McKenna says he won't release tax returns
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna said Tuesday he will not release any of his tax returns, dismissing the matter as a distraction from important policy discussions.
McKenna, the state's attorney general, said he has disclosed enough information in the personal financial forms that candidates file with the state. He called the tax-return debate - both here and nationally - a "phony issue."
McKenna, a Republican, said his political rivals are attempting "to change the subject away from the real issues of the state."
Democratic rival Jay Inslee, a former congressman, released five years of tax returns last week, and his campaign had called on McKenna to do the same.
McKenna noted that the matter follows closely with what is happening in politics nationally. President Barack Obama has been calling on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to release more of his tax returns. Romney has declined.
McKenna said he didn't want to be dragged into a game.
The personal financial disclosures that McKenna files in Washington do provide some detailed information, such as donations from groups that have covered costs during McKenna speaking engagements. But some of the numbers can be vague, as the forms provide only broad estimates for income from investments.
Tax returns would also provide more specific detail on household income, how much the family paid in taxes, any types of exemptions the family claimed and how much the McKennas gave in charitable contributions.
McKenna and Inslee are set to meet Wednesday night for their second debate. The event will be hosted at Washington State University's campus in Vancouver.
You can watch the debate live on KATU News and KATU.com at 8:00 p.m.
So will we find out his sexual orientation or is that a secret as well???Â
For all of you crying for tax returns.................you probably wouldn't even understand what you were looking at if they were provided. Their returns contain much more than your basic wages on line 7, or interest income on line 8. Â
 @wondering Do you mean like how an IRS program allowed people to bring back money in Swiss accounts without being prosecuted for tax fraud???
Only if you signed paper work that said you admitted tax fraud???
Oh Wait that's what mitt did....
Are you saying that's what McKenna did as well???
 @wondering True, it does contain a lot more information than just basic wage and interest income - which is why people are interested.
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The financial background of those who will be in charge of dictating tax policy and tax enforcement should be of interests to those who will hand them that power.
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Additionally, are you not the least bit interested in whose pocket they might be in? Or do you only care if it is a candidate from the other team?
Get out McKenna, Or prove that u r what u say u R
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no show no vote
McKenna said he didn't want to be dragged into a game. ?????
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How is informing a voter of a canidates personal financial make up a game?
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To a politician  it may be a game,for its part of the the criteria I consider when I vote.
I wouldnt show my tax returns to anybody, why should he.....Stand your ground
Good for him. I am not the IRS, so I do not worry if he filed his taxes or not. What I do care about is if he is the most qualified person to fill the position. I do not need his tax returns to make that determination.
Here's my stance on this, if you want to run of any public office and make decisions regarding my life and get paid with my tax dollars then you better show the returns and anything else the people ask. In this day and age there are too many shady politicians. All cards on the table people.
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 @MagicMoose You have to wonder if they do not want to show tax returns since it can not only highlight where their loyalties lie but also who they have financial ties with - can we all say possible conflict of interest?
If the IRS says he paid his taxes I don't need to see the details.
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Might be time to focus on the issues instead of just throwing mud.
Oh sure, kinda pulling an Obama on this one.Â
I always stick to the belief that if someone refuses to do something that has been done by every candidate in the last few decades then he's probably hiding something.
 @Motorhead79 LIke a birth certificate maybe. Oh woops did I just say that.
@Motorhead79 Like Obama! No wait, he really was born in Hawaii so what was he hiding?
 @JTesla  @Motorhead79 Obama? It's Mitt Romney that is refusing to show his tax returns.
 @JTesla  @Motorhead79 YAWN, isn't that put to bed yet? Sheesh.Â
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 @MagicMoose Not if similar issues bring it back to the attention of people.
@MagicMoose Nice try and attempting to paint me as a birther nutjob. I always believed Obama was born in the US, I didn't need to see proof. However, I'm not now claiming that additional documentation is needed from someone just because they are a member of the opposite political party. I refuse to be a hypocrite in my demands from those running for office. Present what is needed and move on to the issues. My stance on that applies to members of both parties.
Good for him. No need to do it.
 @RalphCramden I'll agree that there is no need to do it and can respect his decision not to release the information.  It would be nice to know though what he is invested in though to look out for non-compete contracts doled out to companies he has a stake in ala Paul Ryan and his family's paving business.  Rail against the stimulus on the floor then request the monies from Steven Chu?  Now he's backpeddling saying things like "it wasn't my intention".  C'mon now.
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Want votes? Â Just be upfront with the constituents you are pandering to. Â Maybe that would be political seppuku but at least there would be honor in it.
 @Bennicus Â
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All politicians are crooked. There is no honor in politics. They are all in it for themselves and I think the US is not a kleptocracy with politicians openly stealing from the tax payers.
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Why would a politician go to all the work of running for office and spending a lot of their own money to get a job that doesn't pay enough to cover their costs? It's the back room deals that make up the shortfall and is very profitable.Â
 @BennicusÂ
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For the most part we are slaves. We work hard and the government just takes what they want to. We have little choice in what they take. If we refuse to play the game they can punish us by taking everything we have and making our lives miserable.
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Sometimes I think the homeless have discovered the secret of life.
 @RalphCramden Kleptocracy is so fitting its scary.  Thanks for sharing the word of the century.
"McKenna said he didn't want to be dragged into a game."
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Actually, Mr. McKenna put himself into the game. Â Its called an election.