Romney: ‘We make sure the top 1% keeps paying, paying the current share they’re paying or more’
(Elaine Thompson - AP)
I asked yesterday whether Mitt Romney’s coming tax reform package would be aimed at outflanking his opponents in the primary or shoring his campaign up for the general. Today, TPM relays some comments Romney just made on the trail suggesting that it’s the latter:
I’m going to limit the deductions and exemptions particularly for high income folks. And by the way, I want to make sure that you understand, for middle income families, the deductibility of home mortgage interest and charitable contributions, those things will continue, but for high income folks, we are going to cut back on that so we make sure the top 1% keeps paying, paying the current share they’re paying or more. We want Middle income americans to be the place we focus our help, because its middle income americans that have been hurt by this Obama economy.
For comparison, the Tax Policy Center estimates that Romney’s current tax plan cuts taxes on the top one percent by $82,000. We’ll see whether his new plan matches his rhetoric soon enough.
The Post Most: BusinessMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hours
Blog Contributors
Ezra Klein
Ezra Klein is the editor of Wonkblog and a columnist at the Washington Post, as well as a contributor to MSNBC and Bloomberg. His work focuses on domestic and economic policymaking, as well as the political system that’s constantly screwing it up. He really likes graphs, and is on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook. E-mail him here.
Suzy Khimm
Suzy Khimm covers the budget, economic policy, and financial regulatory reform. Before coming to Washington, she was based in Brazil and Southeast Asia, where she wrote for the Economist, Slate, and the Wall Street Journal Asia. Follow her on Twitter here, and email her here.
Sarah Kliff
Sarah Kliff covers health policy, focusing on Medicare, Medicaid and the health reform law. She tries to fit in some reproductive health and education policy coverage, too, alongside an occasional hockey reference. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Politico, and the BBC. She is on Twitter and Facebook.
Brad Plumer
Brad Plumer is a reporter focusing on energy and environmental issues. He was previously an associate editor at The New Republic. Follow him on Twitter. Email him here.
