Newt Gingrich To Release Income Tax Returns, Challenges Mitt Romney To Do The Same

WASHINGTON -- When President Obama releases his tax returns on Thursday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he will be doing the same.

"President Obama is releasing his records this coming Thursday. I will release my income tax records. Callista and I have discussed it," Gingrich said on NBC's "Meet the Press," referring to discussions with his wife. "We agree this is part of the process of the American people having trust in the candidates."

Gingrich also challenged GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney to release his records, saying that "he will never get through the fall without releasing his records, and it's better to do it in the primary season so the country understands what's going on and not wait and be surprised in September."

Romney has so far said he has no intention of doing so.

Though not required by law, most recent presidential and vice-presidential nominees have chosen to made their tax returns public. Former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin also said recently that Romney should release his.

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul told USA Today the campaign will "look at the question of releasing tax returns during the next tax-filing season." She added that Gingrich "is in no position to lecture anyone on disclosure," because he still has not disclosed all the information on his consulting work for Freddie Mac.

When asked by "Meet the Press" host David Gregory whether Romney is hiding something by not releasing his returns, Gingrich replied, "I don't know that. You are the reporter. I'll let you decide that. I know that the country deserves accountability and they deserve transparency, and these are big issues and they're not issues you can hide from. I'm going to try to set the example to provide leadership to do the right thing, and then Gov. Romney has to decide what he is going to do. That's his decision, and I will let you determine why he makes that decision."

Romney's wealth is estimated to be between $190 million and $250 million, according to financial disclosure reports.

Comments

[greetings101]

12:46 AM on 01/17/2012

I don't know how useful it is for Gingrich to release his income tax returns given that he's not going to win the nomination. I mean, Romney is the front runner and everyone seems to be lining behind him, and the religious-conservatives have anointed Santorum as their savior; so I think this is a moot point for Gingrich.

[rsgreyfox1]

08:23 PM on 01/16/2012

What a pathetic joke.
One crook ...calling the other crook------a crook.
Pot meet kettle . One worse than the other.

All these GOPPERS....ALL OF THEM ....profiteers, con-artists, back-stabbers,
liars, cheats ,fakes, frauds, phonies, moneymongers and war mongers.

Not a decent one in the lot.

[Stan DaMann]

08:14 PM on 01/16/2012

Why won't Mitt release his tax returns??? We can only speculate.

TOP TEN REASONS WHY MITT WON'T RELEASE HIS TAX RETURNS???

10. Because he doesn't have to (this is actually the reason Mitt has given).

9. Because he is so arrogant he really believes he can get elected without releasing them???

8. Because he is paying a lower percentage of taxes than the average American???

7. Because he is a Bishop in the Mormon Church and doesn't have to pay any taxes at all???

6. Because he gets paid $5 million per year, tax free, for being a Bishop in the Mormon Church???

5. Because he does not give 10% of his income to the Mormon Church???

4. Because he has paid $5 million to the "Bad Actors Academy" for acting lessons???

3. Because he is a paid lobbyist for the Chinese government???

2. Because he has not filed any tax returns, and the IRS is after him about it???

1. Because he has not filed any tax returns, and the IRS has not found out yet???

[westytx]

06:10 PM on 01/16/2012

Hey Mitt! Where's your tax return?

Hey Mitt! Where's your birth certificate? I hear it's in Spanish....

Hey Boehner! Where are the jobs??? It's been over a year now...

[mingorajohns]

06:04 PM on 01/16/2012

Gingrich has an abnormal fixation on debating President Obama. It is eating him at the very core that a black man is more intelligent, more successful and garner greater admiration than he. It is time that Gingrich come to term with his inadequacies and hubris. He wants to prove his superiority to himself, his little wife-e-poo and the world. God already knows that he is lacking. Gingrich has been getting his instruction from the wrong handbook. He should try the Bible. ,

[LamAng]

05:37 PM on 01/20/2012

I think you just said what most people would deny. It is true that there are a lot of people who just can't accept that BHO is in the white house.

[gregbelter]

05:18 PM on 01/16/2012

I'd hate to see the bill he ran up for pies.

[rsticks18]

03:51 PM on 01/16/2012

Just 21% of Americans self identify as liberal and they are all on the Huffington Post

[rsgreyfox1]

07:33 PM on 01/16/2012

rsticks...
Although it is not true that all consevatives are stupid...
It IS true that most stupid people.... are conservstives.
,-------------------------------Jon Stewart Mill ---------------------

[John Bays]

12:48 AM on 01/17/2012

Just 2% identify themselves as Tea Baggers - and they can't read.

Hey - you got the number right this time[21% liberals]. Now do the demographics and you will find that 21% is also brighter and better educated on average.

Plus the 36% Moderate won't vote for another Regan/Bush.

And it's gonna be a loooooong way for Evangelical Fundamentalists to travel before they can vote in a Mormon - There are good Reasons Romney can't throw out the "Reverend Wright" controversy - He is not going to want to have to answer questions about his church - their beliefs - their dogma.

[rsticks18]

03:32 PM on 01/16/2012

there is NO rule OR law requiring a candidate to release his income tax records. they DO have to release financial records. this is a BS issue made up by jerks from BOTH sides of the aisle

[Arn Arn]

02:30 PM on 01/16/2012

Who cares about his income tax return? I want to see his birth certificate!

[John Bays]

02:18 PM on 01/16/2012

Why would Mr. Romney refuse to open his personal financial information if he has nothing to hide? I know it is not required - but - if you are asking people to vote for you to be our president you should be willing to disclose pertinent information. The upcoming election will literally define the future of the Middle Class. It is clear - to everyone - that the Wall Street Bankers created the recent collapse in the economy with the complicity of the Bush administration. Worse - as the housing market collapsed - the bankers and CEO's, who were playing roulette with our retirement investments, pocketed Billions for themselves in a continuation of the transfer of wealth to the top. Given the lowest corporate tax rate why do we need to {per the GOP} lower those tax rates even more? Why does the financial sector of the economy - that produces nothing - take so much, while working prople fall behind? Why do we need to further reduce taxes on the rich "Job Creators" and their investment income? Why have 270 members of our congress signed the Norquist Tax Pledge? When did a congressmans alliegiance to a lobbyist for the wealthy become superior to the Oath of Office? Why is it OK for money to control our government?

[skeakins]

02:24 PM on 01/16/2012

Romney is not the nominee. Why would a private citizen be required to submit their financial statements? Newt is out of line...and frankly, who cares about how much money they have...or don't have?

Romney has the business qualifications we need to help reverse the mess made by Obama...that's all I care about.

[Arn Arn]

02:32 PM on 01/16/2012

Poor diluted you. Romney has zero intentions of reversing the mess made by Bush. He has his own agenda to push. You are nothing to him.

[John Bays]

03:50 PM on 01/16/2012

First of all Obama did not create the mess - 30 years of Regan "Trickle Down Voo-Doo Economics" capped with eight years of G.W Bush cutting taxes on the rich while starting two wars created the mess. Obama inherited a house on fire and an economy falling into collapse. Even though he has had no cooperation from the obstructionst TP/GOP he has guided us through the worst economic collapse since the Depression AND YES - WE ARE BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE THREE YEARS AGO.
I did not say Romney was required to submit financial information - I said if you are asking for my affirmation I want to know. I don't care how much money Romney has - I would like to know where it came from. He is required to supply his Church with his financial statement annualy and to pay his 10% tithe - don't want to lose those "Celestial Blessings". So - he gives his records to the Bishop but not to the American Voter - and he wants to be President. [Romney - life of priveledge and private schools - Harvard MBA Business graduated Cum Laude.] [Obama - middle class and varied education Harvard Law Juris Doctorate graduated MAGNA cum laude] While Romney took his MBA out and got rich in "Venture Capitalism". Obama author, community organizer, first black President of the Harvard Law Review. Taught Constitutional law @ University of Chicago for 12 years. I would say Obama's has the resume.

[rsticks18]

03:34 PM on 01/16/2012

how much did you care about obama's whole life being sealed up from school records to records as a lawyer to records as a state senator? i will guess you did not care at all--but romney--now that matters to you?

[irishradical]

04:37 PM on 01/16/2012

how many other Presidents have been asked to reveal birth certificate and school information? None. How were they any different from Obama? Oops, I temporarily had a blackout, no pun intended

[wallysdad1]

12:49 PM on 01/16/2012

I think every politician should disclose this. IF they don't, what are they hiding? But they want us to have trust in them????

[skeakins]

02:24 PM on 01/16/2012

Why do you care about their financials?

[Gestas]

11:18 AM on 01/16/2012

Gingrich....Should have went to jail along with, Jack Abramoff....

[warloch2]

11:11 AM on 01/16/2012

Here is one more reason in the long list of reasons liberals need to be voted out of office. They support the UN which is a corrupt useless money redistribution scam.

http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/iran-violating-arms-embargo-with-shipments-to-syria-france_201453.html

[Garyatty10]

11:09 AM on 01/16/2012

Mitt we know part of what is in those Tax Returns

Three parts of the U.S. tax code legally enhance private equity executive payouts: Paying income taxes at the lower 15% capital gains tax rate versus the higher 35% income tax rate; borrowing heavily to do deals and then deducting on corporate tax returns the interest costs on those loans, thus juicing profits and executive payouts further; and getting lots of stock options from the companies they restructure.

[skeakins]

02:25 PM on 01/16/2012

You know nothing.

[rsticks18]

03:35 PM on 01/16/2012

so? that's what warren buffett pays too---so what?

[trisha16]

03:40 PM on 01/16/2012

and he thinks it is wrong.

isn't there a famous quote by reagan stating that a bus driver shouldn't pay the same tax rate or a higher tax rate when you are done with the deductions, as a millionaire?

MSNBC had a segment on it.

[j hawkins]

10:56 AM on 01/16/2012

He better do it,because Sarah said he should..HAHAHAHAHAHAH !