By Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images
President Obama discusses the shootings in Aurora, Colo, on Friday.
By David Jackson, USA TODAY
President Obama plans to stress taxes in New Hampshire today, arguing that Republican plans would reduce the tax bills of millionaires -- including GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
"And his new running mate, Congressman Ryan, put forward a plan that would let Governor Romney pay less than 1% in taxes each year," Obama plans to say today in Windham, N.H., according to excerpts released by the campaign.
Obama also plans to attack Romney on his proposed $5 trillion tax cut, saying it will have to be financed by raising other taxes or cutting programs that benefit the middle class.
"They have tried to sell us this trickle-down fairy dust before," Obama plans to say, according to excerpts. "It didn't work then and it won't work now. It's not a plan to create jobs. It's not a plan to cut the deficit. And it's not a plan to move our economy forward."
The latest tax attack comes as the Obama team tries to pressure Romney into releasing more tax returns; Romney has refused, calling the issue a Democratic effort to distract attention from the bad economy.
His aides have disputed Obama's claim that could Romney could pay less than 1% in taxes under GOP proposals; they said the Romney and Ryan keep the George W. Bush-era tax credits, while maintaining the capital gains rate.
The former businessman and governor of Massachusetts said this week he has always paid his fair share of taxes, at a rate of at least 13% every year.
Romney and aides also note that Obama has proposed a tax increase, by ending the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year; the Republicans say that plan will hurt job creators.
"The fact is President Obama wants to raise taxes on private investment and job creators, which will lead to higher unemployment and fewer jobs," said Romney spokesman Ryan Williams. "The Romney-Ryan Plan eliminates taxes for the middle class on interest, dividends and capital gains and implements pro-growth policies to deliver more jobs and more take-home pay for middle-class families."
USA TODAY