Romney rebuts Democratic tax charges

BETHEL PARK, Pa. (AP) -- GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says his tax plans will not ease the overall financial burden on the wealthy despite frequent allegations from Democrats that he and Republicans advocate policies to benefit the rich.

Campaigning across Pennsylvania on Tax Day, he said the middle-income in particular will benefit from his proposal to abolish taxes on dividends, interest and capital gains for anyone with incomes of $250,000 a year or less.

Sitting around a picnic table with eight Pittsburgh-area residents, Romney touted his plan leave all the Bush-era tax cuts in effect and also cut income tax rates across-the-board by an additional 20 percent. He also wants to reduce or eliminate various deductions as part of tax reform, although he has yet to provide details.

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