax returns if nominated as the GOP Presidential front-runner?

[Image via Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com]