For Immediate Release More information:
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 David Holtz 313-300-4454
Should Follow Example Set by Father, the former Michigan Governor
LANSING, MI–Responding to the limited release of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s tax returns for 2010 and 2011, Progress Michigan demanded that Romney immediately disclose additional tax returns and financial history–going back to his time as CEO of the Bain Capital private equity firm.
Reports today that Romney has released only the last two years of tax returns are nowhere near satisfactory.
“Mitt Romney should follow the example set by his father who released 12 years of tax returns,” said David Holtz, Progress Michigan Executive Director. “It was reported widely yesterday that Romney turned over more than two decades of his tax returns to the McCain campaign when he was being considered for vice-president in 2008, a position he didn’t get after they saw the records. Why did the McCain campaign get more than two decades of tax returns, while the American people get just the past two years? What does Mitt Romney have to hide?”
The late George W. Romney, who served as Michigan governor from 1963 to 1969, ran briefly for the 1968 Republican nomination for president. During that time he established the tradition of modern-day presidents releasing tax returns for multiple years. At the time, the elder Romney balked at just releasing tax returns for one year, saying “one year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show….”
“Mitt Romney doesn’t seem to understand that the voters expect transparency,” said Holtz. “In the case of a man who has made untold millions while laying off thousands of working American citizens, full disclosure going back to that time is even more important.”
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