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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Tax Fairness and the Presidential Campaign

    When Mitt Romney released his tax returns, they showed a rate of just 14 percent on $20 million in profits, dividends and interest. The next day in his State of the Union address, President Obama called for tax reform that's become known as the Buffett Rule, calling economic fairness "the defining issue of our time."

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    When Mitt Romney released his tax returns, they showed a rate of just 14 percent on $20 million in profits, dividends and interest. The next day in his State of the Union address, President Obama called for tax reform that's become known as the Buffett Rule, calling economic fairness "the defining issue of our time." The President called for a 30 percent minimum tax on millionaires. "Tax fairness" will be part of his reelection campaign. Romney says it's all about "envy," and Republicans call it "class warfare." We ask a prominent pollster if Americans really care. Whatever happened to "progressive" taxation, where the richest pay the highest rates of all? With lower rates, do they really invest in creating new jobs? If their rates are increased, will they be penalized for achieving the American Dream?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Mitt Romney's Taxes and the Question of 'Fairness'
    1. 0:00Why Is Ray LaHood's Son Being Held in Cairo?
    2. 7:08Tax Fairness and the Presidential Campaign You’re reading this
    3. 40:46WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to Host TV Talk Show
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jim Tankersley

      New York Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Frank Newport

      Gallup Poll

    • KCRW placeholder

      Roberton 'Bob' Williams

      Tax Policy Center

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Mitt Romney's Taxes and the Question of 'Fairness'
    1. 0:00Why Is Ray LaHood's Son Being Held in Cairo?
    2. 7:08Tax Fairness and the Presidential Campaign You’re reading this
    3. 40:46WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to Host TV Talk Show
    Back to To the Point